§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the Seventh Report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration for Session 1999–2000, "Investigation into Delays in Making1122W Area Payments under the Arable Area Payments Scheme", if he will make a statement about the mechanism by which farmers will be compensated as the Ombudsman recommends. [131034]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 17 July 2000.1]: MAFF will provide compensation in the form of interest to farmers who received late payment of their 1995 claims under the Arable Area Payments Scheme for the reasons highlighted in the report referred to by the hon. Member. As agreed with the Ombudsman, and in line with common practice across Government Departments, the compensation payments will be subject to a de minimis level of £50. MAFF has a full list of all the AAPS applicants that were affected, and work is in progress to calculate the compensation to which they are entitled. When that work has been completed the applicants will be notified of the amount of compensation to which they are due. There is no need for individual farmers to apply to the Ministry for payment.