HL Deb 24 July 2001 vol 626 c223WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will have to seek European Union approval to pay set-aside on additional land rendered uncultivatable by heavy rainfall and flooding. [HL178]

Lord Whitty

We have already taken the necessary action on this. As my right honourable friend the then Minister of State (Joyce Quin) told my honourable friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) in another place on 13 February 2001 (Official Report, col 120–21W), the European Commission confirmed, at the UK's request earlier this year, a number of changes to the rules of the Arable Area Payments Scheme for 2001, including the one referred to by the noble Baroness.