§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields on 18 December 1989,Official Report, column 31, whether the Soil Association or British Organic Growers would also be eligible to receive grant aid.
§ Mr. GummerMy Department is already grant-aiding the United Kingdom register of organic food standards (UK ROFS) with £60,000 per annum. It also supports research directly related to organic farming amounting to90W £198,000 last year and other research of assistance to organic farmers amounting to £892,000 last year. Other aids to organic farmers were listed in the written answer given on 16 January to a question from the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor), Official Report, columns 215–16. Further grant aid to the Soil Association or British Organic Growers is not envisaged.
§ Mr. Tom ArnoldTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what European Community support is being made available to farmers intending to change from traditional to organic methods.
§ Mr. MacleanPayments for leaving land fallow under the set aside scheme can assist with the cost of conversion to organic farming, whilst grants can be made under the farm and conservation grant scheme towards investment in organic production. Both schemes are part funded by the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund. Similar funding arrangements would apply to the pilot whole farm organic extensification scheme, on which a consultation document will be issued shortly. For details of the full range of assistance to the organic sector I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) on 16 January 1990 at columns215–16.