§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he published the survey of the countryside commissioned by his Department; how many copies were printed; to whom they have been distributed; and what policy proposals he intends to develop arising from the findings of the report.
§ Mr. YeoThe results of Countryside Survey 1990 were published by the Department on 17 November in a main report and a summary report. 1,500 copies of the main report and 3,300 copies of the summary report have been printed. The reports have been distributed to the 150 guests at the launch, representing Government Departments, non-departmental public bodies, non-governmental organisations, research institutions, industry, academia and the press. Wider distribution of 1,000 copies of the summary report to include local authorities is in progress. Copies have been deposited in the House Library and are also available from my Department's publications sales unit priced at £12 for the main report and £6 for the summary report.
Countryside survey 1990 reports on the 12-year period leading up to 1990. Since 1990 the Government have set in place a range of positive policy measures in the countryside. These include the introduction of the countryside stewardship scheme in England and the Tir Cymen scheme in Wales in June 1992; in 1991 the introduction of the hedgerow incentive scheme; in 1992; the extension and development of environmentally sensitive areas; and the integration of environmental measures in the reform of the common agricultural policy.
Further work has been commissioned by my Department to improve our understanding of the reasons for the changes recorded, and we shall commission a further survey in the year 2000.