§ Mrs. ShephardTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when farmers affected by last summer's outbreak of classical swine fever will receive their producer levy payments. [158883]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 26 April 2001]On 19 April the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced an interest-free loan of £4 million to the MLC to enable the immediate payment of the industry top-up to the Pig Welfare Disposal Scheme payments. The 411W Intervention Board began processing payments that day and estimate that they are now about halfway through making the payments.