To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the Welsh Assembly Government and (b) the European Commission on the transitional arrangements for the agri-environment scheme in Glastir up to 2012; and what assessment he has made of that scheme’s compliance with the rules stipulated by the Commission. (304141)

The transitional arrangements for agri-environment schemes prior to the introduction of Glastir will be funded under the Rural Development Plan (RDP) for Wales 2007-13. The RDP for Wales is the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG). Therefore, there has been no need to discuss these arrangements with either WAG or the European Commission, nor has it been necessary to make an assessment of the scheme’s compliance with European Commission rules.