HC Deb 17 January 1994 vol 235 cc405-7W
Mr. Andrew Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish in theOfficial Report the figures in hectares for (a) set-aside; (b) pulses, (c) oilseed rape and (d) cereals for 1989, 1990 and 1991 which were used to calculate the base area in Scotland.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The information is not available in the form requested. The table details the total number of receptions and the number of fine defaulter receptions to penal establishments in Scotland by classification of crime and offence for 1992.

(2) if he will list the June census set-aside figures for Scotland for 1989, 1990 and 1991.

Sir Hector Monro

[holding answer 29 November 1993]: The figures used to calculate the base areas in Scotland are as follows:—

1989 1990 1991 3 years average
LFA Non-LFA LFA Non-LFA LFA Non-LFA LFA Non-LFA
Set-aside1 3,643 7,807 4,919 12,949 6,487 15,796 5,016 12,184
Protein crops 526 4,509 358 4,046 353 3,024 412 3,860
Oilseed rape 7,821 28,244 8,919 36,276 9,896 39,999 8,879 34,840
Cereals 188,780 319,270 178,060 303,383 175,843 292,665 180,895 305,106
Total 200,770 359,830 192,256 356,654 192,579 351,484 2195,202 2355,990
1Figures taken from the five-year and one-year set-aside scheme returns.
2Before submission to the EC Commission in September 1992, these figures were adjusted by switching 34,854 hectares from less-favoured areas to non-LFAs giving a base area of 160,348 hectares for the LFAs and 390,844 hectares for the non-LFAs. These figures were further adjusted to reflect the more accurate split between LFAs and non-LFA arable land established from the integrated administration and control system returns, and a further 39,303 hectares was switched from LFAs to non-LFAs giving new base areas of 121,045 hectares for the LFAs and 430,147 for the non-LFAs. These last figures are now accepted by the EC as the Scottish base areas. Throughout, the total base area has remained constant at 551,192 hectares.

The set-aside figures recorded in the June census for 1989 and 1990 were 29,197 and 44,465 hectares respectively. These figures partly reflect land registered for set-aside and are, therefore, higher than the area actually set aside. No specific set-aside questions were asked in 1991.