asked the Minister for Agriculture the reason for the delay in paying the special measures to aid farmers who suffered from the inclement weather of the past year; the number of applications for all schemes; the number passed; the range of grants paid; the total amount involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Relief Measures for Farmers.
34.
Applications for aid under the special relief measures for farmers affected by the bad weather exceeded all expectations and having regard to the numbers involved progress in making payments has been quite satisfactory.
The total number of applications received was approximately 150,000 of which approximately 134,000 were passed. Grants ranged up to £500 and in the case of feed voucher scheme applicants included entitlement to reduced price grain. The total expenditure on all the relief measures will be about £22 million plus 125,000 tonnes of grain at reduced price.
As regards headage payments some 172,000 payments totalling £52.8 million were in fact made by the end of 1985 in respect of the 1985 headage schemes. The corresponding figures up to end of 1984 in respect of the 1984 headage schemes were 86,000 payments and £32.6 million.