Written question asked by David Lidington (Conservative) on Monday, 14 April 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 May 2003. It was answered by Baroness Beckett (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 May 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has made to the European Commission about the impact of the Commission's decoupling proposals on people who have entered farming after the proposed reference years.

Answer: Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to the European Commission about the impact of the Commission's decoupling proposals on people who have entered farming after the proposed reference years. [109838] Margaret Beckett: The European Commission's proposals include provision for a national reserve of decoupled payment entitlements. The Commission has confirmed that member states can use this reserve to allocate full or enhanced entitlements to producers who have entered farming since the start of the proposed reference period.

Secondary information