§ Mr. ThomasonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the arrangements for IACS applications in England and Wales in 1996. [14222]
§ Mr. BaldryThe UK deadline for submitting IACS applications in 1996 will again be the latest possible date of 15 May.
The IACS explanatory booklets and form will be issued in March. We have consulted the industry closely on the documentation and this year, for the first time, we are introducing a separate booklet and form for livestock farmers who have no interest in the arable area payments scheme. Other changes to the format of the text have been made to make it as helpful and as easy to follow as possible, given the complex nature of the rules. As last year, farmers will be sent a full printout of their 1995 declaration of forage, arable and other land areas, which they must check to ensure the entries are still valid and enter any necessary changes. In addition, this year, they will receive a copy of this printout to keep for their records.
The latest date for applying for new field numbers so that they can be returned in time for farmers to lodge their 1996 IACS applications will be 1 March. Where changes to field boundaries occur after this date, applications for field numbers should accompany the IACS application form.
I strongly urge farmers to consider now whether they need new field numbers and not leave applying to the last minute.