HC Deb 17 January 1985 vol 71 cc501-2
10. Mr. Chapman

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his definition of productive agricultural use land; and if such a definition includes upland heaths and undrained fenlands.

Mrs. Fenner

Land is considered to be in productive agricultural use when it is being farmed. Large areas of upland heaths and lowland fens are used for livestock grazing.

Mr. Chapman

Land use statistics are gathered by the Department of the Environment and show, broadly speaking, that during the last 35 years we have lost a quarter of our upland heaths and that more than half of our fenlands have been drained. Does my hon. Friend agree that liaison between her Department and the Department of the Environment is essential if we are to strike a sensible balance between the needs of agriculture and conservation of the countryside? While I welcome the setting up of the environment co-ordination unit in her Department for just such a purpose, but will she assure the House that the coordination and liaising will be at ministerial as well as official level?

Mrs. Fenner

My hon. Friend will be aware that the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 took account of anxiety about natural habitat and landscape change. There is close co-ordination between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of the Environment. Regarding habitat and landscape, the Nature Conservancy Council and the Department of the Environment are funding projects on habitat and landscape change, and MAFF hopes to undertake a survey of trees and hedges on farms later this year. I know of my hon. Friend's particular interest in that part of country conservation.

Mr. Bill Walker

Does my hon. Friend agree that in the highlands of Scotland the land is used extensively for sheep farming, which is supported by the positive steps on conservation being taken by the Scottish National Farmers Union?

Mrs. Fenner

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will be exercising the greatest care in considering the compatability of agriculture and conservation, as we do in the rest of the United Kingdom.