§ Sir Anthony Meyerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to identify the areas of marginal land that could qualify for assistance under the less favoured areas directive.
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§ Mr. Peter WalkerA survey was begun by the previous Administration to identify without commitment those areas of poor quality land outside the hill line which are farmed on a similar extensive system and suffer from much the same natural handicaps.
In England and Wales, we have now reached the stage where some field inspections are necessary to define or confirm these areas so that statistical and economic information can be collected about the farms within them for comparison with the objective criteria laid down by the EEC Commission for less favoured areas under EEC Directive 75/268.
The fieldwork will be the responsibility of the land service of ADAS, which is already heavily loaded with work on the capital grants schemes. To enable it to undertake this additional task, it is proposed to introduce as soon as possible arrangements to enable more work to start without prior inspection under the grant schemes. Details will be announced shortly. It is hoped in this way to be able to complete the fieldwork on marginal land in 1981.
There is, of course, no presumption that any land inspected now will necessarily become eligible for special assistance. The Government cannot give any undertaking at this stage either that the less favoured areas will be extended or, if they are, that extra public funds will be available.