Mr. John M. TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance he is offering for set-aside schemes to involve the planting of broadleaf trees.
§ Mr. GummerThe Community set-aside scheme agreed by the European Council on 15 February includes provision for land taken out of arable crop production to be used for woodland. As suggested in the consultation document issued earlier, this woodland option might in the United Kingdom be linked to the new farm woodland scheme which, if approved by Parliament, would offer special encouragement for broadleaved trees. I and my colleagues will be considering the point further in the light of the views that have been expressed and the detailed legislative texts on set-aside still to be agreed in Brussels.