§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what considerations underlay the decision to include forage hectares of cereals which are not claimed for under the arable aid claims scheme in the total for arable crops claimed against base areas.
§ Sir Hector MonroThe inclusion of forage hectares of cereals in the total for arable crops claimed against the base area is a legal requirement under article 2 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1765/92, the regulation governing the administration of the arable area payments scheme. The regulation applies throughout the European Community.
§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if cereals for which arable aid was not claimed were excluded from the figure for main scheme arable aid claims.
§ Sir Hector MonroIt is a legal requirement under the relevant EC regulations that cereals entered as forage in the 529W annual statement submitted under the integrated administration and control system must be included in the total of arable crops claimed against the base area. I refer the hon. Member to my earlier reply of today. However, if an area of cereals formed neither part of an arable claim nor a forage area, I can confirm that such an area would not be included in the total of arable aid claims.