§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount paid in set-aside payments in each year since its inception; and what is the average amount paid each year per farm. [11256]
§ Mr. BaldryUnder the five-year set-aside scheme—and, in 1992–93 only, the one-year set-aside scheme—the Agriculture Departments made total payments of:
- 1989–90: £9,846,000
- 1990–91: £19,110,000
- 1991–92: £25,102,000
- 1992–93: £31,111,000
- 1993–94: £25,078,000
- 1994–95: £15,108,000
For set-aside under the arable area payments scheme, the Agriculture Departments paid £142,080,000 in 1993–94 and £200,440,000 in 1994–95.
Payments under both schemes for 1995–96 are not complete but at the beginning of the year were estimated as £225,125,000 for the arable area payments scheme and £7,483,000 for the five-year set-aside scheme.
Under the arable area payments scheme, payments are made against claims which may relate to more than one agricultural holding. Under the five-year set-aside scheme, more than one payment per farm could be made as separate agreements were allowed for different areas of land on the same farm. Hence, it is not possible to calculate an average amount paid each year per farm.