§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent it is possible to link the amounts and scale of set-aside payments to environmental and social improvements involving(a) management of hedgerows, (b) protection of unsprayed headland, (c) reductions in the use of nitrogen, (d) the planting of trees, (e) the creation of wildlife habitats, (f) attractive landscapes and (g) the provision of new footpaths and bridlepaths; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. JackThe EC rules of the arable area payments scheme require member states to apply appropriate environmmental measures to set-aside land. The United Kingdom rules for set-aside include the maintenance of hedgerows and other environmental features and restrictions on the use of sprays and fertilisers. We expect to introduce non-rotational set-aside later this year which will allow greater opportunity for the creation of wildlife habitats and we are pressing strongly for the Community rules to encourage tree planting on set-aside land. There is at present no scope under EC rules to vary the set-aside payment. However, under the agri-environment programme we are considering a voluntary scheme to make additional payments to farmers who provide public access on suitable set-aside land.