HC Deb 26 October 1992 vol 212 c504W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to provide schemes to grow crops that can produce energy.

Mr. Curry

Under the new EC arable area payments scheme which comes into operation this year, growers will be able to claim area or set-aside payments on land used to produce eligible crops for a range of non-food uses, including biofuels and crops for direct combustion.

Short rotation coppice is eligible for establishment grants under the woodland grant scheme, which is operated by the forestry authority. Grants are also available under the farm and conservation grant scheme to help farmers meet the cost of straw and coppiced wood burning boilers and furnaces for their farms.