§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what conditions have been imposed by the European Commission in respect of the submission of claims for expenditures incurred and payments made by her Department in relation to foot and mouth disease. [150850]
§ Mr. BradshawThe European Commission has been very specific with regards to the timing for the submission of the UK claims, and the type of expenditure eligible for re-imbursement from the Community for eradication of FMD in 2001. Eligible expenditure is detailed in Council Decision 90/424/EC (Article 11) and includes compensation for slaughter of animals; the destruction of milk; the cleaning and disinfection of premises; and the transport and destruction of carcasses.
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what specific and general requirements are imposed or otherwise demanded by the European Commission in relation to establishing and proving an audit trail for expenditures incurred and payments made by Her Majesty's Government during the foot and mouth epidemic, in respect of sums repayable in whole or in part by the Commission. [150552]
§ Mr. BradshawThe Commission auditors continue to carry out on the spot checks of the costs incurred during the 2001 FMD outbreak. These checks include the examination of invoices and supporting documentation in line with recognised auditing procedures.
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total value is of the claims made by Her Majesty's Government to the European Commission in respect of costs incurred in dealing with the foot and mouth disease epidemic of 2001; and what the total value is of the payments made by the Commission. [150553]
§ Mr. BradshawThe total value of the claims made to the European Commission in respect of costs incurred in dealing with the foot and mouth disease epidemic of 2001 was £1,581 million. The maximum rate of reimbursement is 60 per cent. of these costs; so the potential reimbursement is £949 million.
The Commission's auditors are still auditing the claim and have not indicated when they will complete their audit. To date the Commission has made payments to the United Kingdom of £238 million.
253W
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the cost to date is to her Department of(a) auditing and (b) legal fees in respect of (i) investigating claims relating to foot and mouth disease payments, (ii) pursuing and prosecuting alleged or suspected fraudulent claims, and (iii) conducting civil actions; [150556]
(2) what the total value is of work undertaken by contractors in respect of works commissioned by her Department and its predecessor, carried out in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic of 2001, that remain unpaid by her Department. [150559]
§ Mr. BradshawI refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Brian Cotter) on 6 January 2004,Official Report, columns 259–62W.
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total payments made to date are to farmers in respect of compensation for animals slaughtered by her Department, and its predecessor, in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic of 2001. [150557]
§ Mr. BradshawThe total payments to farmers to date in respect of compensation for animals slaughtered, by the Department and its predecessor, in relation to foot and mouth disease is £1,033 million.
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total value is of the payments due to farmers in respect of compensation claimed for animals slaughtered by her Department in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic of 2001, that remain unpaid by her Department. [150558]
§ Mr. BradshawThe total value of the payments due to farmers in respect of compensation claimed for animals slaughtered in relation to the foot and mouth epidemic of 2001 was £1,033 million. All the farmers have been paid the sums due to them.