HC Deb 25 January 1994 vol 236 cc132-3W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agreements have been made, how much has been spent and how many kilometres of hedgerow were restored under the hedgerow incentive scheme by her Ministry in(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94 in each region in England; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 11 January 1994]: The table sets out by MAFF region the number of claims and the amount of money paid at November 1993 to farmers under the farm and conservation grant scheme—F and CGS—in support of the Countryside Commission's hedgerow incentive scheme—HIS. No such payments were made in the financial year 1992–93. Because these payments accompanied payments by the Countryside Commission it is not possible to identify separately the proportion of the hedgerow restored under the HIS which attracted grant under the F and CGS.

Government support for hedgerow restoration through the HIS is minor compared to the considerable support which is available also under the F and CGS. Under this scheme, since 1989, we have paid 3,500 farmers £5.24 million towards the restoration of 3,300 km of hedgerow.

1993–94
MAFF Regional Service Centre Number of Claims Grant Paid £
Anglia 1 455
East Midlands 8 3,290
North East 10 10,375
Northern 16 17,654
North Mercia 9 12,659
South Mercia 11 10,644
South East 8 6,073
South West 8 8,839
Wessex 7 5,433
England 78 74,972

Cash income and average manual workers earnings
Cash income on cattle and sheep farms (LFA)1
3Year England £ '000s per farm Wales £ '000s per farm Scotland £''000s per farm Northern Ireland £'000s per farm 2Full-time adult manual workers earnings in Great Britain £'000s
Current prices
1986–87 7.1 8.7 10.5 10.6 8.5
1987–88 10.8 7.7 14.3 11.7 9.0
1988–89 11.0 10.4 14.5 8.9 9.7
1989–90 14.1 13.5 14.9 12.0 10.6
1990–91 13.2 14.3 15.5 11.5 11.6
41991–92 14.3 17.8 17.9 9.9 12.3
41992–93 18.4 22.0 19.8 13.6 13.0
4 51993–94 22.0 28.9 21.9 15.2 13.3
1992–93 prices6
1986–87 10.0 12.3 14.8 15.0 12.0
1987–88 14.6 10.4 19.4 15.9 12.2
1988–89 14.1 13.4 18.6 11.4 12.5
1989–90 16.8 16.1 17.7 14.3 12.6
1990–91 14.3 15.5 16.8 12.5 12.6
41991–92 14.8 18.4 18.5 10.2 12.7
41992–93 18.4 22.0 19.8 13.6 13.0
4 51993–94 21.7 28.4 21.6 15.0 13.0
1 Sample averages for farms larger than 8 ESU. The system of farm classification is set out in appendix 3 of Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom 1991–92.
2 As at April each year.
3 March-February accounting year.
4 Provisional and forecast figures based on the sample of farms in the survey for 1992–93.
5 Forecast.
6 Deflated by the retail prices index—all items (March 1992-February 1993 prices).