§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to monitor erosion caused by excessive sheep grazing in less-favoured areas.
§ Mr. CurryI do not believe that sheep grazing is a widespread cause of erosion. Measures to discourage overgrazing in less favoured areas are however included in the hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme. Also a number of current or proposed environmentally sensitive area schemes include the regeneration of moorland vegetation by offering payments to farmers to reduce sheep stocking levels and to carry out other beneficial management practices.