HC Deb 18 May 1989 vol 153 cc297-8W
Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he intends to take to ensure that the beef special premium is paid to producers as an addition to, and not incorporated within, the market price of finished animals.

Mr. Donald Thompson

Payment of the beef special premium in Great Britain is made direct to the producer presenting the animals for slaughter or for sale For slaughter.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement indicating in full the documentary evidence required to be produced by claimants of the beef special premium; and which of these will be mandatory prerequisites.

Mr. Donald Thompson

The mandatory prerequisites for those applying for the beef special premium in Great Britain are that they shall have registered, prior to application and on the form provided, details of all their production units and that they complete an application form for each claim made. In addition, they must keep records sufficient to verify the claims for premium and to substantiate the means of production. Applicants are also required to keep records of the purchases and sales of animals which have been marked for premium as follows:

  1. (1) The date of transaction.
  2. (2) Numbers and descriptions of animals, and the weight of each animal.
  3. (3) In the case of a purchase or sale by auction at an auction market, the name and address of the auctioneer, and in any other case the name and address of the other party to the transaction.
  4. (4) Where applicable the dates by which any marked animals bought or sold are to be slaughtered.
  5. (5) Where applicable, the dates of slaughter of marked animals in their possession at the time of slaughter.

Most of these requirements are in fact met by the scheme documentation.

Applicants are required to retain such records for a period of three years from the end of the calender year to which they relate and to produce them for inspection if so required by an authorised officer.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he intends to enforce the headage limit of 90 in respect of the beef special premium.

Mr. Donald Thompson

On each application form claimants for premium are required to declare that they have not exceeded the headage limit. Claims will be monitored by the computer program processing claims for payment and verification will he made on holding of claim details.