§ 20. Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to encourage public access to set-aside land. [25832]
§ Mr. JackLast September my right hon. Friend launched a new voluntary countryside access scheme which offers farmers annual payments in return for managing their set-aside land for public access under a five-year agreement.
§ 28. Mr. FlynnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what new proposals he has to improve the working of the set-aside land scheme. [25841]
§ Mr. JackIn addition to the measures mentioned in my reply of 20 October 1994,Official Report, column 418, my right hon. Friend has recently negotiated in Brussels agreement in principle that eligible land taken out of production under the forestry and agri-environment schemes may from next year count towards farmers' set-aside requirements under the arable area payments scheme.