§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what action he is taking to ensure speedy and effective implementation of the agri-environmental measures agreed as part of the common agricultural policy reforms during the United Kingdom presidency of the EC;
(2) if he will make it his policy to extend existing mechanisms for the support of environmentally friendly farming to include all wildlife-rich agricultural habitats in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. CurryWe are working on the development of a new nitrate reduction programme especially where this is necessary to protect drinking water sources, a new scheme to encourage organic farming, a new scheme to reduce livestock numbers where this will be environmentally beneficial, measures to increase the environmental benefits of set-aside and payments to manage land for public access and recreation. Details of these proposals will be issued for consultation this winter. They are in addition to plans to introduce a series of new environmentally sensitive areas. This combination of measures will greatly increase the coverage of schemes to support environmentally friendly farming.