House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 17 Apr 2000 (pt 5)

NORTHERN IRELAND

Accumulated Service Medal

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the Royal Irish Regiment whose claims for the Accumulated Service Medal were reviewed because of insufficient evidence were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful in claiming the medal. [119345]

Mr. Spellar I have been asked to reply.

A total of 273 such cases have been considered by the Army Medal Board to date. Of these, 226 have been successful, 30 proved to have no entitlement and were rejected, and 17 have been returned to the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Irish Regiment for further investigation. An additional 624 applications have still to be prepared for Army Medal Board consideration.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

Farm Aid Package

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the value of the farm aid package announced on 30 March, and if he will publish a breakdown of the components of the farm aid package,

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listing for each component (a) its value, (b) its funding source, (c) eligible recipients, (d) conditions of eligibility, (e) time of availability, (f) budgetary year, (g) whether it has previously been announced by (i) the Government and (ii) the European Commission and (h) if it has been approved by the European Commission and, if not, when he expects such approval to be given. [117970]

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Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 6 April 2000]: The Action Plan for Farming discussed at the Farming Summit on 30 March outlined a programme of measures to help provide a proper, structured plan for the future. The aid measures amounting to over £200 million are listed. Many of the other measures within the Action Plan will also have considerable benefit to the farming industry, though it is not as yet possible to quantify these.

17 Apr 2000 : Column: 331W

Action plan for farming (13 April 2000)

Measure Value (£ million) Funding source Eligible recipients and conditions of eligibility Time of availability Previously announced EC approval

Introduce a scheme to encourage the restructuring of the pig industry in order to improve its long term viability (1)26 UK To be announced To be announced No An aid notification has been submitted to the EC

Pay to dairy farmers all the agrimonetary aid that EU rules permit this year only (1)22 UK (£11 million) and EU(3) Aid will be allocated in proportion to milk quota held on 31 March 2000 To be announced No An aid notification will be submitted to the EC this month

Pay agrimonetary compensation to beef farmers of £22 million this year only. Payments will be made in connection with Beef Special Premium, Suckler Cow Premium and Extensification Payments for the 2000 scheme year (1)(2)22 EU(3) Payments will be made in connection with Beef Special Premium, Suckler Cow Premium and Extensification Payments for the 2000 scheme year The majority will be payable in November, and the remainder in the second quarter of 2001 No An aid notification will be submitted to the EU this month

Agrimonetary compensation to sheep farmers of £22 million this year in respect of 1999 scheme year claims (1)22 EU(3) Paid to Sheep Annual Premium claimants in respect of the 1999 scheme year Payments will be made with the first advances of Sheep Annual Premium in July/August No An aid notification will be submitted to the EC this month

Increase support for hill farmers beyond the level specified in the Rural Development Plans submitted to the Commission (1)60 UK The majority of the moneys will be added to the budgets for the LFA compensatory allowances, which will be modified to assist restructuring so as to strengthen the industry and to make it better able to deliver the social and environmental benefits provided by extensive sheep and beef grazing. The remainder will finance a consultancy programme to improve hill farmers' access to business skills LFA support payments are made in the early months of each year No The scheme has been submitted to the EC for approval under the Rural Development Regulation; the changes will need to be discussed with the EC

Seek from the Commission an increase in the maximum weight per animal on which compensation is payable under the Over Thirty Months Scheme (4)20 UK Payable in respect of cattle slaughtered under the Over Thirty Months Scheme To be determined No The Over Thirty Months Scheme for cattle is an EU scheme and thus changes to its rules require the EC to make a proposal to be adopted by the Beef Management Committee on which all member states are represented. A formal request to that effect has been made to the EC

Remove charges for dairy hygiene inspections in England as soon as the necessary legislation can be put in place (1)1 UK All dairy production holdings in England To remove the charge, the Dairy Products (Hygiene) (Charges) Regulations 1995 will need to be amended, which we estimate will take three months No EC approval not needed

Hold the increase in meat inspection charges for 2000-01 to the rate of inflation (1)4.5 UK All operators of licensed meat plants in GB 2001-01 Confirmation that the increase in Meat Hygiene charges will be kept to the level of inflation and announcement that this is equivalent to £4.5 million in 2000-01 EC approval not required

Increase the rate of grant under MAFF's Farm Waste Grant Scheme from 25 per cent. of eligible expenditure (under which uptake has been low) to 40 per cent. (2)3.5 UK Payable to farmers in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones installing improved manure storage and handling facilities to comply with regulatory measures As soon as EC approval is obtained No Existing scheme is an approved State Aid. Approval is being sought for an increase in rate

