§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the latest developments in discussions with the EC regarding enabling set-aside land to be used for tree-growing; and if he will specify the types of trees included in such arrangements.
§ Mr. JackI am pleased to say that the European Commission has now accepted in principle the United Kingdom's view that land taken out of arable production under the forestry and agri-environmental schemes or "structural" set-aside should, under certain conditions, be allowed to count against a farmer's set-aside obligation740W under the arable area payments scheme or "market" set-aside. We now need a rapid decision in Council to amend the relevant legislation. Once the proposal has been adopted, we anticipate that the new approach will give a welcome boost to our environmental and farm woodland schemes.
Subject to the detailed rules to be agreed, land planted to woodland under the farm woodland premium scheme and the woodland grant scheme will be eligible to count towards set-aside. Most broadleaved and coniferous species may be planted, but planting under the FWPS for the purposes of agro-forestry or for producing coppice, Christmas trees or cricket bat willow is not permitted.
Short rotation coppice may already be grown on set-aside land under the non-food use rules. We have announced our intention to offer grants under the woodland grant scheme to support this activity and I hope that the Council decision referred to above will provide the legal basis for this, too.