HC Deb 20 November 1996 vol 285 cc562-3W
Dr. Strang

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money his Department spent in each region of England in 1995–96 on(a) set-aside payments under the arable area scheme and (b) arable area payments. [4220]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

[holding answer 18 November 1996]: The table gives figures for each MAFF region for claims in respect of (a) set-aside and (b) total payments under 1995 arable area payments scheme. The amounts paid will have been slightly lower because of the reductions made for various reasons. As such reductions normally have to be calculated on the basis of the total claim, which may include land in more than one region, it is not possible to give figures for the total amounts paid on a regional basis.

Payments claimed under arable area payments scheme in 1995
Set-aside payments £ All arable area payments £
Anglia 46,798,016 289,913,141
East Midlands 33,075,309 219,326,503
North East 25,841,703 167,203,491
Northern 6,084,999 42,205,946
North Mercia 7,747,702 51,869,608
South Mercia 13,348,438 83,637,294
South East 30,979,065 177,429,223
South West 4,115,287 30,112,184
Wessex 11,717,915 73,109,534

Dr. Strang

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what area of land was set aside in 1995–96 under the arable area scheme for each region of England. [4221]

Mr. Hogg

[holding answer 18 November 1996]: The areas of land set aside on which payments were made in each MAFF region under the 1995 arable area payments scheme were as follows:

Hectare
Anglia 137,258
East Midlands 97,010
North East 75,794
Northern 17,847
North Mercia 22,724
South Mercia 39,151
South East 90,861
South West 12,070
Wessex 34,369

Dr. Strang

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many payments were made in England in 1995–96 for set-aside under the arable area scheme(a) between £0 and £5,000, (b) £5,001 and £10,000, (c) £10,001 and £15,000, (d) £15,001 and £20,000, (e) £20,001 and £25,000, (f) £25,001 and £50,000, (g) £50,001 and £75,000, (h) £75,001 and £100,000, (i) £100,001 and £150,000, (j) £150,001 and £200,000, (k) £200,001 and £250,000, (l) £250,001 and £300,000, (m) £300,001 and £350,000, (n) £350,001 to £400,000, (o) £400,001 and £450,000, (p) £450,001 and £500,000 and (q) over £500,000. [4223]

Mr. Hogg

[holding answer 18 November 1996]: The table sets out the number of set-aside payments made under the 1995 arable area payments scheme in the bands requested. Some claimants will have received more than one payment.

Set-aside payments in England banded by size of payment
Size band Number of payments
£0 and £5,000 22,143
£5,001 and £10,000 6,934
£10,001 and £15,000 2,204
£15,001 and £20,000 977
£20,001 and £25,000 413
£25,001 and £50,000 37
£50,001 and £75,000 87
£75,001 and £100,000 23
£100,001 and £150,000 7
£150,001 and £200,000 2
£200,001 and £250,000 1
£250,001 and over 0