§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what procedures are in place to monitor whether overgrazing has reduced following the withholding of hill livestock compensatory allowances as a direct result of the introduction of the hill livestock compensatory allowance overgrazing clause;
(2) what procedures are in place to monitor whether meetings between her Ministry's officials and producers to discuss ways of reducing overgrazing have led to reductions in overgrazing;
(3) what procedures are in place to reduce the environmental damage caused through overgrazing consequent on that damage continuing after hill livestock compensatory allowances are withheld as a result of the introduction of the hill livestock compensatory allowance overgrazing clause.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 19 April 1994]: The overgrazing provisions of the hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme introduced in 1992 are intended to discourage farming practice which causes significant environmental damage. The Ministry has arrangements with ADAS to undertake biological monitoring of land which is considered to be overgrazed and to report on measures which should be taken to arrest further deterioration. The ADAS reports are discussed with the producers concerned with the aim of reaching agreement on improvements in management. To the extent that agreement is reached monitoring will continue to ensure that agreed action has been taken and that it is sufficient to prevent further environmental damage.
If agreement cannot be reached with producers and overgrazing continues we can exercise our powers to 274W withhold allowances in their entirety. If farmers choose not to apply for hill livestock compensatory allowances we cannot continue to monitor the vegetation on their land since they are not subject to the provisions of the hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme.
We recognise that the application of overgrazing provisions to hill livestock compensatory allowances is limited in its effect as subsidies paid under sheep annual premium, suckler cow premium and beef special premium schemes currently have no such provision attached to them. However, the Council of Ministers has now made provision in the rules for these schemes which would enable us to attack similar conditions. It is our intention, following public consultation which is currently in progress, to introduce into all three schemes overgrazing provisions similar to those which currently apply to HLCAs. Once this is done, we will be able to take effective action against those producers who have been prepared to forgo payments under the HLCA scheme while continuing to overgraze their land. Producers who wish to benefit from the livestock subsidy schemes will therefore have to manage their land in ways which prevent further environmental damage.
The subject matter of these questions requires fuller treatment than is normally given in parliamentary answers. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member giving further details and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many producers have been approached by her Ministry's officials in each Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food region to discuss ways of reducing overgrazing in each year since the introduction of the hill livestock compensatory allowance overgrazing clause; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 19 April 1994]: The information requested is as follows:
Region Number of producers approached 1992 1993 1994 East Midlands — — — North East — 25 18 Northern — 89 — North Mercia — — 40 South Mercia — — — South West 9 56 34 Wessex — 16 4
§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many hill livestock compensatory allowances she has withheld in 1992, 1993 and 1994 in each Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food region as a result of the introduction of the hill livestock compensatory allowance overgrazing clause; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 19 April 1994]: The information required is not available in the form requested.
§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have had hill livestock compensatory allowances withheld in 1992, 1993 and 1994 in each Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food region as a result of the introduction of the hill livestock compensatory allowance overgrazing clause.
275W
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 19 April 1994]: The information requested is as follows:
Region Number of Farmers who have had allowances withheld 1992 1993 1994 South West 5 6 4 All other regions Nil Nil Nil