HC Deb 04 February 1988 vol 126 cc1147-8
10. Mr. Hunter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on conservation headlands, as pioneered by the cereals and gamebirds research project.

Mr. Gummer

The work of the cereals and gamebirds research project is a useful development in the management of cereals land and has made a valuable contribution to our thinking on environmentally sensitive areas. I am delighted that we have been able to incorporate the project's techniques in the management prescription for the Brecklands environmentally sensitive area.

Mr. Hunter

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that answer, not least because the chairman of the cereals and gamebirds research project is a constituent of mine. I am glad that his work is duly acknowledged. I ask my right hon. Friend to comment on the proposition that the most positive role should be found for conservation headlands within the extensification regulations, Community schemes and any other set-aside programme that may be envisaged.

Mr. Gummer

Yes, I am keen to support what has already been pioneered by Mr. Oliver-Bellasis. I hope that we can consider some of the proposals,, as we are considering those put forward by the Nature Conservancy Council in the Brecklands scheme. I hope that we can show how the headlands can make a real contribution to the improvement of the environment.

Sir Charles Morrison

My right hon. Friend's interest in conservation headlands is very much appreciated, but does he agree that, on the basis of existing knowledge, there is no other known system in respect of arable fields which has more beneficial results for wild flowers, insect s, birds and other forms of wildlife? Will he therefore continue to encourage the introduction of conservation headlands?

Mr. Gummer

Yes, there is no doubt that the Game Conservancy Council does much more research into this than anyone else. We welcome its proposals and hope that the experiement in the Brecklands will be successful. If it is, we can consider its extension elsewhere. I hope that we shall also consider the other proposals, because they might provide an additional armoury and another way of implementing my hon. Friend's proposal to bring wildlife back to parts of the country which have long been denuded of it.