§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what use non-saleable crops are likely to be permitted under the new set-aside proposals; and when he expects detailed conditions to be published by the relevant authority that will determine environmental options available to national Governments.
§ Mr. CurryI hope that the draft legal texts implementing the Council agreement will be adopted this month. The Commission will then have to table detailed implementing regulations and proposals on the use of set-aside land to grow industrial crops. Until these are in place, it is not possible to provide authoritative guidance about national management conditions or the preciserange of crops that might be permitted on land set-aside under the new arable regime.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 11 June,Official Report, column 274, on set-aside, what environmental conditions he considers to be vital elements for the new set-aside arrangements agreed in the common agricultural policy reform package in May.
§ Mr. GummerThe appropriate environmental conditions will vary depending on the individual circumstances of each member state. The most important factors are to ensure that set-aside land is properly managed and that the management conditions offer scope for it to be used in ways which will benefit the environment. We shall be developing our own national requirements in the light of these factors.