HC Deb 25 October 2001 vol 373 cc359-60W
Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms became organic in 2001 to date. [7733]

Mr. Morley

For the period December 2000 to June 2001, the number of officially registered organic holdings, including those in conversion, in the UK increased from 5,508 to 5,939.

Paddy Tipping

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set out the support mechanism to convert to organic farming in EU member states; which countries make no payments for them; which provide transitional support; and which make continuing post conversion payments. [9533]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 22 October 2001]: Support for conversion to organic farming is governed by EC Regulations 1257/99 and 1750/99. The regulations require member states to set out their planned support for organic farming in a rural development programme which must be approved by the EC Commission. We have done so in the England Rural Development Programme, which can be accessed through the DEFRA website. We do not have copies of the programmes of other member states but detailed information about other Governments' support is available at www.organic-europe.net.

Under the EC regulations, payments to farmers who convert their land to organic farming methods must be made for at least five years. For most farmers, the conversion period is two years, thus farmers are supported during conversion and in the immediate years following. The rates and structure of payments vary widely between member states. Many of them make payments beyond the five-year period. The current England Organic Farming Scheme directs support at the time of greatest need, ie during the conversion period and the initial years of full organic status.