§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response she has received to paragraph 3.57 of the Government's paper Cm. 2428, "Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan" concerning overgrazing; and if she will now consider introducing new measures to reduce the effect on moorland and upland habitats of over grazing of sheep.
§ Mr. JackWe have not received any response to paragraph 3.57 as such. However, we have already introduced upland environmentally sensitive areas and environmental restrictions under the hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme, both of which contribute in different ways to discouraging the overgrazing of moorland and upland habitats. We have also carried out consultations on proposals to introduce a moorland scheme and to attach environmental protection conditions to payments unde the sheep annual premium scheme.