HC Deb 18 October 1989 vol 158 cc131-2W
Mr. Wray

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has for each year since 1979 on the amount of organic food produced in(a) Canada, (b) Denmark, (c) France, (d) the Federal Republic of Germany, (e) Holland, (f) Sweden and (g) the United States of America.

Mr. Maclean

This information is not available.

Mr. Wray

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the amount of(a) private and (b) public funds spent on research about organic farming for each year since 1979.

Mr. Maclean

Information on the amount of public funds spent on research about organic farming for this year was given in the reply to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) on 18 May at col.300. Information for earlier years can be produced only at disproportionate cost. Information on the amount of private funds spent on organic farming is not available.

Mr. Wray

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to support and promote organic farming.

Mr. Maclean

The Government are already encouraging British farmers in various ways to respond to consumer demand for organic produce. My Department was instrumental in setting up the United Kingdom register of organic food standards to produce national organic standards and an independent certification and inspection scheme. UKROFS is now well advanced in its work. The fallow option of the set-aside scheme enables farmers to prepare their land for organic production without forgoing income entirely. Similar support is being considered under the forthcoming extensification scheme. The farm and conservation grant scheme, co-operative sector assistance and ADAS advice are all available to organic producers. My department's R & D activities are also relevant to organic farming as is the recently announced comprehensive economic survey of organic farming which we are funding.