§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers in Scotland have applied for the set-aside scheme for 1991–92; how many hectares of land are involved; what was the total expenditure for set-aside schemes for each year since 1988; how many farmers benefited; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 16 December 1991]: A total of 131 farmers have applied to enter the one-year set-aside scheme for 1991–92, proposing to set aside a total of 2,345 hectares; 122 farmers have applied to enter into an agreement under the five-year set-aside scheme, with effect from I October 1991, proposing to set aside a total of 4,542 hectares.
Claims made and expenditure incurred on the five-year set-aside scheme are as follows:
Set-aside year Number of claims Expenditure £ 1988–89 364 2,312,558 1989–90 529 3,522,265 Claims for the 1990–91 year, ended 30 September 1991, are currently being processed. It is estimated that 658 claims will be paid, amounting in total to £4,670,000.
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§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which crops were proposed for each acre of agreed set-aside land for each year since 1988; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 16 December 1991]: No agricultural crops may be produced on set-aside land. A green plant cover must be established on land set-aside as fallow, by sowing or by allowing the naturally occurring vegetation to regenerate. No plant species are prescribed for sown plant cover.
Under the non-agricultural use option, set-aside land may be used to produce hay for horses or to grow crops intended as cover for game birds in a commercial shooting enterprise. Such cover crops must include a mixture of appropriate species and may not be harvested. No records are kept of the specific areas used for hay or game crops under this option.