Organic Farming Scheme (Hansard, 25 March 1999)

§ Mr. Yeo
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total budget allocation for the first year of the Organic Farming Scheme. [78559]

§ Mr. Nick Brown
Current provision for the Organic Farming Scheme for 1999–2000 is £6.2 million.

§ Mr. Yeo
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the procedure for coping with an excess of demand from farmers applying for grants under the Organic Farming Scheme over supply of available funds. [78558]

§ Mr. Nick Brown
If demand for aid under the Organic Farming Scheme exceeds financial provision in any year, the Organic Farming Regulations 1999 provide a mechanism for holding over applications until further provision becomes available. We will keep the position under review.

§ Mr. Yeo
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total acreage that will be covered by grants from the Organic Farming Scheme in its first year. [78557]

§ Mr. Nick Brown
The Scheme has not yet opened. The total acreage covered in the first year of the Organic Farming Scheme will depend on the number of applications and on the type of land covered.