§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the implications for tenant farmers of rural development for rents under the revised Common Agricultural Policy. [134842]
§ Mr. BradshawThe biggest implication for tenant farmers arises from the decoupling of support from production. This will mean that all farmers, including tenants, will have more flexibility in terms of what they produce. This is because the support they receive will no longer be dependent on the types of crop or livestock they farm. Taking the reforms as a whole, it is difficult to forecast the precise effects reform might have on rents. However, where tenants continue to farm and claim support the requirement for land will continue to underpin the land rental market. Further work is planned in this area and we hope to make the results generally available in due course.