Sheep Annual Premium

HC Deb 06 November 2003 vol 412 cc736-7W

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of sheep annual premium payments were paid more than two months late in England in the last 24 months. [135380]

Mr. Bradshaw

As detailed in the table, 0.15 per cent. of 2001 Sheep Annual Premium Scheme (SAPS) claims and 0.18 per cent. of 2002 claims were paid two months later than their respective scheme year payment deadlines.

	Scheme Year
	2001	2002
Total claims received	30,363	27,083
Claims paid two months later than the EU payment deadline1
Number	46	49
Percentage	0.15	0.18
1 These relate claims under query.

The payment window for SAPS 2003 opened on 16 October 2003. To date, 98 per cent. of claims have been paid.