§ Mr. LivseyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money was recovered from surveys made through the Integrated Administration and Control System farm inspections in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99. [97694]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 9 November 1999]: Complete data on the amounts recovered are not available. However, under European Community regulations aggregations are made of the value of all irregularities amounting to euro4000 (£2,844) and above which are detected through IACS field inspections and subsequently recovered. The value of these recoveries in the UK financial years specified by the hon. Member are set out in the following table. It should be noted that recovery procedures for the more recent irregularities are still in their early stages, so the amounts recovered are likely to increase substantially.
£000 Total value of irregularities recovered 1996–97 308 1997–98 315 1998–99 432
§ Mr. LivseyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his officials will rely on Ordnance Survey maps for calculating land area when completing Integrated Administration and Control System forms. [97692]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 9 November 1999]: Under European Community regulations farmers can use field area information taken from Ordnance Survey (OS) maps in their IACS area aid applications. This information is acceptable, provided that the fields concerned are fully utilised for the purpose of the aid scheme under which the claim is made. However, if the field contains an ineligible feature, such as a pond, or a road, or a storage area for straw bales, then the farmer should deduct the area of this feature from the OS area.
§ Mr. LivseyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the cost of a farm inspection programme under the Integrated Administration and Control System in total per year; and what is the cost per farm inspected. [97693]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 9 November 1999]: The information requested relating to the 1998 inspection programme is currently being compiled. I will write to the hon. Member when it is available.