HC Deb 18 September 2003 vol 410 cc925-6W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Questions directed to her remain unanswered. [130757]

Mr. Bradshaw

Support for farmers converting to organic farming, as well as on-going post-conversion aid to encourage the continued management of the land in an environmentally beneficial way, is available under the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), which is part of the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP). The rates of aid under the OFS are as follows:

Alun Michael

I and my ministerial colleagues attach great importance to answering hon. Members' questions promptly. I am afraid that it is not always possible to do so, if questions, for example, ask for historical or detailed information.

At 16 September, hon. Members had tabled 4,059 parliamentary questions to my Department; 313 questions were either transferred to another Department or withdrawn by Members.

Of the remaining 3,746 questions, 57 are in the process of being drafted.