§ Mr. Rookerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he expects the decline in the use of land for agriculture to continue; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerIt is difficult to predict the future trend in the diversion of land from agriculture to other uses, but
(Mecu) 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 Belgium 1 7 13 9 12 Denmark 17 43 42 55 46 Germany 184 290 381 466 460 Greece 58 53 23 12 10 Spain — — — — 45 France 67 165 190 256 240 Ireland 26 50 71 88 84 Italy 61 100 123 137 125 Luxembourg 0 0 0 0 0 Netherlands 5 44 84 89 90 Portugal — — — — 3 United Kingdom 48 105 129 229 234 Source: Community contributions to intervention technical and financing costs as given in EC Commission EAGGF financial reports.
616Wwe have recently announced a number of new policy initiatives to encourage farmers to diversify, with the aim of reducing production of commodities in surplus.
§ Mr. Nicholas Bennettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate has been made as to the amount of farmland taken out of production in each year since 1973.
§ Mr. GummerSome of the information my hon. Friend requires was given in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South Hams (Mr. Steen) on Thursday 12 February 1987 at col287. I shall write to my hon. Friend giving further information shortly.