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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of (a) the number of farmers who were assigned grants made by her Department to ARBRE Energy in respect of the Eggborough Power Station and (b) the impact on those farm businesses of moves by her Department to recover grants paid. [76845] Margaret Beckett: Under the Energy Crops Scheme and the Woodland Grant Scheme planting grants are payable to growers. In the case of crops to provide fuel for the ARBRE power station growers assigned the payments to ARBRE Energy and this Department and the Forestry Commission were asked to make the payments to the third party. 12 growers qualified for grants to plant crops to provide fuel for ARBRE under the Energy Crops Scheme. A further 46 growers qualified for grants under the Woodland Grants Scheme. The Energy Crops Scheme requires that crops are used for the production of energy but it is too early to consider any recovery of grant as discussions are continuing on the future of ARBRE. Should it become necessary the Department will work closely with growers to access one of the alternative energy markets.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

76845; 392 c351W;392 c369-70W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Debts Biofuels Finance Grants Fuels Farmers EU grants and loans Power stations Renewable energy ARBRE Energy Non-food crops Eggborough power station

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk