§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of croppable land in Britain is eligible for the arable area payments scheme; and what the figures are for other EU states. [123020]
§ Mr. Nick BrownMAFF June census data show the total UK agricultural area in 1999 as 18.6 million hectares. Of this, roughly 35 per cent. meets the equivalent of the 1991 definition used to determine eligibility under the arable area payments scheme. About a further 30 per cent. is shown as grass five or more years old, which would represent the most obviously croppable part of the balance. Taking these two areas together would give a figure of around 55 per cent. as the amount of croppable land which would be eligible. But this can only be a rough approximation, because there is neither an agreed definition of croppable nor an absolute total for eligible land, as eligibility is only assessed when actual claims are made.
We have no figures for land eligible for arable area payments in other member states.