§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what area of Wales is designated as being environmentally sensitive; how much Government funding is spent annually on environmentally sensitive areas; how this formula is calculated; and if he will make a statement. [17792]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesIn Wales 519,800 hectares, representing around a quarter of the total land area has been designated under the environmentally sensitive areas scheme. Gross expenditure in the financial year 1993–94 was £1.542 million. Financial provision is planned to rise to £6.941 million in 1996–97. Payments are calculated on the basis of income forgone and in recognition of farmers following prescribed management practices.
The environmentally sensitive areas scheme in Wales positively promotes the co-existence of conservation and efficient farming by offering payments to farmers willing to maintain or introduce environmentally beneficial farming methods.