§ Lord Morris of Castle Morrisasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made with setting up and activating the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme in response to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [HL1592]
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman)The Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme, as announced in the Statement to the House on 27 March (Official Report, cols. 119–124), has already opened to applications. First payments are due to be made before Easter.
Parliamentary approval for additional resources for this new service will be sought in the 2001–02 Summer Supplementary Estimate for the Intervention Board—Executive Agency. Pending that approval urgent expenditure estimated at £240 million will be met by a repayable cash advance from the Contingencies Fund.