HC Deb 30 October 1995 vol 265 cc118-20W
Mr. Macdonald

To ask the State for Scotland how many farm conservation plans have been approved, since revision, in the Machair of the Uists, Barra and Vatersay environmentally sensitive area. [39838]

Mr Robertson

As at 24 October 1995, 42 crofters have accepted agreements offered under the revised Machair of the Usists, Barra and Vatersay environmentally sensitive area scheme.

Mr. Macdonald

To ask the State for Scotland how many farm conservation plans have been approved in the Stewartry environmentally sensitive area, since its revision, involving payments in year one of the plan of(a) £0-£1,000, (b) £1,001-£2,000, (c) £2,001-£3,000,(d) £3,001-£4,000, (e) £4,001-£5,000 and (f) £5,001-£6,000. [39836]

Mr Raymond S. Robertson

As at 24 October 1995, there were 90 approved plans in the revised Stewarty environmentally sensitive area scheme, all of which involve payment in year one. The number of agreements involving tier two payments in year one of the plan is as follows:

Number
(a) Up to £1,000 4
(b) £1,00-£2,000 5
(c) £2,001-£3,000 4
(d) £3,001-£4,000 0
(e) £4,001–5,000 73
(f) £5,001-£6,000 0

Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farm conservation plans have been approved in the Machair of the Uists, Barra and Vatersay environmentally sensitive area, since its revision involving payments under tier two in year one of the plan of(a) £0-£500, (b) £500-£1,000, (c) £1,001-£1,500, and (d) £1,501-£2,000. [39839]

Mr. Robertson

The number of agreements in the revised Machair of the Uists, Barra and Vatersay environmentally sensitive area scheme involving tier two payments in year one of the plan is as follows:

Number
(a) 0-£500 16
(b) £501-£1,000 10
(c) £1,001-£1,500 4
(d) £1,501-£2,000 16

Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what monitoring and review arrangements he has established to ensure that the agri-environment programme in Scotland contributes to meeting the objectives of "Biodiversity: the United Kingdom Action Plan", Cm 2418. [39835]

Mr. Robertson

A 10-year contract has been let for monitoring the impact of the environmentally sensitive area scheme. This will cover ecological, archaeological and landscape effects. We intend to extend these arrangements, in due course, to cover the more recently launched elements of the agri-environment programme.

Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 29 March,Official Report, column 697, what was the final expenditure on environmentally sensitive areas in Scotland in 1994–95; and on what the remainder of the allocated budget we spent. [39844]

Mr. Robertson

Provisional outturn expenditure on environmentally sensitive areas in Scotland in 1994–95 was £1.044 million. It is not possible to say precisely how the remainder of the provision was used, but the first priority for the use of any savings of this nature would be to meet inescapable demands for additional unplanned agricultural expenditure or any of the other programme areas for which the Secretary of State is responsible.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the expected expenditure for(a) environmentally sensitive areas and (b) other agri-environment schemes in 1995–96. [39752]

Mr. Robertson

Financial provision for(a) environmentally sensitive areas and (b) other agri-environment schemes in 1995–96 is set out in the table.

Financial provision 1995–96 (£ million)
Environmentally Sensitive Areas 5.5
Other Agri-Environment Schemes 1.697

It is too early to anticipate what expenditure will be incurred.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farm conservation plans have been approved, since designation, in the Cairngorms Straths environmentally sensitive area involving payments under tier two in year one of the plan of(a) up to £1,000, (b) £1,000-£2,000, (c) £2,001-£3,000 and (d) £3,001-£4,000. [39749]

Mr. Robertson

[holding answer 26 October 1995]: The number of agreements in Cairngorms Straths environmentally sensitive area scheme involving tier two payments in year one of the plan is as follows:

Number
(a) Up to £1,000 1
(b) £1,001-£2,000 1
(c) £2,001-£3,000 2
(d) £3,001-£4,000 35

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farm conservation plans have been approved, since designation, the Cairngorms Straths environmentally sensitive areas. [39748]

Mr. Robertson

[holding answer 26 October 1995]: As at 24 October 1995, 37 farmers and crofters have accepted agreements offered under the Cairngorms Straths environmentally sensitive areas scheme.