§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to make a statement on the package of positive payments to encourage environmentally friendly activities included within common agricultural policy reform.
§ Mr. CurryWe propose to develop a new nitrate reduction programme especially where this is necessary to protect drinking water sources, a new scheme to encourage organic farming, a new scheme to reduce livestock numbers where this will be environmentally beneficial, measures to increase the environmental benefits of set-aside and payments to manage land for public access and recreation. Details of these proposals will be issued for consultation this winter. They are in addition to plans to introduce a series of new environmentally sensitive areas.
§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to announce the detailed implications and administrative arrangements resulting from common agricultural policy reform.
§ Mr. CurryWe have been providing information to farmers as quickly as possible as the detailed arrangements for implementing CAP reform have been agreed. All registered arable farmers were sent a booklet in September which set out detailed guidance on the operation of the reformed arable regime. Agreement has just been reached on the implementing regulation in the sheepmeat sector. Agreement has been reached on the integrated administration and control system regulations, but the detailed implementing rules have yet to be finalised.