§ Mrs. Helen JacksonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from hill farming interests following his announcement to cut hill livestock compensatory allowances for sheep on 12 December.
§ Mr. CurryA number of representations have been received on this matter from farming interests following
620W
Name Position Date of appointment Length of appointment Qualifications and organizations represented Payment from public funds Andrew Stewart Chairman 1 October 1992 2½ years Farmer with extensive political and industrial experience. £7,580/year if works an average of 1 day per week and travel and subsistence allowances. Michael Curtis Deputy Chairman 1 April 1992 3 years Extensive industrial experience. £6,950/year if works an average of 1 day per week and travel and subsistence allowances. Rosemary Berry Employment Act Appointee 1 April 1992 3 years Practical farming background and Women?s Farming Union Member. Travelling and subsistence Janet Buchanan-Smith Employment Act Appointee 1 April 1992 3 years Practical farming background and familiar with Scottish issues. Travelling and subsistence John Harries Welsh Education Representative 1 April 1992 3 years Senior Lecturer at Welsh Agricultural College Travelling and subsistence Victor Hughes Employment Act Appointee 1 April 1992 3 years Former Principal at the Royal Agricultural College. Travelling and subsistence. Tom Jones Employment Act Appointee 1 April 1992 3 years Practical hill farming back-ground in Wales. Travelling and subsistence my announcement on 10 December of the conditions for the 1993 HLCA scheme. The reductions in HLCAs were taken in the light of increased incomes in the hill sheep sector and will in any case be more than offset by increases in ewe premium payments next April resulting from green pound devaluations and decisions taken at the December Agriculture Council.
§ Mr. Peter AtkinsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact in the reduction of HLCA payments on sheep farmers in(a) Northumberland and (b) Tynedale; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryThe conditions of the HLCA scheme are determined on the basis of national statistical data and it is not possible to measure the impact on different localities. I have no reason to believe conditions for sheep farmers in Northumberland and in Tynedale are materially different from those obtaining elsewhere in the less-favoured areas in England. The HLCA reductions were taken in the light of increased incomes in the hill sheep sector and will in any case be more than offset by incrtases in ewe premium payments next April resulting from green pound devaluations and decisions taken at the December Agriculture Council.