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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance regarding entitlement to the single farm payment she will give to farmers and growers who lease land (a) to and (b) from other farmers for growing a specific crop for a fixed sum of money for which some husbandry is provided. [191639] Alun Michael: To establish an entitlement for the new single payment in 2005, the applicant will have to show that any eligible land supporting a claim forms part of his holding. A lease would constitute acceptable evidence. To claim payment against an entitlement so established, the claimant will have to show that the land in question has been "at his disposal" for a 10-month period. This period may start at any time from 1 October this year to 30 April next year. The definition of "at the farmer's disposal"is discussed at some length in a booklet that was sent to all farmers in England in August and which is available on Defra's website. If the claim relates to land that is supporting a so-called negative list crop, the entitlement that has been established must have attached to it a special authorisation to claim against such crops. These authorisations will be attached to payment entitlements as they are established at the request of growers according to the level of their production of such crops in specified years (within regional ceilings). For growers who find that the introduction of the new scheme affects their ability to rent land in 2005, some guidance on possible contractual solutions is also available on Defra's website.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

425 c957-8W; 191639

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Agriculture Eligibility Leasehold Farms Subsidies

Link

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