§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount has been allocated by his Department under the hedgerow incentive scheme for each year from 1992–93 to 1994–95; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 26 March 1993]: The following amounts have been made available to the Countryside Commission for this purpose:
Year £ million 1992– 0.55 1993.94 1.25 1994.95 1.75
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring his Department is carrying out with regard to the implementation of the hedgerow incentive scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 26 March 1993]: Consultants have been appointed to monitor the implementation of the scheme over its first three years. Agreements made under the scheme extend over a 10-year period, under which farmers and landowners are required not only to restore specific hedgerows, but to manage positively all the hedgerows on their land in an environmentally sympathetic way. The Countryside Commission has the means to ensure that works are properly carried out in accordance with the agreements made, and to recover grant where appropriate.