§ Mr. SpellerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the sheep subsidy and hill cow payments will be made; what delays there have been in payment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryThe Government are not yet in a position to announce the arrangements for payment of hill livestock compensatory allowances in 1991. This is because problems have arisen over the detailed implementation of a new EC ceiling on payments of 1.4 livestock units per hectare. Claim forms and explanatory leaflets will be issued to producers as quickly as possible, once These problems have been resolved. The Government are well aware of the importance of making the HLCA payments in the early part of the year and every effort will be made to ensure that payments commence quickly.