Country Landowners Association (Hansard, 20 October 1988)

§ 12. Mr. Marland
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the president of the Country Landowners Association; and what subjects they discussed.

§ Mr. MacGregor
I last met the president of the Country Landowners Association on 5 October. We discussed various matters of mutual interest.

§ Mr. Marland
My right hon. Friend will know how enthusiastic the Country Landowners Association is that voluntary set-aside should succeed. Although it is now almost too late for arable farmers to register for set-aside, is there a message that my right hon. Friend would like the CLA and hon. Members to convey to arable farmers who would like to register at this late stage?

§ Mr. MacGregor
Yes. I know that the CLA has been very helpful. I have been seen press reports that suggest that the president of the CLA has applied to set aside part of his land. The CLA is also helpful in assisting us to monitor—indeed, it will do some monitoring for us—what some people fear might be a problem in relation to tenants on set-aside land. I do not think that there is a problem yet, but the monitoring will be helpful. Although registrations have to be in by the closing date, that is only to help farmers who may wish to apply for set-aside in future years. It will still be possible for them to do that, but it will be more difficult if they do not register.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
How does the Minister respond to the CLA's latest proposals for an automatic system of compensation for land blighted during nuclear incidents such as Chernobyl?

§ Mr. MacGregor
We are looking at several proposals made by the CLA, and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary will meet the CLA at the end of the month.

§ Mr. Gale
Bearing in mind the recent anniversary of the October hurricane, did my right hon. Friend take the opportunity to discuss with the CLA the number of trees still lying on the land, particularly in Kent? Was he able to reassure the CLA that his efforts will continue unabated until the trees are removed and new trees are planted in their place?

§ Mr. MacGregor
I have not only discussed that with the CLA, but, to coincide with the anniversary, I have visited many areas that have been affected. Although I recognise the difficulties, substantial efforts have been made by woodland owners and others to do the clearing up, and I believe that by early next year we may well see half the clearing up done. There is also a good prospective take-up of the schemes that we have introduced to help with replanting.