HC Deb 07 February 1994 vol 237 cc107-8W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes have taken place since set-aside was introduced in(a) the acreage of land cultivated, (b) the acreage of set-aside fallow land, (c) the totals of pesticides used and (d) the totals of agro-chemicals used.

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 3 February 1994]: The set-aside arrangements under the arable area payments scheme first came into operation at the end of 1992 in respect of the 1992–93 crop year. The total area of relevant arable crops (cereals, oilseeds, linseed and proteins) in England and Wales for 1992 and 1993 respectively was:

hectares
1992 3,738,800
1993 13,349,900

1Source: June census.

The area of land set-aside in England and Wales under all the options of the voluntary five-year set-aside scheme, the one-year set-aside scheme and the arable area payments scheme was: production quotas and to expose the dairy industry throughout the Community to the free market forces of supply and demand.