§ Phil SawfordTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to ensure prompt payments to farmers in respect of the beef premium, suckler cow premium and slaughter premiums. [84965]
§ Alun MichaelEC rules do not allow payment of premium in respect of the Beef Special Premium, Suckler Cow Premium and Slaughter Premium to be made before 16 October of the calendar year to which payments apply.
The prompt payment of claims for advance payment of 2002 bovine premia depends on a number of factors including:
the animals must have completed their retention period;claims must be error free;the animals must have completed their cross check against the Cattle Tracing System databaseTo date, payment has been made on 48.54 per cent, of Beef Special Premiums and 33.04 per cent, of Slaughter Premiums claims. The remaining unpaid claims have been delayed because they have failed to meet one of the criteria outlined above.
No payments have yet been made on the Suckler Cow Premiums because of the need to re-write the Suckler Cow Premiums IT system. Payments are however expected to begin in late December.