§ 11. Mr. Andrew MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the response of farmerss has been to the set-aside scheme launched in June.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe response has been satisfactory. I will be announcing figures of applications and registrations as soon as they are available following the 21 October closing date
§ Mr. MitchellDoes my right hon. Friend accept that there may be substantial environmental benefits from a temporary policy of land set-aside? All too often, modern farming practices can result in the destruction of our great national landscapes and habitats.
§ Mr. MacGregorI very much agree that there are big opportunities through set-aside for those environmental benefits. In drawing up the scheme I was very careful to have environmental conditions written into it which will help to ensure that. One interesting point from our early analysis of applications received is that the most popular choice so far is permanent fallow. I hope that farmers who undertake set-aside through permanent fallow will use the opportunity to improve the conservation value of land set aside in precisely the way that my hon. Friend has described.
§ Mr. CryerAre the Government thinking of introducing a set-aside scheme for factory owners whose factories have been set aside under this Government, causing the loss of 2 million jobs in less than 10 years? Will the set-aside scheme giving farmers up to £ 100 an acre for watching the grass grow apply only to farmers? Is it being denied to City institutions with offices in Mayfair which are taking Government money? They do not even see the grass grow—they are too far away.
§ Mr. MacGregorIt applies to all those who actually farm the land. There is a cost involved in looking after land and keeping it in good agricultural condition as well as environmentally attractive. The set-aside payments recognise that cost.