Lord CHELWOODasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will withdraw the draft Agriculture and Horticulture Grant Regulations 1980 since they are inconsistent with the Government's obligations under Sections 11 and 49(4) of the Countryside Act 1968, and Section 66 of the Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967 and entirely contrary to the accepted proposals of the Strutt Report Agriculture and the Countryside (May 1978) which recommended a wider role for ADAS in providing advice for farmers on conservation.
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§ Lord SANDYSOur proposals include arrangements to carry out the obligations imposed by Section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968. In addition, it is still our intention, as my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture has announced, that ADAS should extend its existing knowledge of environmental matters and develop its capacity to provide guidance to farmers on conservation as resources allow.
Lord CHELWOODasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will confirm that the National Farmers' Union has important reservations about the draft Agriculture and Horticulture Grant Regulations 1980, and hopes that the Government will have second thoughts about them.
§ Lord SANDYSIn commenting on our proposals the National Farmers' Union expressed reservations on certain points. We have had several meetings with them to discuss their comments and have made a number of changes to our proposals which we hope will go a long way towards meeting their concern.
Lord CHELWOODasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which, if any, of the voluntary bodies concerned with nature conservation that they consulted about the draft Agriculture and Horticulture Grant Regulations 1980 differ from the Nature Conservancy Council, which is totally opposed to them.
§ Lord SANDYSSeveral bodies concerned with conservation and wildlife protection sent us comments on our proposals for a new grant scheme, not all of which coincided with the views of the Nature Conservancy Council. I understand that the council have endorsed the arrangements agreed at official level on safeguards for Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Lord CHELWOODasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why they expect both Houses of Parliament to consider the draft Agriculture and Horticulture Grant Regulations 1980 before Members of either 1321WA house have seen the draft of the advisory booklet that all applicants for grants will have to study before applying for them.
§ Lord SANDYSThe leaflets, which have explained the capital grant schemes, have not on previous occasions been made available to Members in advance of the debates on the statutory instruments which give effect to those schemes. As is customary we shall explain our intentions fully in the speech opening the debate on the statutory instruments concerned.
Lord CHELWOODasked Her Majesty's Government:
When each House of Parliament will be asked to approve the draft statutory instrument known as the Agriculture and Horticulture Grant Regulations 1980.
§ Lord SANDYSThe draft Agriculture and Horticulture Grant Regulations 1980 were withdrawn on 28th July. They have been replaced by the draft Agriculture and Horticulture Development Regulations and the Agriculture and Horticulture Grant Scheme 1980, which were laid on 28th July 1980. These two statutory instruments will be debated on 5th August in the House of Commons and on 6th August in the House of Lords. Their effect is the same as the one which they have replaced.