§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of farm holdings in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Ireland are in (i) the moorland area of severely disadvantaged areas (SDA), (ii) the remainder of SDA and (iii) the rest of the country for the purposes of eligibility for single farm payments. [172461]
§ Alun MichaelThe information requested is not currently available as entitlements to subsidy will be allocated on the basis of claims made by farmers in 2005. However, the latest information currently available for England is based on Integrated Administration and Control System Scheme applications in 2003, the figures are as follows
(i) Number and proportion of applications who have the majority of land within the moorland line within the Severely Disadvantaged Area equals 1,210 holdings, 1.81 per cent. of total number of holdings;(ii) Number and proportion of applications who have the majority of land within the Severely Disadvantaged Area equals 7,216 holdings, 10.79 per cent. of total number of holdings;(iii) Number and proportion of applications that have the majority of land outside the Severely Disadvantaged Area equals 58,427 holdings, 87.40 per cent. of total number of holdings.It should be emphasised that the criteria used here is where the majority of the applicant's land falls within one of the three categories. The procedures for the allocation to regions have still to be finalised.
614WThe information for other countries within the UK is a matter for their devolved assemblies.