§ Baroness Carnegy of Lourasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they would propose to allocate the 34 mecu of aid for UK beef farmers agreed by the Agriculture Council at its meeting on 24–26th June.
Lord LucasAgriculture Ministers have agreed to distribute this money to beef producers in respect of the number of adult clean cattle marketed in the period 20th March to 30th June for slaughter for human consumption. We plan to issue claim forms to producers in the week beginning 5th August and begin payments in late September. Payment will be at a flat rate per animal, to be set once the number of valid claims has been determined. Firm evidence that the animals concerned were on their holding before 20th March and were marketed for slaughter no later than 30th June will be required. In addition to the £29 million (34 mecu) available to farmers under this one-off measure, supplementary payments worth up to £81 million will be made to farmers who received Suckler Cow and Beef Special Premium for the 1995 Scheme years. I welcome the further assistance that will thus be given to hard-pressed beef producers.