HC Deb 25 February 1993 vol 219 cc988-9
1. Mr. Milligan

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what opportunities are afforded by set-aside to enhance the countryside.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. John Selwyn Gummer)

Set-aside offers the opportunity to create and extend wildlife habitats and bring a wide range of benefits to the countryside.

Mr. Milligan

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that answer. Is he aware that the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is doing a research project into the effect of set-aside and has found that fallow land is extremely helpful for the development of birds such as the linnet, the sedge warbler and the yellow wagtail? What measures are the Government taking to ensure that long-term set-aside produces benefits for wildlife and the character of our countryside?

Mr. Gummer

My hon. Friend is right. The RSPB has been supportive in this area. People should remember that, until relatively recently, fallowing was a natural part of the farming scene. I hope that we will be able to use long-term set-aside to have other environmental advantages on which the RSPB is working as well.

Mr. Bennett

What progress has the Minister made towards agreement with his EC colleagues that long-tern set-aside can have broad-leaved trees planted on it?

Mr. Gummer

We are discussing that point at present. It has all-party support and I hope that we shall achieve it.

Mr. Colvin

In further enhancing wildlife, will my right hon. Friend consider including in the new set-aside proposals provisions for the planting of what is known as game mixture? That would not only add to wildlife and do nothing to increase agricultural production, but would benefit the environment and be very welcome.

Mr. Gummer

We are looking at a whole range of matters. I believe that the provision of countryside sports is an important part of the contribution to the economy of the countryside.

Mr. Tyler

In administering the set-aside proposals, will the Minister ensure that red tape and bureaucracy are kept to the absolute minimum? Following his speech yesterday, is he aware that his Department's manpower costs for the years 1990–95 are calculated to have increased by 42 per cent., even before the set-aside bureaucracy is in place? Does not it look as though the only growth sector in the industry over the next few years will be in Ministry snoopers?

Mr. Gummer

As the hon. Gentleman has been foremost among those who have asked for supply controls and is supported in that by a large number of farmers, he must expect that the only way to ensure that people are not defrauded is to ensure that those supply controls are met.

As I said in my speech yesterday, there are real problems with supply management. That is why the Government oppose it in principle. When we must carry it out, as we must do in the context of the common agricultural policy, we shall do so with the least red tape which is commensurate with ensuring that the public purse is protected.