HC Deb 02 April 1992 vol 222 c518W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the countryside stewardship scheme sites have been visited by Ministers or officials of his Department; if, for each site, he will give the name, location, date and rank of personnel involved; whether each site involved payments for additional access for the public; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

[holding answer 26 March 1993]: Information is not kept in the form requested. The scheme is administered by the Countryside Commission. The Secretary of State, Ministers and officials from the Department have visited a number of countryside stewardship sites since the scheme launch in June 1991.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by county all the 1992 countryside stewardship scheme sites for which access payments are made; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

[holding answer 26 March 1993]: A list in the form requested is being prepared. I will send it to the hon. Gentleman and will place copies in the Libraries of both Houses as soon as it is ready. Full details of each site will be sent to parish councils and will be included in new, improved county registers which will be sent to user groups and highway authorities within the next few months. Copies of the registers will be held at the Countryside Commission regional offices and headquarters and will be available on request. In addition, the Countryside Commission has reviewed its approach to signing and waymarking sites in light of first year experience. More robust and informative map boards will be put in place by June for all sites agreed in the first two years of the scheme. Paths and bridleways will be waymarked. The Countryside Commission is also considering the production of information leaflets to publicise sites further.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the linear access routes under the countryside stewardship scheme agreements made in 1992, involving additional access payments, are contiguous with pre-existing rights of way; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

[holding answer 26 March 1993]: Over 100 linear access routes included in 1992 countryside stewardship agreements or agreement offers are linked to existing public rights of way. No payment is made for existing rights of way under the countryside stewardship scheme.