§ Sir Nicholas LyellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the falling incomes of cereal farms as a result of the weakness of the euro and the need for the Government to claim agrimonetary compensation from the European Commission prior to the end of October; what his policy is on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [R][135080]
§ Ms QuinI refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Helen Jackson) on 2 November 2000,Official Report, column 620W.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what cereals area payments(a) are and (b) were payable in 1999 to British farmers. [136964]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 6 November 2000]: Farmers are entitled to payments under the Arable Area Payments Scheme in respect of cereals grown and claimed under the rules of that Scheme. In 2000, farmers in England will receive £217.27/ha on 98.36% of their payable area of eligible cereal crops (other than maize). In addition, and subject to the agreement of the European Commission, they are expected to receive £7.37/ha in agrimonetary compensation on the same area. In 1999 they received £208.06/ha on 99.06 per cent. of their payable area. In addition they received a payment of £33.66/ha in agrimonetary compensation and are now receiving a further instalment of £11.22/ha on the same area. Producers of maize in England received the same payments but on a lower area (33.15 per cent. of the payable area in 1999 and 35 per cent. of the payable area in 2000). Farmers in other parts of the UK receive lower payments in line with historic yields but, other than in Scotland, do not suffer area penalties.