§ Lord Islwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the outcome of the recent consultation exercise into an appeal mechanism for Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) claimants in England. [HL2110]
§ Baroness HaymanThe responses to the consultation exercise on an IACS appeals mechanism in England that began in December 2000 have now been evaluated and I am pleased to say that new appeal arrangements for IACS claimants in England will be introduced.
These arrangements will reflect the three-stage appeal mechanism on which we consulted that attracted positive support from the farming industry for handling IACS appeals in England. The decision to proceed with the introduction of the new arrangements is in line with both the recommendations of the IACS and Inspections Red Tape Working Group and, more recently, of the House of Commons Agriculture Committee in its report, The Implementation of IACS in the European Union.
A good deal of detailed work remains to be done but we aim to work with industry to introduce the new arrangements as soon as we can.