HC Deb 08 March 1993 vol 220 cc394-5W
Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farms could be included in the Preseli environmentally sensitive area.

Mr. David Hunt

About 2,300.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review annually payments made under the Preseli environmentally sensitive area; and if he will index link them.

Mr. David Hunt

Payment rates are currently reviewed every two years and there are no plans to change these arrangements.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what criteria his Department used for designating all of the Preseli, Pembrokeshire district an environmentally sensitive area.

Mr. David Hunt

The environmentally sensitive area scheme was introduced to help conserve, through the maintenance or adoption of particular agricultural practices, areas of the countryside where the landscape, wildlife or historic interest is of national importance. Final decisions on the precise boundary of the Preseli ESA will be taken in the light of the forthcoming consultation exercise.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what organisation will set the conditions covering the environmentally sensitive area of Preseli; how its members will be appointed; and from what organisations they will be drawn.

Mr. David Hunt

The proposed management prescriptions for the Preseli ESA, which will form part of the consultation document that is to be issued shortly, have been drawn up by my Department in consultation with the Agricultural Development Advisory Service, the Countryside Council for Wales and other farming and environmental bodies.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the overall budget for the Preseli environmentally sensitive area for 1993–94 and his estimate for 1994–95; and what will be the total acreage covered.

Mr. David Hunt

The overall budget for the proposed Preseli ESA will be dependent upon the rates of payment to farmers which will be decided in the light of the forthcoming consultation exercise. It is anticipated that the Preseli ESA will cover approximately 115,000 hectares.