Written question asked by David Kidney (Labour) on Monday, 5 November 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 November 2001. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Monday, 12 November 2001 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the waiting time is for access to the three-day farm business advisory services for farmers in (a) England and (b) the West Midlands. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the waiting time is for access to the three-day farm business advisory services for farmers in (a) England and (b) the west midlands. [13198] Alun Michael: Waiting lists vary across regions and it is not possible to provide a future for England. The waiting list in the West Midlands region is currently open ended. To ease waiting lists we have switched £1.5 million of funding from the five-day "enhanced" service to the three-day service allowing demand for both services to be met. This will reduce waiting times considerably. The west midlands region anticipate that their three-day waiting list will be cleared within five weeks.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 13198; 374 c592-3W;374 c593W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Advisory services Administrative delays Finance Farmers Standards West Midlands Farm Business Advice Service
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk