To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many single farm payments have been reduced as a result of failures to meet good agricultural and environmental conditions required by cross-compliance; and how many of these failures relate to agricultural practices that place drinking water, rivers, and wetlands at risk of pollution. (141701)

Under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme year, there were 54 payments reduced as a result of claimants failing to demonstrate that they were keeping their land in good agricultural and environmental condition. None of these failures were related to agricultural practices that led to any risk of pollution. However there were four non-compliances found which could have lead to a pollution risk and these claimants received warning letters.

There were 106 payments reduced as a result of claimants failing to adhere to the Statutory Management Requirements concerning Groundwater and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones. A further six such non-compliances found merited warning letters for the claimants concerned.