§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much land he expects to be taken out of agricultural production under the set-aside scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much land has been set aside under the set-aside scheme.
§ Mr. RyderUnited Kingdom arable farmers who joined the scheme for the 1988–89 crop year have set aside some 55,000 hectares of land. The scheme is open until 31 July 1989 for applications from farmers wishing to join for the 1989–90 crop year. The amount of additional land entered for the scheme, in this and future years, will depend on the decisions of farmers in the light of their own circumstances and the continuing reductions in support for arable crops under the stabiliser system.