§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been paid in each of the last five years to landowners in Wales in respect of compensation under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and how much was paid during the same period in respect of land purchase.
§ Mr. David HuntPrior to 1 April 1991, payments under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for management agreements and land purchase were made by the Nature Conservancy Council for Great Britain as a whole, and were recorded centrally. Therefore figures for payments made in Wales prior to 1 April 1991 are not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
In 1991–92 payments made to landowners by the Countryside Council for Wales in respect of management agreements under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 amounted to £1.055 million. This amount included payments to encourage positive conservation measures as well as payments in respect of compensation, which are not recorded separately.
For 1991–92, £0.631 million was paid by the Countryside Council for Wales for the purchase of land in national nature reserves. In addition, the Countryside Council for Wales gave grants totalling £0.399 million towards the purchase of land by other organisations for nature and landscape conservation.