Please find the information requested in relation to the numbers of eligible applications received for the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme for the years 2015 to 2020 in the table below.
Year
|
Number of applicants who hold ANC eligible land
|
Number paid
|
2015
|
103,458
|
96,890
|
2016
|
100,537
|
95,287
|
2017
|
100,949
|
96,004
|
2018
|
101,379
|
95,723
|
2019
|
104,709
|
99,283
|
2020*
|
104,443
|
92,279
|
* Figures for the 2020 scheme year are as of the 27th November 2020.
Under the terms and conditions of the ANC scheme, applicants must meet minimum stocking requirements to qualify for payment under the scheme. Not all eligible applicants to the scheme will necessarily satisfy all the scheme requirements in order to qualify for a payment. For example, many will make management decisions in relation to their stocking rates which will impact on their eligibility for payment. For those applicants with eligible land in the table above who did not receive a payment, the vast majority of cases did not meet the minimum stocking density requirements of the scheme.
Payments in relation to the 2020 ANC scheme continue to be made as cases are cleared for payment. In addition, arrangements are now being finalised to issue the balancing payments due under the 2020 ANC Scheme in December.