Charitable Events on Set-aside Land

HL Deb 15 October 1996 vol 574 c208WA

Baroness Masham of Ilton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will propose that EU law on the use of set-aside land should be amended to permit charitable events to take place on set-aside land by arrangement with MAFF rather than with individual farmers.

Lord Lucas

No. If a charity wishes to use set-aside land for a fund raising event, it should agree with the farmer that he is content for the land to be used free of charge and the farmer must then seek permission from his Regional Service Centre for and exemption to allow the use of the set-aside land. I am pleased to be able to say that the European Commission has now given an undertaking to Her Majesty's Government to permit use of set-aside land for charitable fund-raising events in the future.