§ Lord Kimballasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will consider making ex gratia payments to fur farmers entitled to compensation under the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000 in recognition of the difficulties caused to them by the long period of time between the ban on compensatable investment in the businesses imposed in March 1999 and the likely commencement of the compensation scheme under the Act. [HL16]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)The Government are committed to providing fair compensation to fur farmers put out of business by the ban on fur farming under the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000. As required under the Act, we will consult the industry on the details of the compensation scheme later this year. The Government will then consider the responses received and lay the necessary statutory instrument before Parliament. The Government understand the need to move as fast as possible on this matter.