§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to launch a Countryside Stewardship Scheme for organic farmers.[8547]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 18 October 2001]: The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is already open to organic farmers. Because it is a discretionary scheme, applications are assessed and approved on the basis of the environmental benefits they can offer. This assessment process takes account of the potential additional benefits of combining Countryside Stewardship with organic farming and as a result many organic farmers have been accepted into the Scheme. Officials are also conducting a review of agri-environment schemes which will consider a range of issues including the structure of existing schemes and the interrelationship between them. The review will report in 2003.