Joe Jacob
Question:73 Mr. Jacob asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the current position on the payment of the 1991 ewe premium.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Godfrey Timmins
Question:79 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the second instalment of the ewe premium will be paid; and the reason for the delay in payments to date.
I propose taking Questions Nos. 73 and 79 together.
The first instalment of the 1991 ewe premium has already been paid to some 50,700 flockowners. The total amount came to about £42 million and there was no particular delay in making the payments.
The second instalment, amounting to around £32 million, could not be paid until the relevant regulation had been published in the official journal of the EC. This has now been done and it is proposed to make these payments at the end of this week.
The third and final instalment will be paid in March/April next when it is fixed by the EC and the relevant regulation is published.