§ 2. Mr. James Gray (North Wiltshire) (Con)What estimate he has made of the number of registered farm holdings which straddle the English border. [167028]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mrs. Anne McGuire)I have made no such estimate. The registration of farm holdings in England and Scotland is a matter for the respective agriculture Departments. I am informed, however, that the relevant Departments have agreed detailed arrangements in respect of farm holdings that straddle the border, and of farm businesses with separate holdings on both sides of the border.
§ Mr. GrayIt is disappointing that the Minister has made no estimate of how many farms will be affected. The reform of the common agricultural policy means that English farms get £220 per hectare, whereas Scottish farms will still be paid on the historic basis and may get only half as much. What does the Minister think about a potato field that straddles the border? Farmers in England will be paid a subsidy for growing potatoes, but those in Scotland will not. The subsidy will mean that the noble English tuber will be substantially cheaper than the common Scottish tattie. Does the Minister think that that is reasonable? What is she going to do about farms that straddle the border?
§ Mrs. Anne McGuireIt is always a delight to hear the hon. Gentleman try to get his tongue around Scots words such as "tattie".
Arrangements are in place to allow holdings that straddle the border to apply for subsidy at a one-stop shop. Agriculture is a devolved issue, and different systems exist in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. There are also three different areas in England—a point that I hope that the hon. Gentleman will bear in mind at the next Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Question Time. It all depends on the particular circumstances of an area.
§ Dr. Gavin Strang (Edinburgh, East and Musselburgh) (Lab)On the question of the implementation of the most recent CAP reform package, does my hon. Friend agree that it is a very good thing that the four parts of the United Kingdom are able to diverge when it comes to the application of the measures? However, will she make representations to the Scottish Executive and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the UK Agriculture Minister, in respect of the real concerns about the continuation of set-aside, not least whole-farm set-aside? The CAP reform package has not 736 eliminated set-aside, and many of us in Scotland are particularly concerned not just about the short-term income of those who happen to be farmers at the moment but about future levels of agricultural production on these islands.
§ Mrs. McGuireI thank my right hon. Friend for that question, as he has great knowledge in this area. I welcome his comments about the devolution of responsibility. Thai allows different areas in the UK—including the three regions identified in England for the purposes of the single-farm payment—to take account of local circumstances. I shall draw my right hon. Friend's comments lo the attention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.