HL Deb 11 November 1999 vol 606 cc251-2WA
Lord Norrie

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many field inspectors are employed to check on farmer compliance with the rules of the Integrated Administration and Control System in the United Kingdom; whether these inspectors are expected to assess the standard of crops grown in order to decide whether a farmer is eligible for arable area payment; and, if so, where the required standards are defined. [HL 4546]

Baroness Hayman

There are 355 field inspectors currently employed in compliance checking in the United Kingdom.

The rules concerning the sowing and maintenance of crops are set out in the 1997 Arable Area Payment Scheme Explanatory Guide and the 1998 update to that guide. The field inspectors will check to see that these rules have been complied with.

Lord Norrie

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the current farmer guidance for administration of the European Integrated Administration and Control System for farm payments is so much longer in the United Kingdom than in other member states of the Euroepan Union; and whether they will arrange for a copy of the farmer guidelines and forms for IACS currently in use in each European Union country to be placed in the Library of the House. [HL4548]

Baroness Hayman

The rules of the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) require farmers to provide very detailed information on the use of their land. As part of our commitment to farmers, the Ministry seeks to ensure that the guidance explains the procedures for making an area aid application under IACS in full. Mistakes may lead to the loss of all or part of the farmer's entitlement to subsidy both under the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) and the various livestock schemes.

We do not currenlty have copies of the IACS guidance available in all other member states. I will write to the noble Lord with copies of the guidance we have been able to obtain. It should be borne in mind that shorter forms and guidance are not necessarily helpful to claimants, since they may not contain all the information needed to complete an application in full.