HC Deb 07 March 2003 vol 400 c1294W
Patrick Mercer

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial inducements the Government is offering to farmers to farm non-food crops on set-aside land. [100216]

Mr. Meacher

Under the European Union's Arable Area Payments Scheme, farmers receive a compensatory payment for putting land into set-aside on condition that no agricultural activity or other lucrative use is carried out in the set-aside period. But, in recognition of the fact that non-food crops do not contribute to oversupply of the cereals market, the Scheme does allow a range of such crops, including energy crops, to be grown without loss of the compensatory payment.

Farmers growing short rotation coppice and miscanthus as an energy crop on set-aside land may also qualify for the establishment grants available under the Energy Crops Scheme.

Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cost to public funds of farm subsidies(a) in total and (b) per head of population in 2002–03. [100610]

Mr. Morley

Defra's budget for expenditure on farm subsidies in 2002–03 is as follows:

(a) In total (£m) (b) per head of population (£)
Direct aid payments in England 1,334.3 27.13
England Rural Development Plan 214.6 4.36
Over Thirty Month Scheme compensation (UK) 253.7 4.31
Total 1,802.6

Note:

The EU provides full or part funding for the above expenditure.