HC Deb 24 March 2004 vol 419 cc837-8W
Mr. Paterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what alternative land uses she has considered for land vacated in severely disadvantaged areas resulting from lower payment made to livestock producers in those areas. [161539]

Alun Michael

Recipients of the single farm payment will be required to respect the cross compliance conditions. These will include a requirement to maintain land in good agricultural and environmental condition. Subject to these requirements, it will be for individual farmers to decide how best to organise their businesses.

Mr. Paterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her assessment is of the impact on wildlife in severely disadvantaged areas of the payment regime in those areas. [161540]

Alun Michael

Defra will publish shortly an analysis of the economic impact on the English farming industry of the decoupling of CAP direct payment and the decision to allocate entitlement on the basis set out in the statement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the House on 12 February. Defra will monitor future changes in farming practices, markets and the environment.

Mr. Paterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with farmers' representatives on the single farm payment to livestock farmers in severely disadvantaged areas. [161541]

Alun Michael

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made her decision on the basis for allocating entitlements to the single farm payment in England in the best interests of the farming industry as well as the wider public interest. Ministers and officials have had frequent meetings with representatives of farming organisations, before and since the announcement on 12 February, including with organisations with members in the Severely Disadvantaged Areas.

Mr. Paterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate she has made of the number of livestock farmers in severely disadvantaged areas who will cease farming over the next 10 years; [161542]

(2) what assessment she has made of the effects on livestock farmers in severely disadvantaged areas of competition with livestock farmers in receipt of different levels of payments under the single farm payment scheme; [161543]

(3) what her assessment is of the effect on farmers' incomes in severely disadvantaged areas of differentials in single farm payments between producers in these areas and other livestock producers in the rest of England. [161536]

Alun Michael

Defra will publish shortly an analysis of the economic impact on the English farming industry of the decoupling of CAP direct payment and the decision to allocate entitlement on the basis set out in the statement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the House on 12 February 2004.