§ 22. Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how much income will be derived by the commissioners from the common agricultural policy set-aside scheme in the current financial year.
§ Mr. AlisonThe commissioners do not, as a matter of policy, farm any land themselves. Any set-aside payments will be made to their tenants.
§ Mr. BanksAt a time when pits are facing closure because they are said to be uneconomic, is it not wrong for any land that is owned by the Church to be attracting money when nothing is grown on it? The right hon. Gentleman knows far more about this than I do, but did not St. Paul say something about a man reaping what he sows? I can see exactly what is being reaped by some tenants—a lot of payments from the taxpayer. I cannot see what the tenants are sowing, other than discontent.
§ Mr. AlisonThe hon. Gentleman will appreciate that, paradoxically, much contentment will accrue for a large number of urban dwellers who have strong ecological and environmental sympathies. They will find that, instead of cornfields, there will be many acres of beautiful flowing grass and lovely cornflowers growing. That will be widely appreciated by a large number of people.