HC Deb 03 March 1988 vol 128 cc670-1W
23. Mr. Skinner

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with other European Economic Community Ministers regarding the proposed set-aside scheme; and if he will make a statement.

33. Mr. McCartney

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement about the operation of the European Community set-aside scheme in the United Kingdom.

59. Mr. Lord

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he now expects a set-aside scheme for arable land to be introduced in Great Britain.

88. Mr. Paice

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will introduce a cereals set-aside scheme for Great Britain.

91. Mr. Alexander

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will implement a scheme to enable farmers to set-aside cereals land in Great Britain.

93. Mrs. Gillian Shephard

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a cereals set-aside scheme will be implemented in Great Britain.

100. Miss Emma Nicholson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent progress has been made in developing a set-aside scheme for arable land.

Mr. MacGregor

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reported to the House on 15 February, the general principles of a new set-aside scheme were agreed at the European Council on 11 to 13 February. This scheme goes wider than the extensification measure agreed in June 1987, and will supersede it. Discussions are proceeding in Brussels on the legal texts required to implement the agreement, and the Agriculture Council will be considering the matter next week. The Government will be making decisions about the implementation of the scheme in the United Kingdom, including the date on which the scheme will start, when the exact terms of the Community legislation are clear and we have completed consideration of the views expressed earlier in response to the consultation document issued in December.

17. Mr. Evans

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next intends meeting representatives of conservation groups to discuss the operation of the European Community set-aside scheme in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Gummer

Ministers and officials of my Department are in regular contact with conservation bodies on this subject. A wide range of such bodies sent us views on the consultation document issued in December.

64. Mr. Lewis

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning his proposals to encourage tree-planting on surplus agricultural land.

Mr. Gummer

We announced revised proposals for the farm woodland scheme in November following a consultation exercise last year. Since then I have discussed the revised scheme with representatives of the main interested organisations. Most of the changes we made have been welcomed on all sides.