§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the proposed EU agrimonetary system operational from 1 January 1999 will permit member states not joining the euro zone to pay their farmers EU farm subsidy payments in euros, if so requested. [48617]
Dr. John CunninghamThe Commission's proposals on the future of the agrimonetary system suggest that Member States not participating in the Single Currency from 1 January 1999 will be able to offer Euro payments after that date under certain circumstances. Member States' plans for making such payments would need prior approval by the Commission.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those organisations which have requested him to consider allowing UK farmers to receive EU farm subsidy payments in euros. [48618]
Dr. John CunninghamWe are currently in the process of consulting interested organisations on the future of the EU agrimonetary regime. The question of making CAP payments in Euro is one aspect of that consultation, which is not yet complete.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if it is his intention to enable farmers to receive EU subsidy payments in euros as from 1 January 1999, if they so request; [48615]
(2) if he will make a statement on the preparations his Department is making to enable farmers to receive their EU farm subsidy payments in euros, if they so request, from 1 January 1999. [48620]
627W
Dr. John CunninghamWe are currently examining the possibility of offering operators the option of receiving CAP subsidies in Euro after 1 January 1999. We would need to be sure, before offering such an option, that any changes to the system could be achieved without jeopardising standards of service offered to recipients of CAP subsidies.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will assess the(a) advantages and (b) disadvantages to UK farmers of receiving their EU farm subsidies in euros, from 1 January 1999, if they so request. [48616]
Dr. John CunninghamNo overall assessment has been made of the advantages and disadvantages of farmers receiving CAP payments in Euro: the value of such a mechanism would vary depending on the circumstances of individual farmers.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what factors underlie his decision to prevent UK farmers from receiving EU farm subsidy paid in euros, from 1 January 1999. [48619]
Dr. John CunninghamNo decision has yet been made on whether UK farmers will be able to receive CAP subsidies paid in Euro after 1 January 1999.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list each of the other EU states not joining the single currency on 1 January 1999, which will be allowing their farmers to receive EC subsidy scheme payments in euros. [48609]
Dr. John CunninghamThe other Member States not joining the Single Currency on 1 January 1999 have not yet indicated their intentions with regard to the payment of CAP subsidies in Euro.
RSC Performance data (%) for financial year 1997/98—(unless otherwise specified) Total percentage Arable Area Payments Scheme Oil Seeds Main payments 99 Advanced payments 99 Final payments 99 Beef Special Premium Scheme Advance payments (1997) 96 Balance payments (1996) 100 CID applications issued (1997) 99 Premium paid CIDs issued (1997) 99 Suckler Cow Premium Scheme Balance payments 1996 99 Advance payments 1997 99 Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances Claims 1997 99 Sheep Annual Premium Scheme Claims marketing year 1997 99 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Applications 82 Claims 96 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Conservation Plan Applications 87 Claims 96 Farm and Conservation Grant Scheme 1989 Plan claims 98 Farm and Conservation Grant Scheme 1991 Plan claims 86 Farm Woodland Premium Scheme Applications 93 Claims (1997) 80 Injurious Weeds Complaints 98 Pilot Nitrate Sensitive Areas Scheme Claims (1997) 77 New Nitrate Sensitive Areas Scheme Applications (1997) 98 Claims 99 Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Licence applications 99 Strychnine Permits Applications 99