§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to pay interest on all overdue sheep annual premium payments; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedwoodNo. Most of the 17 per cent. of payments outstanding cannot be paid until queries about their eligibility are resolved.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farmers in Wales are still awaiting payments with respect to their 1993 sheep annual premium scheme; and when he expects these payments to be made.
§ Mr. RedwoodA total of 17,442 eligible claims were received and 3,043 remain to be paid. As in earlier years, the majority of payments outstanding are awaiting the resolution of queries or farm visits by officials.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many outstanding claims there are to be processed with respect to the 1993 sheep annual premium scheme; and when he expects the remaining claims to be processed.
§ Mr. RedwoodA total of 2,489 claims remain to be processed out of the 17,442 valid claims received. The balance will be paid as soon as outstanding queries about their eligibility are resolved.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the total cash amount in sheep annual premium payments that has not yet been sent out to farmers with respect to 1993 payments.
§ Mr. RedwoodOver £80 million has been paid already and it is estimated that a further £10 million may be paid depending on the eligibility of the remaining claims.