§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of payments(a) for set-aside and (b) in total under the arable area payments scheme in Scotland in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what is his estimate of the cost of payments in 1995–96. [18633]
§ Sir Hector MonroPayments which have been made to farmers in Scotland under the arable area payments scheme in the scheme years 1993 and 1994 are as follows:
(a) Set-aside £ (b) Total AAPS payments £ 1993 16,195,029.92 93,287,405.44 1994 22,792,098.25 115,593,078.84 The cost of payments in the 1995 scheme year will depend on the amount of valid claims made and on the green pound-ecu exchange rate at 1 July 1995.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hectares of land were set aside under the arable area payments scheme in Scotland in(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95; and what is his estimate of the number of hectares of land that will be set-aside in 1995–96. [16661]
§ Sir Hector MonroPayments were made in respect of 80,661.09 hectares and 77,252.12 hectares of land set aside in the scheme years 1993 and 1994 respectively. Figures are not yet available for the 1995 scheme year.