§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what estimate he has of the probable area of land covered by bracken in England, at present rates of encroachment, by the year 2000;
(2) if he will provide details of the grants presently available for bracken control in Britain; and if he will provide figures to show the number of such grants, and their total value, paid in each of the last five years;
(3) what estimate he has of land covered by bracken in England.
(4) what information is held by his Department concerning the treatment of bracken by the various means available; and if he will give figures to show the area of bracken so treated by each method for each of the last five years.
§ Mrs. FennerOfficial statistics are not collected on the area of bracken. Estimates put forward by research organisations suggest that about 40,400 hectares in England are infested with bracken. The rate of encroachment is presently estimated to be something over 1 per cent. per annum. I cannot give a meaningful estimate of the likely area in the year 2000. Bracken is usually controlled by mechanical and chemical means, by husbandry practices and by burning. I have no information on the extent to which each of these methods is in use. Grants are available for bracken control under the agriculture improvement scheme. The rates are 30 per cent. in the less favoured areas and 15 per cent. elsewhere. The number and value of grant payments is not separately distinguishable from those for operations concerning heather. The available information is as follows:
395W
Grunts for bracken and heather control Number Value (£) 1981 19 14,265 1982 51 50,389 1983 50 36,675 1984 45 47,697 1985 51 50,976