§ 18. Mr. LordTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the Government are taking to encourage the growing of alternative crops on set-aside land; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe EC rules on the new arable area payments scheme allow a wide range of crops to be grown on set-aside land for specified non-food uses. Although member states are not required to implement these arrangements in full in the first year of the scheme, the United Kingdom has done so. I know that a number of growers will be taking advantage of this opportunity.
§ Mr. StevensonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken to implement the revised set-aside arrangements in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. CurryAn explanatory booklet on the arable area payments scheme was published in early September and copies were placed in the House Library. The booklet contains detailed information about what growers must do if they wish to claim area payments in 1993 and about the related set-aside requirements, including the management conditions and the arrangements under which crops can be grown on set-aside land for non-food use. Claim forms will be available next year.