Vol. 439 No. 5
169 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, he has taken as regards staffing, computerisation, simplification of forms and otherwise to ensure that headage payments and premia payments are made in the year in which they are due and at the time at which they are due in 1994 and in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I recently announced a £4.8 million investment programme to further develop and upgrade computer facilities and provide other resources in my Department in 1994 to achieve timely payment of headage and premia in future. This investment which is part of an on-going investment programme aimed at improving the operation of these schemes will allow for the development in 1994, of a computerised inquiry facility and of a system of on-line inputting of payments. It will also allow for the recruitment in 1994 of up to 110 extra staff to be deployed on headage and premium payment schemes in the local and headquarters offices of my Department.
I have also undertaken to seek changes in EU rules to facilitate earlier payments and to put in place arrangements for consultations with farm organisations etc. with a view to simplifying application forms and other administrative procedures relating to the premium and headage schemes.
As a consequence of these measures, I am satisfied that there will be a major improvement in the delivery of headage and premia payments.
