HC Deb 17 June 1994 vol 244 cc699-700W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the aggregate loss of arable aid payments to farmers in Wales in 1994–95 as a result of the decision to treat England and Wales as two regions for arable aid, in comparison with what they would have received if England and Wales had been treated as one region; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Redwood

[holding answer 14 June 1994]: If England and Wales were treated as one region in 1994–95 the total payment for cereals to Welsh farmers would be approximately £6.9 million1. With Wales treated separately the total payment will be approximately £5.5 million1. This compares with an actual total payment of £4.1 million last year, an increase of £1.4 million or more than one third. It is not sensible to call a comparison with some better hypothetical system a loss, when payments will go up.

1 These figures assume that the area of land on which arable aid payments for cereals are claimed in Wales for the 1994–95 marketing year is the same as that in 1993–94 and a green rate of £0.920969 per ecu, ie the current rate. Actual payments for the 1994–95 marketing year will depend on the green rate in force on 1 July 1994.