Written question asked by Peter Atkinson (Conservative) on Thursday, 30 April 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 6 May 2009. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Monday, 11 May 2009 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Farmers: Income

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the likely effects on the income of hill farmers of European Commission proposals to modify the criteria which define less favoured areas; if he will make it his policy to seek amendment of those proposals to ensure that the income of hill farmers is not reduced by modification of those criteria; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The European Commission's proposal for new criteria to identify less favoured areas (LFA) will not impact on current upland policies in England. The current English LFA scheme—the hill farm allowance (HFA)—is being replaced with an agri-environment scheme, uplands entry level stewardship (Uplands ELS). Eligibility for Uplands ELS, as well as the make-up of the single payment scheme regions, is determined by domestic classifications, principally severely disadvantaged areas (SDA), rather than the LFA classification, so would not be directly affected by the Commission's proposals, which are unlikely to be implemented in the current rural development programming period.Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also have LFA support schemes—the less favoured area support scheme (LFASS), the Tyr Mynydd scheme, and the less favoured areas compensatory allowance scheme (LFACA) respectively. Any redesignation of the LFA would impact on the number of farmers eligible for LFA support therefore, and we are liaising accordingly with the devolved administrations on this.We are continuing to work with the Commission and other member states on the proposals outlined by the Commission.

Secondary information