Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what support his Department is giving to the development of a United Kingdom biomass industry; and if he will make a statement. [66620]
§ Mr. RookerThe Ministry, through the Alternative Crops Unit, promotes alternative crops including biomass at agricultural shows and farmer workshops and through a dedicated Website. In 1998 we secured, at the June Agriculture Council, an increase in the ceiling for the grant which can be paid to establish biomass crops, and the Forestry Commission immediately implemented this for a short-rotation coppice near the UK's first biomass-fuelled power station. Expenditure on strategic research and development totalled around £400,000. Future development of biomass crops depends on support to make them competitive with more traditional agricultural activities. This will depend on the outcome of Agenda 2000 and on finding the necessary resources.