§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to alleviate the crisis in each sector of the agricultural industry in Northern Ireland. [59152]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyIn the past twelve months Grants and Subsidies payments worth over £200 million have been made to farmers in Northern Ireland. Included in these payments are the aid packages announced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Copeland
738Wtrip to his Department and (vi) details of people accompanying the Minister, indicating the total costs of all such travel borne by his Department (1) since 1 May 1997 and (2) between 1 May 1996 and 1 May 1997. [55553]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 19 October 1998]: This Question could be answered in full only at disproportionate cost. Ministers are required under the terms of the Ministerial Code always to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. The rules on travel for Ministers are the same as those that applied under the previous Administration.
Between 2 May 1997 and 30 September 1998, Ministers in this Department have used RAF aircraft on the following occasions:
(Dr. Cunningham), the then Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in December 1997 and February 1998.
In addition, the Prime Minister announced an additional £7 million for processing and marketing grants over the next three years to improve competitiveness in the agri-food industry and enable value to be added to what is produced on Northern Ireland farms.
Following the recent hard work by both Government and the industry to secure the lifting of the beef export ban, exports of beef from Northern Ireland have now commenced on a commercial scale. In recognition of the fact that it will take considerable effort to regain lost markets for Northern Ireland beef, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has put forward £2 million over the next three years to support the marketing work of the industry. Government are continuing to press for the introduction of a Date Based Export Scheme, which will bring benefit to more Northern Ireland farmers.
More favourable beef intervention arrangements have been secured for Northern Ireland and "flagged" suckler cow producers have received financial aid totalling £0.5 million.
Pig producers have been paid almost £0.5 million under the Pig Welfare Slaughter Scheme and export refunds for pigmeat were further increased on 15 October. DANI and the IDB are working with Unigate to enable them to take forward their re-investment plans in Northern Ireland with all reasonable speed.
Private Storage for sheepmeat will operate from 19 October to 20 November 1998 in the UK.
80 per cent. of beef special premium and suckler cow premium has been paid up front, rather than 60 per cent. as in previous years. £38 million in advance payments 739W have been made to Beef and Suckler Cow producers in the last 2 weeks. This is some 2 months earlier than has been achieved in recent years.
Around £6.3 million of Sheep Annual Premium (SAP) payments (2nd advance) were brought forward from December 1998 to October. Arrangements are in hand to expedite Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance (HLCA) payments in the Spring of 1999.
On top of this, Government also announced, on 16 November 1998, Official Report, columns 624-40, a special aid package for UK farmers amounting to some £125 million. This package is likely to be worth some £19 million to Northern Ireland farmers and will include payment of agrimonetary compensation, an increase in HLCAs and the temporary continuation of the Calf Processing Aid Scheme (CPAS).