asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the total amount of money either already paid or payable by his Department to Carr Communications Limited since March 1987; the purpose and for whom the company was engaged; the expenditure to date or now owed to this company in relation to either himself or the Minister of State at his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Payment to Communications Company.
101.
Since March 1987 my Department paid Carr Communications a total of £15,144.72 (net of withholding tax), in respect of printing, promotional and related work undertaken on behalf of the interim Bord Glas which engaged the firm. No money is now owed to the firm.
102.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps he is taking to rectify the present position where farmers who, because of financial problems, opted for the conversion or non-marketing of milk schemes and since the Mulder Judgement and the Council of Ministers agreement in January, are milking up to 60 per cent of their original gallonage and must now pay super-levy on all the milk they produce and then apply for a refund; and the reason it is not possible to indicate immediately the figure which they can produce, that is 60 per cent of their original gallonage before cessation without super-levy deduction.
The EC Commission regulation laying down the detailed rules to implement the Council decision on those producers affected by the Mulder Judgment has only just been published.
Under the terms of the regulation certain undertakings have to be given by the eligible producers and certain checks carried out by my Department including farm inspections in most cases before the allocations of quotas can take place. Quotas will be allocated to producers as soon as the checks have been completed on the information submitted in their applications. The closing date for receipt of applications is 29 June next.