§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hectares of land(a) are eligible to be entered into each environmentally sensitive area in Scotland and (b) have been entered into each tier of each environmentally sensitive area in Scotland. [25795]
§ Sir Hector MonroThe number of hectares eligible to be entered into the schemes in each designated area is not known as eligibility depends on the individual circumstances of the agricultural business and the land on the unit. The estimated number of hectares of agricultural land in each designated area and the number of hectares which have been covered by agreements under the schemes are set out in the following table.
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Number of hectares in each designated area Hectares covered by tier 1 agreements by 30 April 1995 Breadalbane 140,000 167,966 Loch Lomond 36,875 120,789 Stewartry 48,535 119,626 Central Borders (formerly Whitlaw and Eildon) 28,785 12,395 Machair of the Uists and Benbecula, Barra and Vatersay 16,230 13,911 Central Southern Uplands 220,289 49,625 Western Southern Uplands 131,004 18,721 Cairngorms Straths 236,138 10,493 Argyll Islands 177,420 34,103 Shetland Islands 64,090 633 1,099,366 228,262 1 Excludes hectares covered by expired agreements under the original Schemes. All the land entered into tier 1 agreements can be considered for tier 2 of the scheme. The precise requirements of the agreement under tier 2 will depend on the types of land and features of conservation interest on the farm or croft and will be set out in the agreed farm or croft conservation plan.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farms(a) are eligible to have land entered into each environmentally sensitive area in Scotland and (b) have had land entered into each environmentally sensitive area in Scotland. [25796]
§ Sir Hector MonroThe precise number of farmers and crofters eligible to enter land into the schemes in each designated area is not known, as eligibility depends on the individual circumstances of the agricultural business and the land on the unit. However, all agricultural units will land in a designated area are eligible to apply. The number of agricultural units in each designated area and the number of farmers and crofters who have had land covered by agreements under the schemes are set out in the following table:
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Number of agricultural units in each designated area Farmers/crofters who have had land covered by ESA agreements by 30 April 1995 Breadalbane 203 191 Loch Lomond 77 140 Stewartry 340 1134 Central Borders (formerly Whitlaw and Eildon) 190 115 Machair of the Uists and Benbecula, Barra and Vatersay 789 1400 Central Southern Uplands 633 107 Western Southern Uplands 455 49
Number of agricultural units in each designated area Farmers/crofters who have had land covered by ESA agreements by 30 April 1995 Cairngorms Straths 284 12 Argyll Islands 435 50 Shetlands Islands 1,350 13 4,756 911 1 Excludes farmers/crofters whose agreements under the original Schemes have expired.