When the single farm payment was due to be paid and when it anticipates that payment will now be made.

Payments under the Single Farm Payment Scheme are due to be made between 1 December 2005 and 30 June 2006. The timing and amount of payment is dependent on agreement at EU level to legislation providing for partial or advance payments, ahead of finalising the calculation of payment entitlement. This is because a small percentage of the final payment level depends on National Reserve allocations across the UK. My department is on track to deliver Scottish payment entitlements, including National Reserve calculations, on time for payment when the payment window opens at the start of December, subject to EU approval.