Land Schemes

HC Deb 13 July 1994 vol 246 c630W

Dr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost in 1993 in Wales of payments made under(a) the countryside stewardship scheme, (b) the hedgerow incentive scheme, (c) the countryside premium scheme and (d) the wildlife enhancement scheme; and what is his estimate of the cost in 1994.

Sir Wyn Roberts

(a) The countryside stewardship scheme does not operate in Wales. The Countryside Council for Wales runs a broadly equivalent farm-based scheme called Tir Cymen, which was launched in July 1992.

The estimated costs are as follows:

£ million
	1993–94	1994–95
Total expenditure	2.01	3.42
Grants paid	1.57	2.98
Administration and research	0.44	0.44

(b) The estimated costs of the hedgerow incentive scheme are as follows:

£ million
	1993–94	1994–95
Total expenditure	0.45	0.51
Grants paid	0.38	0.44
Administration	0.07	0.07

(c) and (d) There are no equivalent schemes in Wales.