asked the Minister for Agriculture if further delays are envisaged in the payment of amounts due to farmers and processors normally covered by the EEC Farm Fund and if he will make a statement on the present position.
Written Answers. - EEC Farm Fund.
320.
As a result of the failure of the European Parliament to clear at its recent session the supplementary budget for the Community for 1979, a shortfall has arisen in the guarantee section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. This has led to some delays in payments to traders in respect of export refunds, MCA subsidies and certain market support aids. Payments for purchases of products into intervention which are met in the first instance from national funds are not, however, affected and neither are payments under the guidance section of FEOGA. The latter relate to grants under the farm modernisation scheme and the western drainage scheme, headage grants under the disadvantaged areas scheme as well as certain smaller grants under the dairy herds conversion scheme and the non-marketing of milk scheme.
My Department and the other Departments concerned are in continuous contact with the European Commission about the situation and have urged that the necessary moneys be made available from Community funds to member states at the earliest possible date to meet obligations. I am hopeful that as a result early action will be taken by the Commission to resolve the difficulties.