§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department has offered tenant farmers in respect of the extent to which the forthcoming single farm payments will be attributed to(a) the land and (b) the farming activity where decoupled payments will be made under the reformed Common Agricultural Policy. [140813]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 1 December 2003]Entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme will be allocated to farmers, whether owner-occupiers or tenants, rather than to the land or particular farming activities. Farmers may then use any eligible land at their disposal in support of an annual claim for payment against their entitlements. Eligibility for the payment will not be dependent on any farming activity other than keeping all agricultural land on the claimant's holding in good agricultural and environmental condition.