I am disappointed with the Commissioner's reply. What we are all trying to do - whether Member States, the European Parliament or the Commission - is to encourage the positive use of the countryside. In this particular instance, this summer an approach was made for a specific event to be held for a very short period of just one weekend, after which the land would revert to set-aside use. We were very disappointed to be turned down.

Could the Commission not broaden the criteria so that we could encourage the more positive use of the countryside without disqualifying it from set-aside provisions? In particular, why not encourage such events as village fêtes and traction engine rallies? And also, going further than that, would the Commission not consider positively a farm woodland scheme looking at the planting of trees and woods which would have future long-term benefit?