Orchards (Hansard, 5 May 2004)

§ Mr. Wiggin
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what definition her Department uses of an orchard; [168145]
(2) at what tree density her Department defines woodland as an orchard. [168146]

§ Alun Michael
There is no general definition of an orchard. Under present arrangements, densities above 1497W 50 trees per hectare have been regarded as ineligible for the purposes of claiming CAP subsidies and this is likely to continue in respect of the Single Payment.

§ Mr. Wiggin
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government will take to protect old varieties of apples if traditional orchards do not qualify for half subsidy. [168149]

§ Alun Michael
Old varieties of apple are protected in the National Fruit Collection and the conservation of traditional orchards is funded through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

§ Mr. Wiggin
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which EU member states subsidise orchards. [168150]

§ Alun Michael
There is no provision within the Common Agriculture Policy for subsidies to orchards. However, member states may, in certain circumstances, allow the forage area within grazed orchards to be used in support of a Single Payment Scheme claim and make payments under rural development and conservation measures.