§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the requirements for IACS applications in England and Wales in 1994.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardFollowing the 1993 IACS exercise, I have consulted closely with the industry to ensure that the IACS requirements for 1994 are kept as simple as possible in line with the Government's policy to 675W keep any necessary regulation to a minimum. The arrangements to apply this year reflect the conclusion of those consultations.
A guidance note to enable applicants to prepare the necessary mapping and field information is being sent out; copies should be received next week. The main explanatory booklets should be issued in March. The documentation is designed to be as helpful and easy to follow as possible given the complex nature of the system.
The mapping booklet makes it clear that no maps will be required where applications relate only to forage area and that they will not be required for arable area as long as the land was registered as eligible for future arable payments in 1993 and has not changed significantly since then.
Applicants will need to supply the national grid reference number of each field and the Ordnance Survey map sheet reference in order to comply with the basic area requirements of the EC regulation. Estimates will continue to be accepted, but if areas are over-declared, we are required to apply strict penalties. I strongly urge all farmers to begin obtaining any necessary maps, field numbers and area measurements as soon as possible so as not to risk missing the application deadline.
MAFF argued strongly in Brussels for a United Kingdom deadline later than 31 March 1994 for submitting IACS applications; and will be applying the latest possible date of 15 May.