§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to make use of the provisions of the EU Rural Development Regulation allowing support of agricultural production to be conditional on the carrying out of measures to protect wildlife; and if he will make a statement. [l16320]
§ Mr. MorleyThere are already measures in our livestock subsidy schemes to prevent overgrazing and environmentally damaging feeding practices and in our arable payments schemes relating to the management of set-aside land.
Consultation last year on the European Commission's Agenda 2000 reforms revealed numerous suggestions of additional environmental conditions which might be attached to agricultural support payments. These need to be considered very carefully with regard to whether they would be easily understood, their ease of enforcement, the environmental benefits and the cost to farmers. Further work is being done on this. If possible measures are identified, a further round of consultation on detailed proposals would be needed before introducing them.