§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms have diversified in 2001 to date. [7961]
§ Alun MichaelIt is impossible to give a simple figure in answer to this question as diversification comes in many forms, not all requiring official approval or financial support from the Government. The Government do provide support for farm diversification, including aid made available through the Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES), part of the England Rural Development Programme. 365 RES applications involving farm diversification activities had been received this year by 31 August.