§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the new farm woodland scheme; and if he will state when the cash limit will be known.
§ Mr. HanleyI welcome the new farm woodland premium scheme which will be operated in Northern Ireland under the same terms and conditions as for the rest of the United Kingdom.
Uptake under the existing scheme, introduced in 1988, has declined substantially and I trust that the new enhanced rates of premiums and the general front-loading of the new scheme will encourage Northern Ireland farmers to participate to a greater extent than they have in the past.
Cash limits will be known prior to the launch of the scheme on 1 April 1992.