Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Tuesday, 22 June 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 29 June 1999. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Tuesday, 29 June 1999 on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Question: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the number of farmers who would undertake extensification schemes if the stocking rates were set at (a) 1.6, (b) 2.0 and (c) 2.5 animals per hectare. - Includes figures. (Holding answer 28 June 1999).

Answer: Mr. Maclean: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of farmers who would undertake extensification schemes if the stocking rates were set at (a) 1.6, (b) 2.0 and (c) 2.5 animals per hectare. [88346] Mr. Rooker: [holding answer 28 June 1999]: The Government do not have at their disposal sufficient data on the basis of which to make reliable estimates of the kind requested by the right hon. Member. Our "best guess" is that, were the UK to adopt the single-tier model for extensification payments, about 50 per cent. of the 73,000 or so producers receiving such payments under current rules would no longer qualify for them. We believe that with the two-tier model, this figure might reduce to 20 per cent.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 88346; 334 c152W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Farms Livestock Subsidies Beef Beef premiums Extensification schemes
Contains statistics: Yes