The Government will double the Regional Development Agencies' Redundant Building Grant Programme, which operates in Rural Priority Areas, to £8 million in 2000-01 (1)4 UK Redundant farm building owners To be announced No Existing scheme is an approved State Aid

The Government will allocate £2.3 million to create in England a European Centre for organic fruit and nursery stock (5)2.3 UK UK Capital Modernisation Fund The European Centre will be located at Horticulture Research International in East Malling, Kent No EC approval not required

A single charge for authorisation to dispose of used sheep dip, equivalent to the current application charge of £85, should cover the full four-year period of the initial authorisation. This means that the current annual charge of £107 will not be payable during the first four-year period (6)4.7 UK Small dischargers including farmers who dip sheep and need to dispose of sheep dip to land For first authorisation No EC approval not required

Business Restructuring in England:

The Government will pump-prime the drive to improve the competitiveness of farmers by providing funding for business improvement, on a challenge basis, following the model of the Agricultural Development Scheme 1999 (1)1 UK Industry, organisation and partnerships Scheme will be launched in the next few weeks No Existing scheme is an approved State Aid. Approval will be sought for changes to the scheme

The Government will provide funding of £1.2 million to Lantra (National Training Organisation for the Landbased Sector) to promote the economic benefits of training and to analyse the training needs of 20,000 farm businesses (1)1.2 UK Farmers in England July 2000 No Existing scheme is an approved State Aid. Approval will be sought for changes to the scheme

The Government will help farmers develop better business practices through tailored business advice. As farmers increasingly diversify their businesses, they will be able to draw on the wider expertise and services of the Small Business Service (1)6.5 UK Farmers in England The new service is being planned to start on 1 September 2000 No Need for EC approval to be confirmed

The Government will continue to support the Rural Stress Information Network by extending for at least a further year the secondment of a MAFF official to that organisation. MAFF will also increase the provision of free advice to those farmers referred to it by certain organisations. The Government will increase its support to voluntary bodies dealing with rural stress on the basis of an action plan it will draw up with them by June (1)0.5 UK Farmers in England Funds for rural stress support groups will be available in the summer No Need for EC approval to be confirmed

Launch an electronic portal for farming (1)0.4 UK The whole industry will stand to benefit The first phase is planned to go live by December 2000 No EC approval not needed

Business restructuring aid for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (1)2 UK Details are to be announced in due course by the devolved Administrations and Northern Ireland Details are to be announced in due course by the devolved Administrations and Northern Ireland No Will depend on measures to be announced

Total 203.5 -- -- -- -- --

Measure	Value (£ million)	Funding source	Eligible recipients and conditions of eligibility	Time of availability	Previously announced	EC approval
Introduce a scheme to encourage the restructuring of the pig industry in order to improve its long term viability	(1)26	UK	To be announced	To be announced	No	An aid notification has been submitted to the EC

Pay to dairy farmers all the agrimonetary aid that EU rules permit this year only	(1)22	UK (£11 million) and EU(3)	Aid will be allocated in proportion to milk quota held on 31 March 2000	To be announced	No	An aid notification will be submitted to the EC this month

Pay agrimonetary compensation to beef farmers of £22 million this year only. Payments will be made in connection with Beef Special Premium, Suckler Cow Premium and Extensification Payments for the 2000 scheme year	(1)(2)22	EU(3)	Payments will be made in connection with Beef Special Premium, Suckler Cow Premium and Extensification Payments for the 2000 scheme year	The majority will be payable in November, and the remainder in the second quarter of 2001	No	An aid notification will be submitted to the EU this month

Agrimonetary compensation to sheep farmers of £22 million this year in respect of 1999 scheme year claims	(1)22	EU(3)	Paid to Sheep Annual Premium claimants in respect of the 1999 scheme year	Payments will be made with the first advances of Sheep Annual Premium in July/August	No	An aid notification will be submitted to the EC this month

Increase support for hill farmers beyond the level specified in the Rural Development Plans submitted to the Commission	(1)60	UK	The majority of the moneys will be added to the budgets for the LFA compensatory allowances, which will be modified to assist restructuring so as to strengthen the industry and to make it better able to deliver the social and environmental benefits provided by extensive sheep and beef grazing. The remainder will finance a consultancy programme to improve hill farmers' access to business skills	LFA support payments are made in the early months of each year	No	The scheme has been submitted to the EC for approval under the Rural Development Regulation; the changes will need to be discussed with the EC

