§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many claims have been made, in each month of 1988, under the common agricultural policy export refund consignment schedule; how many claims for each month of 1988 are yet to be processed; how much money is yet to be refunded for each month of 1988; and when he expects refund payments to be made.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonInformation in the form requested is not available except at excessive cost. By 30 September some 540,000 transactions with a value of £440 million had been processed and more than 70 per cent. of claims by value are now being paid within a reasonable time scale. The intervention board continues to do everything possible to restore the position of all claims. Under a scheme announced in the House on 28 July 1988, traders will be paid compensation on all claims where this year's payments had been unreasonably delayed.