§ 9. Mr. DafisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals she has to increase the amount of financial support for agricultural practices that protect and enhance the quality of the natural environment.
§ Mr. JackWe have just held consultations on proposals for extending the range of environmental management schemes available to farmers. These would involve increasing expenditure on the measures concerned sixfold to £95 million per annum in 1995–96. That covers the whole of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. DafisI welcome the increase in payments. However, agri-environment measures provide a mechan-ism for a number of advantageous results, such as the maintenance of satisfactory agricultural incomes, impor-tant environmental gains and a better market balance. Should not the measure be at the heart, rather than at the margins, of agricultural support? Will the Minister ensure that, in future, agri-environment measures will be the centrepiece of the common agricultural policy, rather than the bolt-on element of agricultural support?
§ Mr. JackI am sure that the hon. Gentleman studies matters carefully and will be aware of our strong support for the EC's agri-environment regulation. He will further be aware that we have just concluded a large-scale consultation exercise, which included a special series of programmes for Wales and the extension of environ-mentally sensitive areas in Wales. All that was available for comment and I am only sorry that his party did not submit a view on it. If the hon. Gentleman studies the document, he will see our commitment to expanding environmental protection in the field.
§ Mr. PaiceIs not one of the major moves towards protecting the environment the development of long-term non-rotational set-aside? That policy was initiated by the Government in this country and is now being implemented throughout Europe. My hon. Friend will be aware of the consultation papers issued by his Department some months ago. Many farmers in this country are looking forward with urgent anticipation to the final details of the rules for the non-rotational set-aside scheme.
§ Mr. JackI thank my hon. Friend for drawing the attention of the House to that point. I wish to put on record my appreciation for the efforts of our predecessors in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in making those pioneer moves. We are working hard to conclude the consultation exercise to which I referred. The rules for long-term non-rotational set-aside—particularly the habitats directive—are included in that. We hope to submit out final plans to the Commission in the summer; that will bring us a stage nearer to the answer that my hon. Friend wants.