Welsh anger at beef subsidy delay

6 February 2001



Welsh anger at beef subsidy delay

By FWi staff

FEWER than three out of five livestock producers in Wales entitled to suckler cow payments have received the money, the Welsh Assembly has admitted.

Welsh farm minister Carwyn Jones was due to make the revelation at the National Farmers Union conference in London on Tuesday (6 February).

But he was unable to attend the two-day event because of a Welsh Cabinet meeting to discuss job losses at the Corus steel plant in south Wales.

Instead, his speech to the conference was delivered by civil servant Huw Brodie, director of agriculture at the Welsh Assemby.

Just 55% of the suckler payments have been made to producers, he told delegates of the NFU Welsh affairs committee.

The remaining payments were queries which the Welsh Assembly was working to resolve with the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Brodie added.

Mr Brodie admitted that there were problems with the governments Central Ear-tag Database, which civil servants were working to resolve.

It had emerged emerged that 751 suckler cows had accidentally received Beef Special Premiums which should have gone to male cattle.

One delegate told the conference he believed the ongoing delay in the beef payments had cost Welsh farmers up to 300,000 in interest payments alone.

Mr Jones said he hoped payments would be made by 6 March. By that date last year, 91% of subsidies were paid. The aim was to beat that figure, he said.