§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what effect the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy will have on the support given to the growing of energy crops, with particular reference to the use of set-aside land. [125422]
§ Mr. BradshawUnder the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. which will come into effect on 1 January 2005, it will still be possible to grow energy crops on set-aside land and to receive payments under the new Single Payment Scheme. If energy crops are grown on non set-aside land payments under the new Single Payment Scheme plus the new €45 per hectare energy crops payment will be available. The energy crops payment is limited to an area of 1.5 million hectares for the EU as a whole and aid will be reduced if production exceeds that area.