HL Deb 26 July 1993 vol 548 cc86-7WA
Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made in agreeing the rules for set-aside for next year.

Earl Howe

At the Council of Agriculture Ministers on Monday 19th July, my right honourable friend the Minister stressed the importance for both agriculture and the environment of reaching early agreement on the future for those farmers coming out of five-year set-aside this year. They need to know whether they will be able to put more than 18 per cent. of their land into set-aside under the new arable area payments scheme. In reply the Agriculture Commissioner indicated that he intended to propose to the Commission that compensation should be paid for voluntary set-aside which exceeded 18 per cent. He also intended to propose arrangements for the transfer of set-aside obligation. A combination of these two measures could offer a solution.

My right honourable friend had hoped that a suitable proposal would have been available for discussion at the council. The Commissioner acknowledged the deadline agreed by Ministers at the May council, of 31st July. My right honourable Friend will urge them to meet this and will press for an early agreement by the Council.

However, more progress has been made on some of the other detailed, set-aside rules that will apply next year. The Cereals Management Committee voted on these at the end of last week. We expect the regulations to be adopted formally by the Commissioner in time to come into force on 1st September.

The key points are:

  • —The rotational set-aside period will be from 15th January to 31st August. However, from 15th July, subject to any national rules, producers may sow crops for harvest the next year.
  • —For both rational and non-rational set aside, during the period 1st September to 14th January, producers must not sell any green cover remaining on the land whether for grazing or for hay or silage. However, they may harvest hay or silage for their own use during this period or graze their own animals on the land
  • —Land entered into non-rotational set aside, must remain set-aside from 15th January for at least five years. The set-aside rules apply throughout this period though limited use of the green cover is allowed between 1st September and 14th January. Penalties will be applied if the land does not remain in set-aside for five years except that:
  • —exceptionally, farmers may take land out of non-rotational set-aside without penalty at the end of 1993–94; and
  • —they may take land out of set-aside without penalty to join forestry or agri-environment schemes; and
  • —the obligation to keep land in non-rotational set-aside will not apply if the land changes hand.
  • —Short rotation coppice may be grown on set-aside land. However, it will not he eligible for establishment grants under the Woodland Grant Scheme.

The rules as they stand do not permit arable land entered into the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme or land withdrawn from production under the Agri-Environment Programme to count as set-aside under the arable support arrangements. My right honourable friend will also be urging the Council of Ministers to allow this.

Copies of a free leaflet giving more details of these changes will be deposited in the Library of the House.