§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will tabulate the sums payable in sterling equivalent per hectare for land set aside in each of the member states of the European Community.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe European Commission has provided comparative information on rates of payment in terms of ecus for the permanent fallow option of set-aside. The rates expressed in sterling are:
Member State Rate(s) per hectare per year Belgium £123, £166, £210 and £304 depending on region Denmark No information yet available Federal Republic of Germany £226-£451 depending on soil quality of the farm Greece £53–£105 depending on crop and region Spain £75, £90, £127 and £202 depending on region France £83–£241 depending on region and proportion of farm set aside Republic of Ireland £157 Italy £251, £264, £290 and £363 depending on region Luxembourg £159 Netherlands £449 Portugal Not yet obliged to implement set-aside United Kingdom £180 (less favoured areas) and £200 (other areas). Note: Rates in ecus converted into national currencies at the 1988 green rates applying to set-aside and then into sterling at the 8 November 1988 spot rates.