§ 10. Mr. Patchettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to announce his provisional choice of environmentally sensitive areas as provided for in the Agriculture Bill 1985.
§ Mr. JoplingWe are currently consulting the Countryside Commission and the Nature Conservancy Council over the selection of areas. We expect to receive their final advice within the next three months. 426 Announcements will be made as soon as possible after that, following consultation with the Secretary of State for the Environment and other interested parties.
§ Mr. PatchettDoes the Minister agree that the proposed £6 million for the ESAs is in terrible contrast to the £1.8 billion for agricultural support? Will he agree to press for the figure to be increased as soon as possible, rather than merely to continue consultations, which seem to have delayed the report?
§ Mr. JoplingI hope that the hon. Gentleman will be as generous as his hon. Friends on the Front Bench about the introduction of ESAs, which has been warmly welcomed on both sides. To be budgeting to spend £6 million in the first year on five or six of those areas is a good start.
§ Mr. John CarlisleWhat plans has my right hon. Friend to monitor the effectiveness of ESAs?
§ Mr. JoplingWe shall seek to monitor them as soon as we get them into being. I am sure that many people will pay particular attention to how well they work in practice.