GRASSLAND FARMING

Early day motion 827, tabled 14 July 1999 by Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 23 members.

That this House notes the difficulties faced by farmers, in particular grassland farmers; welcomes the fact that the draft texts of the Rural Development regulations following the Berlin Summit allow support for planting costs of energy crops on grassland; regrets that annual maintenance costs for farm support are specifically excluded; applauds the contribution to the environment which can be made by short crop rotation of biomass crops on grassland; notes that biomass crops are low input, facilitate biodiversity and that they are an effective renewable energy source for combating climate change; and calls on the Government to redress the inequality of support between arable and grassland farmers.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 10, Labour 8, Conservative 3, Labour/Co-operative 1, UUP 1.