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Farm Incomes
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the average farmer's income was in (a) England and (b) the smallest regional level applicable to the Lewes constituency for which figures are available, in each of the last 10 years. [139037]
Ms Quin [holding answer 20 November 2000]: The information requested is given in the table. The eastern region is the smallest regional level covering the Lewes constituency for which figures are available. However, the east covers a large area of England from Lincolnshire to Hampshire and therefore is not necessarily representative of farming in the Lewes constituency. Data for 1999-2000 for England will be published in March.
Source:
Farm Business Survey
30 Nov 2000 : Column: 878W
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on farm incomes. [141283]
Mr. Nick Brown: I am disappointed to announce to the House that predictions for farm incomes this year suggest a further significant fall of 27 per cent. by comparison with 1999. A statistical press release has been placed in the Library of the House.
The Government remain committed to helping farmers through these difficult times; last December I announced the Government's long-term strategy for agriculture, which aims to help secure a more competitive and sustainable farming industry, with a stronger market orientation.
This commitment is underpinned by a comprehensive range of initiatives including: reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; significant increases in expenditure on rural development and agri-environment schemes; new measures to reduce the burden of regulation on farming; promotion of increased co-operation and collaboration across the food supply chain; and targeted financial support to the sectors in greatest difficulty.
IACS
Mr. Breed: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the length of the IACS form filled in by farmers; and if he will make a statement. [140405]
Ms Quin: The report of the IACS and Inspections Red Tape Working Group found that:
- In general the (IACS) forms and guidance notes (issued in other member states) are of a similar level of complexity . . . with the exception of the Republic of Ireland.
30 Nov 2000 : Column: 879W
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to speed up the payment of IACS to cereal growers; and if he will make a statement. [140882]
Ms Quin: Under the EU's Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) most payments to cereal growers in respect of this year's harvest are required to be made between 16 November 2000 and 31 January 2001. In England the Ministry's Regional Service Centres commenced payments on 16 November and estimate that over 70 per cent. of claims will have been cleared for payment in the first two weeks of processing. It is hoped that the exercise will be completed by the end of December.
GM Crops
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if the Chardon LL crop will be placed on the national seed list following the completion of the one-year tests; [140441]
- (2) what further tests there will be on the Chardon LL crop following the completion of the one-year tests. [140440]
Ms Quin: Chardon LL was proposed for addition to the National List in March 2000. Information has come to light recently that the testing of this variety for distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) by the French authorities was based on one year's data from accredited breeders' trials and one year's data from Government run trials. This may not have complied with EC requirements. MAFF is seeking the views of the European Commission on the legal status of the DUS testing procedures used by the French authorities for this variety. The UK authorities are not seeking further tests on Chardon LL pending receipt of the European Commission's views. Chardon LL will be added to the UK National List only if all the legal requirements have been met in full.
Arable Farming
Mr. Cotter: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish details of the Government's application for EU aid in the form of agrimoney compensation for the UK's arable farmers. [140680]
Ms Quin: I have today placed in the Libraries of the House a copy of the notifications of schemes for the arable and flax and hemp sectors sent to the European Commission on 2 November. These may be subject to amendments in the light of the Commission's comments.
Mr. Cotter: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of trends in cereal growers' incomes during 2000-01; and if he will make a statement. [140679]
Ms Quin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on 16 November 2000, Official Report, column 780W.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the recent changes announced by the EU allowing arable farmers in the UK to continue to claim subsidy payments based on the total area of their fields. [141154]
30 Nov 2000 : Column: 880W
Ms Quin: I refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 7 November, 2000, Official Report, column 150W, and to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson) on 24 November, Official Report, column 325W.
Biomass Production
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the support provided by his Department for biomass projects in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement on trends in the amount of land devoted to biomass production over this period. [140992]
Ms Quin: I have written to my hon. Friend with details, and copies of the letter have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Common Agricultural Policy
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of the CAP on intensification in the (a) beef and veal and (b) dairy sectors; and if he will make a statement. [140786]
Ms Quin [holding answer 29 November 2000]: The CAP has increased unit returns from the production of beef and milk (among other products). This has encouraged the use of a greater volume of inputs per unit of output and some increase in stocking rates. In recognition of this the EU has introduced measures to begin to mitigate these effects--extensification payments for beef and agri-environmental schemes in other sectors.
Animal Welfare
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 21 July 2000, Official Report, columns 373-74W, on animal welfare, if he will make a statement on the work of the Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Animal Welfare and its progress in meeting its objectives. [140795]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 29 November 2000]: The Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Animal Welfare met formally for the first time on 20 July this year. Ministers with animal welfare responsibilities from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Home Office and the Department for Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, and officials from the other devolved Administrations discussed and agreed the terms of reference of the Group. They also discussed matters of current interest to each Department, as well as a number of cross-cutting issues. Members of the Group issued a joint statement (MAFF News Release 243/00), highlighting their aim of ensuring that the UK's animal welfare strategy is effectively co-ordinated. The next meeting of the group will take place in the early part of next year.
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