§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will extend the time for claims to be submitted to the agricultural development operational programme to the end of 1994; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramThe Commission has ruled that financial support under the Northern Ireland agricultural development operational programme will be limited to payments made to farmers by 31 December 1994. In order to comply with this condition it was necessary for the Department to require all claims for grant to be submitted by 30 June 1994 so as to allow sufficient time for claims to be verified and payments issued to farmers by 31 December.
Because of the need to ensure that all payments are made by 31 December 1994 it is not possible to extend the time for claims to be submitted.