HC Deb 13 July 1989 vol 156 cc609-11W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he expects the following measures will affect the emissions of greenhouse gases:(a) the environmentally sensitive area scheme, and (b) the set-aside scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ryder

Both the environmentally sensitive areas and the set-aside schemes should reduce fertiliser usage and thereby help limit nitrous oxide emissions. The planting of woodlands on set-aside land would fix carbon dioxide for longer periods than conventional agriculture.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will give the area in hectares in each environmentally sensitive area of agricultural land excluding farm woodland;

(2) if he will list the estimated length of hedgerow in the environmentally sensitive area of (a) Shropshire borders, and (b) Suffolk river valleys.

Mr. Ryder

The information requested is not yet available.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of cows in each environmentally sensitive area(a) prior to designation, and (b) the latest figures available since designation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ryder

This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish the work he has contracted on the economic and social effects of environmentally sensitive areas when it is completed.

Mr. Ryder

I will publish information on the economic and social effects of environmentally sensitive areas together with information on their environmental impact when all the contracted work has been completed.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all the areas for possible designation as environmentally sensitive on the initial list submitted to him by the Nature Conservancy Council and Countryside Commission.

Mr. Ryder

The areas initially identified in Great Britain by the Nature Conservancy Council and the Countryside Commission are as follows:

Environmentally sensitive areas

  1. 1. Shetland
  2. 2. Orkney
  3. 3. Central Deeside
  4. 4. Caithness and North West Sutherland Coast
  5. 5. Uists and Benbecula
  6. 6. Inner Hebrides Coastal crofting and farming
  7. 7. Nithsdale
  8. 8. Breadalbane
  9. 9. Strathallan
  10. 10. Whitlaw/Eildon
  11. 11. Northumberland National Park, Moorland
  12. 12. South Solway
  13. 13. North Pennines
  14. 14. Lake District
  15. 15. Arnside and Silverdale
  16. 16. Yorkshire Dales
  17. 17. North York Moors
  18. 18. Lower Derwent Valley
  19. 19. Peak District
  20. 20. Shropshire Hills
  21. 21. Clun Valley
  22. 27. Wyre Forest
  23. 23. Nene Washes and Valley
  24. 24. Ouse Washes and Valley
  25. 25. Breckland
  26. 26. The Broads
  27. 27. Suffolk Coast and Heaths
  28. 28. Dedham Vale
  29. 29. North Kent Marshes
  30. 30. North Downs
  31. 31. Ashdown Forest
  32. 32. Pevensey Levels
  33. 33. South Downs
  34. 34. Surrey Heaths
  35. 35. Itchen Valley
  36. 36. Test Valley
  37. 37. New Forest grazings
  38. 38. North Wessex Downs
  39. 39. South Wiltshire Downs
  40. 40. Mendips
  41. 41. Somerset Levels and Moors
  42. 42. Exmoor
  43. 43. Dartmoor
  44. 44. Bodmin Moor
    45. 611
  45. 45. West Penwith Moors
  46. 46. Anglesey
  47. 47. Lleyn
  48. 48. Southern Snowdonia
  49. 49. East Montgomeryshire and East Radnorshire
  50. 50. Mynydd Elenydd
  51. 51. Radnor Forest and South Radnorshire Uplands
  52. 52. Black Mountain
  53. 53. Black Mountains, West Brecon Beacons
  54. 54. Gower
  55. 55. Teifi
  56. 56. Pembrokeshire

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of occasions that the farmers liaison group for each environmentally sensitive area has met since 1 July.

Mr. Ryder

There are no farmers liaison groups in any environmentally sensitive area.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the statutory and voluntary organisations represented on the formal liaison groups for each of the environmentally sensitive areas in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Ryder

There are no formal liaison arrangements in any environmentally sensitive area, although informal arrangements exist which vary to meet local needs and circumstances. In all cases regular contact is maintained with a wide range of statutory and voluntary organisations who have an interest in the scheme.