To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the reasons for the delay in the payment of hill livestock compensatory allowances; if he will arrange for early part-payments of hill livestock compensatory allowances; and when he expects to release the full value of hill livestock compensatory allowances.

The Government are not yet in a position to announce the arrangements for payment of hill livestock compensatory allowances in 1991. This is because problems have arisen over the detailed implementation of a new EC ceiling on payments of 1·4 livestock units per hectare. Claim forms and explanatory leaflets will be issued to producers as quickly as possible once these problems have been resolved. It is not possible to be precise when payments will be made but the Government appreciates the importance of making HLCA payments in the early part of the year and every effort will be made to ensure that payments commence quickly.