§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate she has as to the acreage of maize crops planted with EC subsidy, not harvested because there is allegedly no market; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. JackThe most recent Commission estimate is that some 3,635,000 hectares of maize were harvested in the Community in 1993. There is no information about the area of maize which has not been harvested, the reasons why it was not harvested or whether any area-based payments were made on such crops. Crops do not have to be harvested to qualify for such payments but they do have to be sown in line with locally recognised standards and maintained until at least the beginning of flowering in normal growth conditions.