Seek from the Commission an increase in the maximum weight per animal on which compensation is payable under the Over Thirty Months Scheme	(4)20	UK	Payable in respect of cattle slaughtered under the Over Thirty Months Scheme	To be determined	No	The Over Thirty Months Scheme for cattle is an EU scheme and thus changes to its rules require the EC to make a proposal to be adopted by the Beef Management Committee on which all member states are represented. A formal request to that effect has been made to the EC


Remove charges for dairy hygiene inspections in England as soon as the necessary legislation can be put in place	(1)1	UK	All dairy production holdings in England	To remove the charge, the Dairy Products (Hygiene) (Charges) Regulations 1995 will need to be amended, which we estimate will take three months	No	EC approval not needed

Hold the increase in meat inspection charges for 2000-01 to the rate of inflation	(1)4.5	UK	All operators of licensed meat plants in GB	2001-01	Confirmation that the increase in Meat Hygiene charges will be kept to the level of inflation and announcement that this is equivalent to £4.5 million in 2000-01	EC approval not required

Increase the rate of grant under MAFF's Farm Waste Grant Scheme from 25 per cent. of eligible expenditure (under which uptake has been low) to 40 per cent.	(2)3.5	UK	Payable to farmers in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones installing improved manure storage and handling facilities to comply with regulatory measures	As soon as EC approval is obtained	No	Existing scheme is an approved State Aid. Approval is being sought for an increase in rate

The Government will double the Regional Development Agencies' Redundant Building Grant Programme, which operates in Rural Priority Areas, to £8 million in 2000-01	(1)4	UK	Redundant farm building owners	To be announced	No	Existing scheme is an approved State Aid

The Government will allocate £2.3 million to create in England a European Centre for organic fruit and nursery stock	(5)2.3	UK	UK Capital Modernisation Fund	The European Centre will be located at Horticulture Research International in East Malling, Kent	No	EC approval not required

A single charge for authorisation to dispose of used sheep dip, equivalent to the current application charge of £85, should cover the full four-year period of the initial authorisation. This means that the current annual charge of £107 will not be payable during the first four-year period	(6)4.7	UK	Small dischargers including farmers who dip sheep and need to dispose of sheep dip to land	For first authorisation	No	EC approval not required

	Business Restructuring in England:
The Government will pump-prime the drive to improve the competitiveness of farmers by providing funding for business improvement, on a challenge basis, following the model of the Agricultural Development Scheme 1999	(1)1	UK	Industry, organisation and partnerships	Scheme will be launched in the next few weeks	No	Existing scheme is an approved State Aid. Approval will be sought for changes to the scheme

The Government will provide funding of £1.2 million to Lantra (National Training Organisation for the Landbased Sector) to promote the economic benefits of training and to analyse the training needs of 20,000 farm businesses	(1)1.2	UK	Farmers in England	July 2000	No	Existing scheme is an approved State Aid. Approval will be sought for changes to the scheme
The Government will help farmers develop better business practices through tailored business advice. As farmers increasingly diversify their businesses, they will be able to draw on the wider expertise and services of the Small Business Service	(1)6.5	UK	Farmers in England	The new service is being planned to start on 1 September 2000	No	Need for EC approval to be confirmed

The Government will continue to support the Rural Stress Information Network by extending for at least a further year the secondment of a MAFF official to that organisation. MAFF will also increase the provision of free advice to those farmers referred to it by certain organisations. The Government will increase its support to voluntary bodies dealing with rural stress on the basis of an action plan it will draw up with them by June	(1)0.5	UK	Farmers in England	Funds for rural stress support groups will be available in the summer	No	Need for EC approval to be confirmed

Launch an electronic portal for farming	(1)0.4	UK	The whole industry will stand to benefit	The first phase is planned to go live by December 2000	No	EC approval not needed

Business restructuring aid for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland	(1)2	UK	Details are to be announced in due course by the devolved Administrations and Northern Ireland	Details are to be announced in due course by the devolved Administrations and Northern Ireland	No	Will depend on measures to be announced

Total	203.5	--	--	--	--	--

Note:

In addition the Government will pay this year agrimonetary aid to arable farmers (£57 million, to be paid from mid-October 2000), sheep farmers (£10 million, being paid now) and beef farmers (£21 million, to be paid from mid-October 2000) which was previously announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 22 September 1999.

(1) In 2000-01

(2) In 2001-02

(3) 71 per cent. of the EU funding is borne by the UK because of the application of the Fontainebleau abatement

(4) Estimate in 2000-01

(5) Over 2 years: £0.3 million in 2000-01 and £1.961 in 2001-02

(6) Over 4 years

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