§ Mr. Robert Banksasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what incentives there are to cereal producers to switch to the growing of alternative crops or alternative land usage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe changes agreed at this year's CAP price fixing provide incentives for cereals producers to switch to alternatives. Cereals production has been discouraged by the significant reduction in support as a result of adjustments to the quality standards and the486W introduction of a 3 per cent. co-responsibility levy. The balance is further shifted by the differentiated changes in the green rates which results in a rise of about 2¾ per cent. in the general level of support for livestock products in the United Kingdom, while modest support increases agreed for protein crops together with the green rate change provide an increase of up to 2.3 per cent. in our support levels. We are also studying the possibility of a scheme of voluntary set-aside for cereals.