HC Deb 23 February 1993 vol 219 c553W
Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to designate further areas within Scotland as environmentally sensitive areas; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Hector Monro

[holding answer 19 February 19931: Five areas selected for further designation as environmentally sensitive areas in Scotland were announced by my hon. Friend, Lord Strathclyde, on 6 March 1992 and will be introduced during 1993. They are the Argyll Islands, the Cairngorms Straths, the Central Southern Uplands, the Shetland Islands and the Western Southern Uplands. There are, at present, no plans to designate any further areas in Scotland.

Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total area within Scotland currently designated as environmentally sensitive areas; and what is the total size of the additional areas whose designation comes into effect on 1 April.

Sir Hector Monro

[holding answer 19 February 1993]: The total area currently designated in Scotland as environmentally sensitive area is 288,000 hectares. This area will be increased by a further 1,098,000 hectares when the third round of environmentally sensitive areas is implemented during 1993.

Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by what percentage his Department's budget for payments to farmers in environmentally sensitive areas is due to change in 1993–94.

Sir Hector Monro

[holding answer 19 February 1993]: The provision for environmentally sensitive areas in Scotland for the financial year 1993–94 is £5.3 million. This is an increase of approximately 36 per cent. over that for 1992–93.