§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of rotational set-aside.
§ Mr. CurryThe Ministry has an ongoing programme of monitoring and research on the environmental effects of set-aside, including changes in botanical composition and impact on wildlife habitats, weeds, diseases, pests and nitrate leaching. We were able to draw on this and on advice from environmental organisations in establishing the rules for management of rotational set-aside under the new EC arable scheme last year. It is as yet too early to assess the impact of the rotational set-aside arrangements, which were introduced only last autumn, but we will be carrying out a full evaluation of both these and the non-rotational set-aside arrangements which are due to be introduced from this autumn.