§ Mr. McGrady:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many appeals have been heard against decisions by the Department to penalise farmers for errors in subsidy claims; and what percentage of these appeals have been successful. [143948]
§ Mr. Pearson:A total of 48 cases have been heard by the Independent Appeals Panel. Of these, eight relate to errors in subsidy claims and one of these (12.5 per cent.) has been successful. In total, 23 per cent. of the cases heard by the Panel have been successful either in whole or in part.