§ 17. Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review the level of financial support for organic farming. [107898]
§ Mr. MorleyA review of aid for conversion to organic farming is in progress. The results of the review will provide the basis for a revised organic aid scheme under the England Rural Development Programme, for which I have announced an allocation of £140 million over the life of the programme.
§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the environmental benefits of organic farming. [107902]
§ Mr. MorleyEvaluation of the environmental impact of organic farming is one of the three main objectives of the Ministry's organic R&D programme, for which £2.1 million has been allocated for 1999–2000. Field studies on biodiversity and soil fertility on organic farms, following earlier desk studies and a study of nutrient cycling are in progress. Work on nitrates and ammonia emissions has recently been completed.