HL Deb 05 July 1984 vol 454 cc511-2WA
The Earl of Onslow

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (i) when, considering the statement by Lord Skelmersdale in col. 1243 on the 13th June and the offer of a management agreement to Mr. D. Wright on the 15th of June, the advice of the Broads Authority on the 92 acres of Halvergate Marshes was changed;
  2. (ii) whether they will give a detailed breakdown of the management agreements entered into in the Halvergate Marshes and their costs per farmer;
  3. (iii) what effect they think Mr. Wright's reported £250 per acre will have on other farmers who have settled for considerably less;
    4. 512
  4. (iv) whether Mr. Wright is entitled to grant under existing legislation for the deepening of ditches which he is now being paid to fill in and whether, if his agreement collapses after a year, he will be entitled to a further grant to dig them out again;
  5. (v) what advice they have received from the Nature Conservancy Council appertaining to the three-month gap under Section 28(2) and the period of notice under Section 28(6) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and
  6. (vi) whether they will provide Mr. Hardy with assistance to close the gap with his amending Bill.

Lord Skelmersdale

I understand that, following a further approach to Mr. D. Wright on 14th June, the Broads Authority decided to adhere to their earlier decision to offer Mr. D. Wright a one year holding agreement at the flat rate of £20 per acre as already accepted in principle by three other farmers in the Halvergate area. This was declined by Mr. Wright who has commenced drainage operations on his land. In these circumstances the effect on other farmers does not arise.

Management agreements entered into between owners and occupiers and conservation authorities are on the basis of information supplied in confidence by the parties.

The provision or improvement of drainage ditches is one of the items in the current schedule of works for which farm capital grant might be paid. Eligibility is determined on a number of factors including the duties placed upon Ministers by Section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968. The capital grant schemes are changed from time to time and I cannot comment now on whether future work might be eligible for grant.

Advice has been received from the Nature Conservancy Council to amend the Wildlife and Countryside Act so as to make the notification in Section 28(2) have immediate provisional effect, and to extend the three-month period allowed for negotiation of a management agreement.

The Government are considering this advice, and the provisions in Mr. Hardy's Bill, and expect to reach a conclusion shortly.