§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to meet the EEC Agri-Environment Regulations; and what funds have been made available for their implementation.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 7 February 1995]Over the last year we have launched in England six new environmentally sensitive areas, new payments to promote public access in ESA, a habitat scheme, 22 new nitrate sensitive areas, an organic aid scheme and a countryside access scheme. We plan to launch a moorland scheme shortly. These are additional to the 16 existing ESA, the 10 pilot NSAs and the countryside stewardship scheme, which also form part of the agri-environmental programme for England. Expenditure on all these schemes is planned to rise to £75 million in England by 1996–97. In addition, there are separate agri-environment programmes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.