§ 2. Mr. David Jamesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will refuse ploughing grants in downland areas of Dorset of outstanding beauty or of archaeological or botanical interest under the terms of the Countryside Act, 1968, and urge the farmers involved instead to apply for compensation under the same Act.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartGrant is not paid for work which would conflict with the statutory provisions governing the protection of field monuments and sites of special scientific interest. Other cases are considered on their merits having regard to the needs of agriculture and to the desirability of conserving the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside.
The Field Monuments Bill, now before the House, will provide for payments to farmers who protect scheduled field monuments.