Answers issued to Members on 27 November 2008
[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.
[W] signifies that the question was tabled in
Welsh.
Contents
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs
Brynle Williams (North Wales): What are the possible errors in areas measured by the Welsh Assembly Government for the purpose of IACS cross checks for: i) A square level field measuring 200m by 200m; ii) A square level field measuring 300m by 300m; iii) An oblong level field measuring 100m by 300m; iii) A field with boundaries measuring 200m by 200m on a 30 degree slope; iv) A level circular field of diameter 200m? (WAQ52780)
The Minister for Rural Affairs (Elin Jones): The area of level fields, regardless of shape or size, is calculated precisely from Ordnance Survey (OS) map details. The accuracy of mapping is therefore to the OS surveying standards which satisfy European Commission regulatory requirements. The areas determined are recorded in the Assembly Government’s Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS).
Possible errors in respect of any field areas, including those fields quoted in your examples, may be evident when undertaking the cross checks because some of the area measurements for the older agri-environment schemes were determined using mapping systems not compatible with the OS maps used for land registered in the LPIS. The Assembly Government is in the process of re-aligning all fields to the LPIS and these area measurement discrepancies should be eliminated when this exercise is completed.
My letter to you dated 17 July 2008, explained that the Assembly Government does not take account of the degree of slope when measuring field areas. My letter set out the procedure farmers can follow to take account of slope where this is present in a field.
Brynle Williams (North Wales): What is the relative accuracy of the maps used by the Welsh Assembly Government to determine field areas for the purpose of IACS declared area-found area cross checks? (WAQ52781)
Elin Jones: As stated in my answer to WAQ52780, areas are calculated precisely from Ordnance Survey (OS) map details. The accuracy of mapping is therefore to the OS surveying standards, which satisfy European Commission regulatory requirements.