NITRATES: PILOT SCHEME (Hansard, 18 April 1990)

§ The Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne

Following extensive consultations on the pilot nitrate scheme, we have decided, subject to Commission clearance under Article 93,3 of the Treaty of Rome, to confirm that 10 areas should be designated as nitrate sensitive areas (NSAs), and that intensive advisory campaigns should be conducted in a further nine areas.

This important new pilot scheme is aimed at tackling the problem, experienced throughout Europe and elsewhere, of unacceptable levels of nitrate leaching from farmland into water sources. It will provide valuable insights into a problem which is not scientifically fully understood, and point the way for future policy. We hope the scheme will be a major success and that it will receive the high level of support which it deserves.

As indicated in earlier announcements, payments will be made to those farmers in NSAs who voluntarily undertake to observe restrictions on their agricultural practices. We hope that as many farmers 97WA as possible will enter our basic scheme, under which payments will be made for restrictions on all their NSA land which, while substantial, will enable them broadly to maintain current farming patterns. These payments will vary depending on the NSA in line with overall differences in the costs of compliance between different areas.

Farmers who participate in the basic scheme will in addition be able to enter the premium scheme, by converting some or all of their arable land to various forms of grassland. Payments will vary depending on the NSA (since overall assessments of the costs of compliance differ), the option chosen, and the proportion of a farmer's land affected, (since the latter affects the fixed cost savings). The premium scheme requirements will help to protect the environment generally and promote conservation.

The areas, basic rates of payment, and premium rates for conversion of arable to unfertilised ungrazed grassland are as follows (£/ha):

NITRATE SENSITIVE AREAS (NSAs)
		Basic	Premium (% of total holdings)
			0-25	25-75	75-100
1.	Sleaford (Lincolnshire)	85	380	290	200
2.	Branston Booths (Lincolnshire)	95	380	290	200
3.	Ogbourne St George (Wiltshire)	55	380	290	200
4.	Old Chalford (Oxfordshire)	55	330	265	200
5.	Egford (Somerset)	55	380	290	200
6.	Boughton (Nottinghamshire)	75	280	240	200
7.	Wildmoor (Hereford & Worcs)	70	280	240	200
8.	Wellings (Staffordshire & Shropshire	65	280	240	200
9.	Tom Hill (Staffordshire)	70	280	240	200
10.	Kilham (Humberside)	55	330	265	200

Premium rates (which are paid in addition to basic rates) will be adjusted in relation to those shown above, as follows:

for unfertilised grazed grass	£30/ha less
for grass with up to 150kg N/ha	£110/ha less
for grass and woodland	£100/ha less

though for the latter, payments under the Farm Woodland Scheme should also apply.

Intensive pig and poultry farmers will receive individually assessed payments towards the cost of additional storage (pig farmers only) and/or transport requirements calculated against number of livestock.

The advisory areas will be as follows:

1. The Swells (Gloucestershire)
2. Bircham and Fring (Norfolk)
3. Hillington, Gayton and Congham (Norfolk)
4. Sedgeford (Norfolk)
5. Fowlmere (Cambridgeshire)
6. Far Baulker (Nottinghamshire)
7. Dotton and Colaton (Devon)
8. Cringle Brook (Lincolnshire and Leicestershire)
9. Bourme Brook (Warwickshire)

All farms in the advisory areas will be visited by an ADAS officer and encouraged voluntarily to follow practices designed to reduce the risk of nitrate leaching at little or no cost to themselves or even a small benefit.

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Full details of the measures and payment rates have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. We shall be laying before the House in due course a statutory instrument designating the NSAs and setting out the measures and payment rates under the basic and premium schemes. Our intention is for the order to come into effect by 1st June.