§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to encourage pilot schemes of alternative uses of land currently under set-aside; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryLand currently entered into the nonagricultural use or woodland options of the voluntary five-year set-aside scheme can be planted with trees or put to other appropriate alternative uses.
The EC regulations governing the new arable area payments scheme, under which land will be set aside for the first time from this winter, allow such land to be used to grow a wide range of crops for specified non-food uses. subject to suitable controls. Though optional for member states this year, we are implementing these arrangements in full from the outset.
§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on permanent and rotational methods of headland set-aside; and how he plans to protect viable headlands.
§ Mr. CurrySet-aside of headlands and field margins can bring environmental benefits. We were able to secure provision in the Community rules for the set-aside of such areas provided they meet minimum width and area requirements.
Member states are required to apply appropriate agronomic and environmental safeguards to all land set-aside under the new arable area payments arrangements. Our management requirements are listed in the booklet on the area payments scheme, a copy of which has 607W been placed in the Library of the House. These requirements will be reviewed to reflect the choice between rotational and non-rotational set-aside, which is due to be introduced in 1993.