§ Lord Inglewoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, if a farmer enters conversion to organic production prior to the opening of the Organic Farming Scheme next year, he will remain eligible to apply for grant aid under the scheme in 2001. [HL2742]
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman)The current rules of the Organic Farming Scheme require applicants to lodge a valid application within three months of the land being registered with a sector body. The review of the scheme now in train will consider the effect of the three-month rule on those who have commenced farming organically since the scheme's closure in November 1999.