§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action she is taking to ensure that all potential claimants under the sheep annual premium, suckler cow premium and arable payments schemes are made aware of the closing dates for applications to these schemes.
§ Mr. JackThe closing dates for applications are clearly set out in the appropriate explanatory literature and claim forms for the schemes which are distributed to known producers. The closing dates are also publicised by press releases issued to all relevant media, including the farming press, when application forms for the schemes become available and again shortly before the closing dates.
§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the number of late claims received by regional service centres and divisional offices for the most recent year for (i) sheep annual premium, (ii) suckler cow premium and (iii) the arable area payments scheme.
§ Mr. JackThe numbers of claims received by the nine regional service centres after the closing dates of the application periods for the schemes requested are as follows:
Number 1993 Sheep annual premium scheme 1,082 1993 Suckler cow premium scheme 908 1993 Arable area payments scheme 87