HC Deb 15 June 2004 vol 422 cc790-1W
Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the acreage of(a) apple, (b) pear, (c) plum and (d) cherry orchards is in active production in England; and whether that has varied over the last 10 years. [177782]

Alun Michael

The following figures show the total estimated area of orchard fruit from 1994 to 2003 in England and Wales.

Crop area (hectares)
Apples (dessert

and culinary)

 Pears Plums Cherries
1994 14,477 3,032 1,669 611
1995 12,797 2,941 1,588 604
1996 11,993 2,739 1,444 592
1997 12,783 2,665 1,672 645
1998 12,506 2,500 1,596 578
1999 12,013 2,360 1,367 591
2000 11,457 2,355 1,213 459
2001 9,970 2,330 1,072 473
2002 8,373 2,041 947 428
2003 7,796 1,742 1,003 381
Notes:
1. Data for 1994 and 1995 relates to England only.
2. Data for 1994 to 2000 inclusive excludes minor holdings.
3. The Orchard Fruit Survey is conducted on a sample basis with estimates made for non-responders and those holdings not surveyed.
Source:
Orchard Fruit Survey (England and Wales)

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money was paid to English apple growers under the Countryside Stewardship scheme in each of the last 10 years. [177786]

Mr. Bradshaw

Annual payments to Countryside Stewardship agreement holders, for the restoration of traditional orchards in each of the last 10 years were as follows:

£000
Amount
1994 99
1995 133
1996 146
1997 192
1998 220
1999 265
2000 294
2001 343
2002 387
2003 470

These orchards can be apple, pear, cherry, plum or damson, or cider and perry orchards, or cob nut platts.