§ Mr. BellottiTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to increase the level of payments to farmers in the south downs under the environmentally sensitive area scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryESA payments were reviewed last month and I concluded that they were still broadly at the right levels. Farmers will, however, benefit from a single annual payment rather than in two instalments. I will be reviewing the whole scheme this year on the basis of an evaluation of its environmental and economic impact and this w:ill determine the way forward.