§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in how many individual cases assistance was refused owing to mistakes by farmers464W in completing IACS forms, in each of the years since these came into effect; and what representations he has received on this subject since 1 January 1995. [24292]
§ Mr. BaldryIt is possible to correct mistakes in IACS forms in certain limited circumstances. The EC rules prescribe automatic penalties for all other cases of discrepancy and make no allowance for the reason for the discrepancy. More stringent penalties apply in respect of serious negligence and fraud.
Some 3,465 and 2,807—provisional figures—IACS applications in 1994 and 1995 respectively faced some level of penalty in the UK as a result of discrepancies found in land area. Of these, the penalties applied in 553 and 367 cases respectively resulted in the loss of all area-related aid. A number of representations on this subject have been received since 1 January 1995, mainly relating to individual cases.