Written question asked by Bill Wiggin (Conservative) on Monday, 8 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 November 2004. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 November 2004 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, when her Department will confirm the definition of orchards. - Inc ref to www.defra.gov.uk.

Answer: Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department will confirm the definition of orchards. [197451] Alun Michael: Commercial orchards remain ineligible for the Single Payment Scheme as permanent crops. In August this year we commissioned the Central Science Laboratory to research possible criteria for inclusion of traditional (dual use) orchards in the Single Payment Scheme. On 2 November the report was published and the results are now available on the Defra website www.defra.gov.uk. Based on this report we are drawing up simple criteria in conjunction with EN, RPA and RDS and we plan to share them shortly with interested parties. These criteria will need to be shown to the Commission before being finalised.

Secondary information