§ 6. Angela Smith (Basildon)What assistance is available to farmers wishing to diversify into organic production.[137137]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Elliot Morley)Under the England rural development programme, the organic farming scheme provides conversion aid under five-year agreements to farmers in England. The budget for the scheme over a seven-year period up to 2007 is £140 million. In addition, the organic conversion information service—OCIS—which is funded by MAFF, provides free advice to potential organic farmers.
§ Angela SmithI warmly thank my hon. Friend for that answer that shows a real commitment to organic fanning, that we have not had in this country for many years. One of the problems encountered by people interested in converting to organic farming is that of co-ordinating information, advice and technical assistance. Will my hon. Friend ensure that there is co-ordination of technical assistance and advice, as well as help with marketing?
§ Mr. MorleyMy hon. Friend makes a good point. Those who choose to convert to organic farming need technical and business support. We provide that through 1061 our research and development budget, which has been doubled to £2.2 million. There is also a range of R and D projects relating to soil, fertilisers and manure, worth about £8 million a year, which is beneficial to the organic sector. Through OCIS, people get help, support and backing, as they do through the Soil Association and other organisations that back farmers.
§ Mr. James Paice (South-East Cambridgeshire)The Minister will know that a crucial part of organic farming is crop rotation, to keep the land clean, and that that always means the inclusion of root crops. What are the Government doing to prevent the British sugar industry from being destroyed by the proposals of Commissioner Lamy, which would not only damage our industry but destroy the cane industry in the Caribbean?
§ Mr. MorleyThat was an ingenious way of getting sugar beet into a question on organic farming. These are major issues for our sugar beet sector, which is important in my constituency. We are aware of the concerns and have received representations from sugar beet farmers. We are aware of the proposals and are giving careful thought to the issues.
§ Joan Ruddock (Lewisham. Deptford)I congratulate my hon. Friend on his great success in constantly getting more funding and resources for organic farming, and I apologise to him because I am constantly asking for more. Will he confirm that the United Kingdom is the only country in the European Union that does not give financial rewards for the environmental benefits of organic farming, and does he plan to do anything about that?
§ Mr. MorleyStudies have shown that organic farming brings environmental benefits, and we recognise that as a Ministry and as a Government. We have a range of agri-environment schemes, such as countryside stewardship and environmentally sensitive areas, designed to meet different objectives. It may well be that organic farmers can choose to go into countryside stewardship schemes. We are to review our agri-environment programme in 2003. Given the substantial extra sums that will go into the schemes through the rural development programme, it may be opportune to consider organic stewardship schemes for the future, and I assure my hon. Friend that we will give that careful consideration.