41. Sir Hector Memroasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, further to his answer of 19 February, Official Report, column 791, he has made any assessment of the number of environmentally sensitive areas likely to result from the increased funding of £7 million announced on 9 February.
§ Mr. JoplingI refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 17 February 1987, at column 603, to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson).
§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisleasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what meetings have been held between es staff and representatives of the internal drainage boards, water authorities and local authorities in environmentally sensitive areas, to discuss the managenent of water levels in such areas; and whether he will enter into agreements with the relevant bodies to ensure that their activities meet the management objectives of environmentally sensitive areas.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonWe are in close and regular contact with water and drainage authorities about the operation of environmentally sensitive areas. Where these bodies own land which is agriculturally managed, ESA 607W agreements will be available to them or their tenants. In all cases such bodies are required under section 22 of the Water Act 1973 as amended by section 48 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to further conservation by adhering to guidelines jointly published by my Department and the Department of the Environment. These guidelines are being revised to include, inter alia, provisions specifically relating to the protection of environmentally sensitive areas. A draft of the new guidelines was circulated to all interested parties, including voluntary conservation bodies, last year and no substantive amendments to the sections on environmentally sensitive areas were received.