HC Deb 13 September 2004 vol 424 cc1478-9W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many payments due to farmers in Northern Ireland by 30 June have not yet been paid, broken down by category of farm payment; and what the total value of such outstanding claims for payment is. [188244]

Mr. Pearson

In Northern Ireland the number and potential value, if paid in full, of farm subsidy claims due to have been paid by 30 June 2004 but which had not been paid by 8 September 2004, are broken down as follows:

Applications unpaid Value (£ million)
Beef Special Premium 4,071 1.6
Slaughter Premium 1,849 0.8
Suckler Cow Premium 539 1.4
Extensification Payment 2,074 4.2

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his target date is for paying to farmers in Northern Ireland all payments due to them by 30 June. [188245]

Mr. Pearson

To date 94.9 per cent. of potential total expenditure has been paid. It is expected that the European Commission's regulatory requirement for 96.14 per cent. of total scheme expenditure to be paid by 30 June 2004 will be achieved by 30 September 2004.