§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the due payment date for each livestock premium scheme for each year since 1985; what percentage has been paid for each after this date; and what representations she has received on late payment.
§ Mr. JackFor the suckler cow premium scheme, European Community rules specified payment within 12 months of the opening of the scheme for 1985 to 1988, within 15 months of the opening of the scheme for 1989, and within 20 months of the opening of the scheme for 1990 to 1992. For the 1993 scheme, payments must be completed by 30 June 1994. Nearly all payments are made before the deadline.
There was no payment due date for the beef variable premium scheme which operated until March 1989. For its successor, the beef special premium scheme, European Community rules required payment to be made within nine months of a claim between 1989 and 1992. For the 1993 scheme, payments must be completed by 30 June 1994. Between 1989 and 1992, less than 0.1 per cent. of claims were paid after the due date. Figures for 1993 are not yet available.
European Community regulations specify that sheep annual premium payments must be paid by 15 October—31 December for the 1992 and earlier schemes—of the year following that to which the scheme relates. Nearly all payments are made before the deadline. There is no payment due date for the hill livestock compensatory allowance scheme.
Representations are received from time to time about late or delayed payments. Every effort is made to pay premium as quickly as possible consistent with the need to ensure that applications meet the conditions of the schemes.