§ Mr. ReedTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of agricultural land in Leicestershire is currently subject to set-aside; and what was the annual cost to public funds in the last year for which figures are available. [91175]
§ Mr. RookerThe area of set-aside in Leicestershire on claims made in 1998 under the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) was 6,501 ha, or just over 6 per cent. of the total area claimed for. But because not all agricultural land is either eligible or claimed for under AAPS, the proportion of set-aside in relation to agricultural land in the country as a whole is estimated at around 3 per cent. Comparable figures for 1999 are not yet available.
At the 1998 payment rate, the payment from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund for this area of set-aside would have been £1,962,000.