§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's policy in respect of the holding of car boot sales on agricultural land with particular reference to set-aside land. [35513]
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§ Mr. BaldryEuropean Union rules currently prohibit any lucrative use of set-aside land incompatible with the growing of an arable crop. The European Commission has ruled that this prohibition applies even to local or charitable events where the proceeds go to someone other than the farmer. It therefore applies to car boot sales. The Government consider this restriction to be unwelcome and unnecessary arid are continuing their efforts to persuade the Commission to relax its ruling.