asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many calf subsidy payments are still outstanding for calves which were punched in September, October and November 1986; to what factors he attributes such delays; and if he will make a statement.

Only 71 out of a total of 16,437 claims submitted under the calf premium scheme in the autumn 1986 period are still outstanding. These claims required further investigation. Computer programming difficulties and a shortage of funds prior to 31 December 1986, the end of the EC financial year, contributed to delays.