Speeches

David Hanson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2015-11-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much support from EU agricultural funding has been awarded to UK organic food producers in each of the last five years.

George Eustice

In England between 2010 and 2014, support for organic farmers was provided under the Organic Entry Level Stewardship scheme (OELS) and Organic Higher Level Stewardship scheme (OHLS), which were set up under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). The following table provides details of the annual funding provided during this period. Organic farmers were also eligible for payments under the Single Payment Scheme.

OELS and OHLS funding in England 2010-2014:

Year

Annual funding for OELS:

Annual funding for OHLS:

2010

£1,986,129

£17,454,578

2011

£4,285,822

£21,059,841

2012

£6,088,660

£24,443,405

2013

£7,503,473

£27,495,231

2014

£8,665,682

£29,486,762

Total Funding:

£28,529,766

£119,939,817

Footnote 1: Because agriculture is a devolved matter, separate schemes operate in other UK countries. Data on other funding provided is available from devolved administrations.

Footnote 2: These data include payments to organic farmers under conventional land management options in combined organic and conventional agreements and include payments for existing and new agreements each year.

Footnote 3: RDPE funding comprises EU funding allocated under the CAP for England and relevant Exchequer match funding.