§ Lord Bruce-Gardyneasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the aggregate cost, direct and indirect, to public funds to date of all claims for compensation payable to farmers and landowners under the terms of the Wildlife and Countrysde Act; and what is the latest estimate of the aggregate value of claims currently outstanding.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleThe principal commitments have been made by the Nature Conservancy Council which, since passage of the Act, has completed 84 agreements. Capital payments made in respect of these total £315,079 and periodical payments amount to a further £36,431 per annum. The latest estimate by the NCC of the aggregate value of claims which it is currently processing comprises capital sums and arrears of periodical payments totalling £729,000, together with annual payments of £621,000.
Comparable information on agreements reached by local authorities generally is not available. However, a special fund held by the Countryside Commission was made available in 1983–84 to assist the first year costs of agreements entered into by national park authorities, and I am advised that the commission has made payments of £57,350 from the fund.