HC Deb 27 July 2000 vol 354 cc832-3W
Mr. Gareth Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with(a) the First Secretary and (b) the Rural Affairs Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales as to the impact on farm incomes in less favoured areas in Wales of the reform of the Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance regime. [131604]

Mr. Paul Murphy

I meet the First Secretary on a regular weekly basis and I am in continuing contact with my colleagues in the National Assembly for Wales and we discuss a wide range of issues. The new scheme for the Less Favoured Areas, known as Tir Mynydd, forms part of the Rural Development Plan for Wales. It has not been possible to devise a new area-based scheme which exactly replicates payments under the old HLCA headage based scheme, and satisfies the European Commission. The new National Assembly scheme therefore includes a safety net over three years to help farmers who would otherwise lose out, to adjust.

Mr. Gareth Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in respect of the effect on farm incomes in Wales of the reform of the Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance regime. [131603]

Mr. Paul Murphy

I speak to my Whitehall colleagues on a regular basis and we discuss a wide range of issues. The National Assembly for Wales' new scheme for the Less Favoured Areas, known as Tir Mynydd, forms part of the Rural Development Plan for Wales. It has not been possible to devise a new area-based scheme which exactly replicates payments under the old HLCA headage based scheme, and satisfies the Commission. The new scheme therefore includes a safety net over three years to help farmers who would otherwise lose out, to adjust.

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