§ Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domerasked Her Majesty's Government:
How fruit producers will be treated under the common agricultural policy reforms recently announced by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and whether there will be any difference in treatment (a) between orchard owners who graze livestock in their orchards and those who do not; and (b) between producers of dessert apples and producers of soft fruit. [HL2093]
231WA
§ Lord WhittyFrom 2005, the single payment will replace many existing direct payment schemes in the UK.
The payment will be delivered in each region determined for this purpose in England on a flat-rate basis including, during a transitional period to 2012, a reducing element based on individual historical subsidy receipts. It may be claimed against eligible hectares.
Eligible hectares do not include land under permanent crops. The definition of permanent crops has not yet been finalised but is expected to cover crops which normally remain in the ground for five years or more. For the avoidance of doubt, certain "multi-annual crops", such as soft fruit, are likely to be excluded from the definition of permanent crops.
Orchard crops (apples, pears, cherries and plums) are recognised as permanent crops and the single payment will generally not be available in respect of land on which they are grown. The presence or absence of livestock will not be a material consideration. The one possible exception to this is where the tree density is very low. This is still an area of evolving policy where the rules remain to be finalised.