§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the cost of the dispersal of(a) cattle from the over-30-months scheme and (b) the rendered material is recovered from the EU; and at what stage of the dispersal process the Government are entitled to the money. [152069]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 5 March 2001]: The EU regulation governing the OTMS provides for compensation to be paid to producers on the basis of the weight of their cattle and for the UK to be reimbursed on the basis of a flat rate per head of cattle purchased and subsequently destroyed.
No contribution is made towards the subsequent disposal costs.
Animals which are consigned directly to incineration after purchase attract the full 100 per cent. of the amount claimable, currently 291 euros for cows and 328 euros for other cattle. The Government are entitled to claim reimbursement from the EU in respect of the payment made to the producer for the animal when the carcase has been incinerated.
Animals which are consigned to rendering after purchase initially attract an 80 per cent. advance of the full amount claimable. The Government are entitled to claim reimbursement from the EU in respect of the payment made to the producer for the animal when its carcase has been rendered. The balance of 20 per cent. is 181W claimable by the Government once the meat and bonemeal and tallow produced from the rendering process has been incinerated.