DEFRA secretary Hilary Benn has announced an immediate programme
of environmental monitoring of farmland following the EU
agriculture council's
decision to set a 0% rate of set-aside for 2008.
Mr Benn said that monitoring will be established to assess what
happens on the ground in the next few months and to provide a
firmer basis for future action.
If there is evidence of significant environmental impact -
including on the bird population - the government will look at what
action to take.
"I share the concerns which
Natural England,
the
Environment Agency
and environmental and conservation groups - including the
RSPB - have raised about the
possible consequences if there is a substantial return to cropping
of set-aside land," he said.
"And I welcome the
assurances given by
the NFU and Country Land and Business Association that the
farming industry is committed to shouldering its full environmental
responsibilities in relation to all the land that it manages.
"I want the farming industry to be in no doubt that I am looking
for them to demonstrate that they can deliver on this assurance.
We are committed to monitoring this situation closely, and if
significant environmental impact does occur, then I am ready to
make an early announcement about the action to be taken."
Mr Benn said he had made clear to the EU Commission the
importance of finding ways to preserve the environmental benefits
of set-aside, if it is abolished as part of the Common Agricultural
Policy "health check", a move which the UK has long advocated to
reduce unnecessary production controls.