§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many suckler cow premium application forms were processed during each month of 1992; and what was(a) the shortest period and (b) the longest period to elapse between receipt of the application and payment of the claim.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 10 February 1993]: The number of suckler cow premium applications processed for payment during each month of 1992 is set out in the following table. The information on the shortest and longest periods between receipt of application and payment of claim is not available and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.
1992 Number of claims processed January 1,075 February 777 March 233 April 134 May 31 June 39 July 0 August 594 September 2,253 October 1,834 November 1,305 December 1,709
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many late applications were received for suckler cow premium in respect of 1990 and 1991; and how many of these were(a) paid in full, (b) paid in part and (c) refused.
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§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 10 February 1993]: Under the 1990 suckler cow premium scheme a total of 80 late applications were received. All these were received between the closing date of 31 January 1991 and 14 February 1991, thereby qualifying for the 70 per cent. of premium specified by the European Community rules of the scheme.
Under the 1991 scheme a total of 67 late applications were received. Of these 62 were received between 31 January 1992 and 14 February 1992, qualifying for a 70 per cent. rate of premium. Five claims received after 14 February 1992 were refused as required by the rules of the scheme.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many late applications for suckler cow premium in respect of 1992 he has received to date.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 10 February 1993]: A total of 101 applications have been received since 15 December 1992, the closing date for the 1992 suckler cow premium scheme.
§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations and discussions he has had about the continuation of the less favoured areas supplement to the suckler cow premium; and what plans he has to continue the less favoured areas supplement to the suckler cow premium.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 8 February 1993]: I announced on 12 November 1992 that the rate of suckler cow premium from 1993 onwards would be limited to that part of the premium which is entirely funded by the European Community. In 1993 the rate will be £65.73, which represents an increase of 10 per cent. on the rate currently payable in the less-favoured areas.
§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the beef special premium in each year since 1979; and what was the less favoured areas supplement to the suckler cow premium in each year since 1990.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer of 9 February 1993]: The beef special premium scheme commenced in the United Kingdom in April 1989. Throughout the period 2 April 1989 to 31 December 1992 the premium was 40 ecu, but the amount paid to farmers varied with the value of the green pound on the date of receipt of their claims. The beef special premium increased to 60 ecu on 1 January 1993. The sterling value of the premium since its introduction is shown in the following table:
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Date of Change Rate £ 2 April 1989 28.42 1 May 1989 29.19 11 January 1990 29.32 14 May 1990 31.81 17 June 1991 31.82 17 September 1992 32.33 22 September 1992 32.76 19 November 1992 35.22 26 November 1992 35.90 1 January 1993 56.34 The LFA supplement to the suckler cow premium was £4.26 in each year from 1990 to 1992.