§ Sir David MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will ask the Countryside Commission to consider extending the countryside premium designed to secure environmental benefits from set-aside land from the counties of eastern England to Hampshire.
§ Mr. TrippierThe countryside premium scheme was launched last June and initially covers only seven counties in eastern England. Arrangements are in hand for monitoring the effectiveness of the scheme in these 725W counties. It is too early yet to consider extending the scheme to other areas. The scope of the scheme will be reviewed in the light of the results of monitoring.