- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will put in place to retain the environmental benefits of set-aside if the rate is set at 0%.
Answer
The EuropeanCommission has not yet taken a decision on the proposal to reduce thecompulsory set-aside rate from 10% to zero for 2008. We are, however, currentlyconsidering the possible need for measures to mitigate any loss of environmentalbenefits which might occur. My officials will be exploring these issues withenvironmental and farming organisations.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that a 0% set-aside rate will not have negative impact on the corn bunting which is a high-priority Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species and a red-listed species of conservation concern.
Answer
The EuropeanCommission has not yet taken a decision on the proposal to reduce thecompulsory set-aside rate from 10% to zero for 2008. However, at present, landmanagers will be able to receive support to carry out a number ofagri-environment options in the Scottish Rural Development Plan 2007-2013, whenapproved, which will benefit the corn bunting. These options include the managementof mown grassland for corn buntings, wild bird seed mix/unharvested crop, biodiversitycropping on in-bye and the management of cropped machair.
Support will alsocontinue through existing agri-environment schemes, such as the RuralStewardship Scheme, which also contain measures to directly benefit the cornbunting.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the environmental impact of setting a set-aside rate of 0%.
Answer
The EuropeanCommission has not yet taken a decision on the proposal to reduce thecompulsory set-aside rate from 10% to zero for 2008. Representations have,however, been received from Scottish environmental organisations, who areconcerned about the possible loss of benefits to birds and other wildlife. Weare currently assessing these concerns.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce or abolish set-aside land and, if so, what the timetable is for such action.
Answer
The European Commissionerfor Agriculture has announced an intention to reduce the compulsory set-aside ratefrom 10% to zero for 2008. This is in response to the current market situation ofhigh cereal prices and low world stocks, and follows a request from European farmingorganisations. However, because of the EU procedures involved, it is unlikely thata decision on the Commissioner’s proposal will be taken until the October AgricultureCouncil.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total receipts from national and EU compulsory modulation will be in 2007.
Answer
National(voluntary) and EU compulsory modulation in 2007 will generate total receiptsof approximately £33.7 million for Scotland. This estimateis based on an exchange rate of €1=£0.685 which may differ from the rate at 30 September 2007 which will be used to calculate the 2007 payments. Inaddition this estimate does not take account of any reductions or penaltiesthat may apply to single farm payments.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the ongoing delay in securing European Commission approval of the Scottish Rural Development Programme and the resulting lack of access by applicants to rural development schemes, whether the Executive will confirm that all receipts from modulation of single farm payments in 2007 will be available to applicants in the remaining years of the scheme.
Answer
Under Europeanrules, receipts modulated in one year from the single payment scheme are madeavailable for use on rural development measures in the subsequent year. Therefore,modulation receipts generated in 2007 will be available to fund rural developmentmeasures from 2008. In addition, member states have a further two calendaryears in which to spend the EU-funded element of their rural developmentbudget. This means that receipts from the modulation of SPS payments in 2007can be used up to 31 December 2010. This mechanism willapply to each year of the programme.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for European Commission approval of the Scottish Rural Development Programme.
Answer
The Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 was officiallysubmitted to the European Commission during week ending 22 June 2007. The programme has been deemed by the Commission as “admissible”and therefore the Commission now has six months from 22 June 2007 in which toapprove the Programme, or send it back for modification.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 27 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the delay in securing European Commission approval of the Scottish Rural Development Programme, whether the Executive can confirm that Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme payments for 2007 will be issued to farmers before the end of the year, if necessary as “at risk” payments pending EU approval of the programme.
Answer
We are currently consideringcontingency plans should approval of the Scotland Rural Development Programme bedelayed. It remains our intention to make Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme paymentsfor 2007 at around the end of the year.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 18 July 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that imported beef is free of hormones.
Answer
The EU does not permit importsof beef from countries permitting the use of hormones. Random testing for hormonesis undertaken at Border Inspection Posts when animal products are imported intothe EU. The Food Standards Agency also undertakes monitoring at point of retail.I have discussed this with the other UK Agriculture Ministers and the UK will bemaking representations to the EU Commission. I shall also be writing to the Commission.
- Asked by: John Scott, MSP for Ayr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the risk of importing foot and mouth disease from South America.
Answer
In accordance withEU rules beef imported from third countries, including those in South America, must be deboned and matured. Meat originating fromfoot-and-mouth disease affected areas is not permitted to be exported to the EU.All animal products entering the EU must do so through a border inspection postwhere appropriate documentary, identity and physical checks are undertaken. Thisis considered to be a sufficient safeguard against foot-and-mouth disease.
