§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what evidence he has on the extent 419W to which the proposed set-aside scheme will cause a reduction in pollution caused by agricultural activities; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what evidence he has on the extent to which the diversification scheme will reduce pollution caused by agricultural activities; and if he will make a statement;
(3) whether he has evidence on the extent to which the introduction of environmentally sensitive areas has resulted in a reduction in pollution caused by agricultural practices in those areas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerIn my report to Parliament later this year on the first year's operation of the environmentally sensitive areas, I will he considering among many other things, the evidence available on their impact on pollution. We shall also be monitoring the impact of the set-aside scheme which we announced on the 14 June. The main aim of the farm diversification grant scheme is to provide additional non-agricultural sources of income for farmers and it is not therefore likely greatly to affect pollution from agricultural activities but I shall obviously keep this question in mind.