§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons the set-aside scheme was introduced; when it came into effect; and what is the total sum expended by each European Community nation and by the European Community institutions on the scheme in the most recent annual period for which figures are available.
§ Mr. CurryThe EC set-aside scheme was introduced as part of the EC stabilisers package. It was intended to provide farmers with an alternative source of income, while they adjusted to the effects of price constraint, and to reduce production of surplus arable crops. The scheme was agreed by the Council of Ministers in April 1988 and member states were required to introduce schemes by mid-July 1988. No member state fulfilled this obligation, although the United Kingdom, Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany introduced national schemes by mid-August 1988.
Information on expenditure in individual member states is not available but the Commission has estimated that the amount reimbursed by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund in 1990 in respect of the scheme was 42.3 mecu—£29.5 million.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many hectares of land have been approved for subsidy in each member state since the introduction of the set-aside scheme.
§ Mr. CurryThe latest information available indicates that the following areas have been entered into set-aside in the first two years of the scheme.
Hectares United Kingdom 100,809 Germany 222,384 Netherlands 8,737 Belgium 490 France 55,409 Ireland 2,768 Spain 46,303 Greece 250 Italy 251,617 Luxembourg 37 Denmark 0 Total 688,804 Source: EC Commission.
Note:—Portugal is not required to implement the scheme until 1995.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many hectares of land were devoted to cereal production in each member state, respectively, before the introduction of the set-aside scheme; and how many hectares were devoted to this Production purpose at the most recent date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. CurryThe information is as follows:
163W
Million hectares 1988 cereals harvest area 1990 cereals harvest area1 Belgium 0.35 0.35 Denmark 1.60 1.56 Germany 4.73 4.49 Greece 1.36 1.38
1988 cereals harvest area 1990 cereals harvest area1 Spain 7.64 7.45 France 9.15 8.98 Ireland 0.35 0.33 Italy 4.38 4.20 Luxembourg 0.04 0.03 Netherlands 0.20 0.20 Portugal 0.93 0.74 United Kingdom 3.90 3.66 Total 34.61 33.36 1Provisional. Source: EC Commission balance sheets.
Notes:
1. The EC scheme was introduced in 1988, but most member states did not introduce national schemes until after the 1988 harvest.
2. The German figures exclude production in the former German Democratic Republic.
3. Portugal is not required to implement the scheme until 1995.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the production of the various forms of cereals which are covered by the set-aside scheme in each member state in the annual period before the introduction of set-aside; and what are the comparable annual figures in respect of the most recent period for which figures are available.
§ Mr. CurryThe information requested is as follows:
Million tonnes 1988 cereals production 1990 cereals production1 Belgium 2.21 2.05 Denmark 8.07 9.82 Germany 27.11 26.04 Greece 4.59 3.76 Spain 23.15 18.20 France 55.87 54.64 Ireland 1.98 1.95 Italy 16.56 16.35 Luxembourg 0.12 0.13 Netherlands 1.22 1.37 Portugal 1.30 1.31 United Kingdom 21.11 22.42 Total 163.27 158.02 1 Provisional. Source: EC Commission balance sheets.
Notes:
1. The EC scheme was introduced in 1988, but most member states did not introduce national schemes until after the 1988 harvest.
2. The German figures exclude production in the former German Democratic Republic.
3. Portugal is not required to implement the scheme until 1995.