Welsh farmers receive £136k in low-flying compensation

Welsh farmers have been compensated to the tune of £136,763.95 over the last five years, due to disruptions from low-flying military exercises.

This information comes following a written parliamentary question raised by Jonathan Edwards, the Independent MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, to the Secretary of State for Defence.

Jonathan Edwards had inquired: “To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the total amount of compensation paid to Welsh farmers as a result of low-flying military activity for each of the past five years, broken down by Welsh county.”

In response, James Heappey, the Minister of State for the Ministry of Defence, detailed the figures: “The total amount of compensation paid in relation to low flying claims in Wales in the five-year period from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2023 is £136,763.95 as set out in the table below.”

The breakdown provided for each financial year is:

• FY2018-19: A total of £27,654.70 was distributed, with Conwy receiving the highest at £20,000.00.
• FY2019-20: Compensation amounted to £67,369.06, with Monmouthshire being the top recipient with £44,228.00.
• FY2020-21: The total compensation stood at £32,810.36. Carmarthenshire recorded the highest with £28,121.38.
• FY2021-22: £6,721.55 was distributed, with Ceredigion receiving the lion’s share of £4,771.33.
• FY2022-23: Carmarthenshire was the sole recipient with a compensation of £2,208.28.

Heappey clarified that the figures represent the total paid to all members of the public, irrespective of their occupation, and not just farmers. The Ministry of Defence does not always possess detailed information on the occupation of every claimant.

Image Chris Lofting (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2), via Wikimedia Commons.