Meadow and Pasture Land (Hansard, 18 July 1991)

§ 3. Ms. Quin
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards traditional meadow and pasture land.

§ Mr. Curry
The environmentally sensitive areas scheme provides protection and enhancement of meadow and pasture land. We are consulting on how to strengthen that programme.

§ Ms. Quin
Has the Minister read the recent report of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation which gives details about the alarming loss of traditional meadows and pasture land, with their wealth of wild flowers? Will he discuss the report's recommendations with its authors? Will he give a guarantee that those meadows and traditional pastures outside the areas of protected status will be retained for the future?

§ Mr. Curry
I have read the report and note that it is supportive of the environmentally sensitive area principle. The hon. Lady will know that, as part of the environmentally sensitive area consultations, we are talking about the creation of new meadow land. She will also know that, in the countryside premium under the set-aside scheme, there is specific provision for the creation of grass land and meadow land, and in the new countryside stewardship scheme there are at least two or three categories that are eligible for aid and which affect grassland—for example, limestone in river bottoms. We are extremely concerned to maintain those traditional grass lands. The thrust of our policy is to enhance the environment. We shall certainly be in contact with the authors of the report to see whether they have any suggestions, as, clearly, we are pushing in the same direction and have exactly the same preoccupations.

§ Sir Dudley Smith
Is my hon. Friend aware that the Warwickshire nature conservation trust has taken 50 acres of excellent pasture land and meadows into its care to look after it for the community and is also seeking further tracts of land? Does he agree that that example should be copied by other counties up and down the country?

§ Mr. Curry
It is an example which should be copied by all organisations in a position to take action. There is widespread concern to ensure that the traditional countryside is preserved. That does not have to be to the detriment of effective and efficient agriculture—the two are perfectly compatible and there is no reason why we cannot pursue them in harness.