§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the land where orchards have been grubbed up at any stage after the commencement of the single farm payment scheme will become eligible for the single farm payment. [HL4020]
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§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)Single payment scheme (SPS) entitlements will be allocated on the basis of eligible land, which excludes orchards unless they are also grazed within the terms we are discussing with the European Commission. Where orchards are subsequently grubbed up, no additional SPS entitlements will be allocated, but the land could be used in support of a claim for payment against an existing entitlement as long as it remained an agricultural area of the farmer's holding taken up by arable land or permanent pasture and was kept in good agricultural and environmental condition.
§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have raised with the European Commission the question that top fruit could be included in the single farm payment regime following the review of 2007; and, if so, what was the outcome. [HL4022]
§ Lord WhittyTo date, discussions with the European Commission have focussed on the introduction of the single payment scheme in 2005. Discussions on the 2007 review of the horticultural "authorisations" system are likely to take place once experience has been gained in running the scheme. That review may cover the future eligibility of land under orchards to attract single payment entitlements but this can not be guaranteed at this stage.