Dry-stone Walling (Hansard, 15 May 1996)

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department provides to encourage the maintenance and building of dry-stone walls. [29145]

§ Mr. Clappison
The Government provide grant assistance for the restoration and maintenance of dry-stone walls. Until 1 April, the Countryside Commission, one of my Department's countryside agencies, operated the countryside stewardship scheme, which offers grants for the repair and restoration of walls in association with other land management measures. This scheme was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 1 April, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister announced the introduction of a new stand-alone option for field boundaries including payments for stone walls and banks within stewardship, and that an extra £5 million will be available for new management agreements under the scheme for each of the years 1996–97 and 1997–98. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also provides grants for wall restoration under the environmentally sensitive areas scheme.

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to encourage local authorities to promote the preservation of dry-stone walling. [29150]

§ Mr. Clappison
The Government provide grant assistance for the maintenance and improvement of dry-stone walls under the countryside stewardship and environmentally sensitive areas schemes. Both these schemes are open to appropriate applications from local authorities. Some local authorities also take an active part in the promotion of the countryside stewardship scheme to farmers in their areas. This scheme was transferred from the Countryside Commission to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 1 April, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister announced that an extra £5 million will be available for new management agreements under the scheme for each of the years 1996–97 and 1997–98.
Local authorities and national parks have powers themselves to operate local environmental grant schemes, some of which may include assistance for the management of dry-stone walls. Local planning authorities also have planning powers to control the demolition of dry-stone walls in conservation areas.