§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to instigate a public inquiry into the BSE crisis; and if he will make a statement. [22443]
§ Mr. RookerI refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend and the reply he gave to my hon. Friend the member for Enfield, North (Ms Ryan) on 22 December 1997,Official Report, column 497–98.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what stage the applications for EU compensation for(a) beef farmers, (b) dairy farmers and (c) sheep farmers affected by the BSE crisis have reached. [22444]
§ Mr. RookerNo measures are currently in place at the EU level which provide for the payment of compensation to farmers for the effect of BSE on market prices. On 22 December 1997 my right hon. Friend announced a package of measures to assist beef and sheep farmers. This consists of two elements
£60 million to be paid as agrimonetary compensation to suckler cow producers on the basis of their 1996 premium claims;£25 million to be paid in increased Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances, split equally between cattle and sheep.Both elements of this package require the approval of the European Commission before they can be put into effect. To this end, discussions with the Commission are in progress.