§ Mr. JoplingTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date his Carlisle office received the application forms at the end of 1989 for the sheep annual premium; on what date they were distributed to farmers; and on what date they were due to be returned.
§ Mr. CurryClaim forms for the first application period under the sheep annual premium scheme 1990 could not be completed until certain important details had been clarified by the European Commission. The Carlisle divisional office received the forms on 11 December 1989, and dispatched them to interested farmers on 12 December. The closing date for the lodging of first period applications was 27 December 1989.
§ Mr. JoplingTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent his Carlisle office is currently undermanned; and what requests he has had for extra staff appointments to be made.
§ Mr. CurryThe number of staff employed in our Carlisle office is currently one below complement in the administrative grades, and one below complement in the farm and countryside service. We have not received any direct requests for additional staff appointments to be made.