§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Waveney of 9 March 1999,Official Report, column 193, on the Cattle Health Scheme, if he will provide an update on the future of the Cattle Health Scheme. [93926]
§ Mr. RookerUnder new animal health trade rules agreed during the last UK Presidency of the EU Council, a case requesting designation of Great Britain as officially EBL-Free was submitted to the EU Commission in May. The Standing Veterinary Committee voted in favour of a Commission Decision granting the status to Great Britain on 2 July. It came into effect on 1 July. The Decision also retained EBL-Free status for Northern Ireland. From 1 July 1999 all herds in GB are to be regarded as officially EBL-Free unless the presence of the disease is suspected in a particular herd.
RSC performance data (%) for Financial Year 1998–99 1 Scheme Total Arable Area Payments Scheme Main payments 99 Oilseeds Advanced payments 99 Final payments 99 Beef Special Premium Scheme Advance payments (1998) 99 Balance payments (1997) 99 CID applications issued (1998) 99 Premium paid CIDs issued (1998) 99 Stickler Cow Premium Scheme Balance payments 1997 99 Advance payments 1998 98 Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances Claims 1998 99 Sheep Annual Premium Scheme Claims marketing year 1998 99 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Applications 84 Claims 96 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Conservation Plan Applications 73 Claims 84 Farm Woodland Premium Scheme Applications 84 Claims (1998) 98 Injurious Weeds Complaints 99 New Nitrate Sensitive Areas Scheme Applications (1998) 92 Claims 99 Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Licence applications 98 Strychnine Permits Applications 99 Agricultural Wage Inspections Complaints 95 Wildlife and Countryside Act Licence applications 98 Correspondence Answered within 10 working days 97 Complaints Numbers receiving response within 10 working days 87 1 Unless otherwise specified Notes:
- 1. The relatively high failure rate for the FWPS Applications was due to the diversion of staff resources in two of the RSCs to higher priority work.
- 2. The relatively poor performance for the ESA Schemes was primarily caused by uneven workloads, staff turnover and the introduction of a new computer system.
- 3. The 87 per cent, response rate to complaints to the RSCs is explained by the fact that often cases require referral to HQ or the National Scheme Management Centres and thus take some time to resolve. It must be stressed however that in all cases where the 10 day target was not met a holding letter was issued to the complainant.
General Notes:
370W
- (i) The total percentage has been calculated by setting the entire number of applications or claims cleared within the target time, against the total number received. Applications and claims not cleared due to reasons beyond our control (incorrect information supplied by applicant, etc.) are not included as failures to meet target.
- (ii) The Farm Conservation Grant Schemes 1989 and 1991 Applications and Claims and Pilot NSA Claims have been omitted from the table since these schemes are now closed.
- (iii) During the year 16 formal complaints were made to MAFF's central Complaints Adjudicator, of which two were referred elsewhere and three are still outstanding. Of the cases dealt with, six were determined in the complainants favour and five were not upheld.
The Cattle Health Scheme attests herds as being individually free of EBL, so may not be needed now that GB freedom is achieved. Officials are writing to all members of the Scheme and to the cattle industry to consult them on the future of the Scheme. The formal acknowledgement of our EBL-Free status from the EU is good news for farmers and will reduce bureaucracy. We will of course maintain controls on cattle imports in accordance with EU rules.