Agri-environmental Schemes (Hansard, 29 April 2003)

§ Andrew George
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what payment levels are made under the(a) countryside stewardship schemes and (b) environmentally sensitive areas in respect of (i) repair of stone walls (per metre), (ii) hedging (per metre), (iii) mending and replacing of

Item CSS (national rates] West Penwith ESA

Repair of stone walls (per metre) £12 with supplements of between £4–£8 available depending on stone type £12 or 80% of actual costs

Heading(per metre) £3 plus supplements of £ 1 Not applicable

Cornish hedges (per metre) £25 with additional supplements of £4 available for stone type and difficult sites Rebuilding £25 and £4 supplement for brought in stone. New hedges £32 or 80% of actual costs

Maintaining grazing(per hectare) £85 for grazed pastures plus 30 supplement for fields > 3ha £85 plus 7 supplement for field margins

protection measures for flora (per hectare) A range of options, not specifically limited to this purpose Reversion to rough land; and other measures 80% of actual costs.

Protection measures for fauna (per hectare) A range of options, not specifically limited to this purpose, e.g. £270 for conservation headlands Winter stubbles £170; other measures 80% of actual costs

Repair of stiles £20–£50 depending on type. Timber stile £30; ladder stile £40; step-over 20; step-through. £30

other payments. Special projects, usually at 50% of cost and scrub clearance at up to £500 per ha. Public access £150 / farm + £35/ha Other payments include protection of historic features 80%; renovation of traditional farm buildings 80%; scrub management from £100–£500; public access £17Q/ha

§ Andrew George
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to make payments to farmers under(a) countryside stewardship, (b) environmentally sensitive and (c) other agri-environmental schemes. [108765]

§ Mr. Meacher
Payments to agreement holders under agri-environment schemes are paid on an annual basis. Payments for the year ending 31 March 2003 for the schemes are as follows:

£ million

Environmentally Sensitive Areas 53.1

Countryside Stewardship 49.0

Arable Stewardship 1.4

Organic Farming scheme 12.6

Closed schemes (moorland and habitat schemes) 2.1

Published expenditure plans for these schemes show that the total budget is placed to rise each year, reading £197 million in 2006–07.

Item	CSS (national rates]	West Penwith ESA
Repair of stone walls (per metre)	£12 with supplements of between £4–£8 available depending on stone type	£12 or 80% of actual costs
Heading(per metre)	£3 plus supplements of £ 1	Not applicable
Cornish hedges (per metre)	£25 with additional supplements of £4 available for stone type and difficult sites	Rebuilding £25 and £4 supplement for brought in stone. New hedges £32 or 80% of actual costs
Maintaining grazing(per hectare)	£85 for grazed pastures plus 30 supplement for fields > 3ha	£85 plus 7 supplement for field margins
protection measures for flora (per hectare)	A range of options, not specifically limited to this purpose	Reversion to rough land; and other measures 80% of actual costs.
Protection measures for fauna (per hectare)	A range of options, not specifically limited to this purpose, e.g. £270 for conservation headlands	Winter stubbles £170; other measures 80% of actual costs
Repair of stiles	£20–£50 depending on type.	Timber stile £30; ladder stile £40; step-over 20; step-through. £30
other payments.	Special projects, usually at 50% of cost and scrub clearance at up to £500 per ha. Public access £150 / farm + £35/ha	Other payments include protection of historic features 80%; renovation of traditional farm buildings 80%; scrub management from £100–£500; public access £17Q/ha

£ million
Environmentally Sensitive Areas	53.1
Countryside Stewardship	49.0
Arable Stewardship	1.4
Organic Farming scheme	12.6
Closed schemes (moorland and habitat schemes)	2.1