§ Mr. Alexanderasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will designate the village of Laxton in Nottinghamshire an environmentally sensitive area under the Agriculture Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe further areas which we shall designate next year will be selected from the shortlist which the Countryside Commission and the Nature Conservancy Council submitted to me last year. We recognise that there are a number of areas of environmental value, including Laxton, which are not on that list but we are anxious to give priority to those areas which the Government's environmental advisers have jointly identified as candidates for early designation.
§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the additional funds to be provided for environmentally sensitive areas in 1988 will be used to designate further areas throughout the United Kingdom; and if it is his intention to designate new areas.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonYes. With colleagues in the other Agriculture Departments we intend to provide additional funds for environmentally sensitive areas in 1988. My right hon. Friend the Minister will shortly be considering further areas for designation in England.