HL Deb 06 July 1999 vol 603 cc100-1WA
Lord Stanley of Alderley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, under paragraph 32 of the Sheep Annual Premium/Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances 2 (1999) Explanatory Leaflet, it is necessary for farmers to inform the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food or the Welsh Office Agriculture Department of the exact date of death of every ewe dying during the retention period, should such a loss mean a reduction in the amount claimed under the Sheep Annual Premium Scheme 1999. [HL3355]

Lord Donoughue

In order for the death of an animal to be regarded as a natural circumstance loss, it is a requirement of the EU legislation governing the Sheep Annual Premium Scheme that the competent authority (MAFF or WOAD) is informed in writing within 10 working days of the producer discovering the death. In many cases the producer will not know the actual date of death and there is no legal requirement for this information to be provided. It may be that the scheme guidance notes could explain these points more clearly and I will arrange fir the wording of the relevant section to be reviewed in time for the 2000 Scheme.