§ 8. Mr. John Huntasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that the farming and wildlife advisory groups provide regular advice to farmers on all matters relating to conservation.
§ Mr. JoplingFarming and wildlife advisory groups are independent voluntary bodies, to which my Department gives substantial practical assistance. It is for the groups themselves to decide how best to pursue their aims.
§ Mr. HuntIs it not a fact, that in spite of the commendable work of these groups, some farmers still seem unaware of the ecological and landscape importance of their land? Will my right hon. Friend and his Ministry do all that they can to encourage the advisory groups to be more vigilant and vigorous against the farming cowboys, who are only a minority, but who do great damage to our environment and to the cause of conservation?
§ Mr. JoplingI agree with what my hon. Friend says. I hope he will agree with me that we might all do well to remember that farmers have largely created the diverse and beautiful countryside that we know today. Generally, they are showing an increasing awareness of the need to manage their land in ways that are sympathetic to the interests of conservation.
§ Mr. DalyellWith regard to Halvergate, why cannot the Ministry use article 3(5) of the European land development legislation to do what the Dutch have successfully done in northern Holland? Will the right hon. Gentleman take a giant step in that direction along the lines advocated by the Council for the Protection of Rural England?
§ Mr. JoplingThe hon. Gentleman makes a fair point, but I do not believe that article 3(5) is appropriate, because it relates to areas suffering physical handicap from farming. Some conservationally sensitive areas, such as Halvergate, are profitable and could not by any definition be described as physically handicapped farming areas. I doubt whether article 3(5) could legitimately be used in connection with the less-favoured areas directive 75/268 in areas such as Halvergate.