§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was(a) the total budget spent and (b) the total administrative budget spent for the environmentally sensitive area grants. [28305]
§ Mr. Gwilym Jones(a) Total grants paid under the environmentally sensitive area schemes in 1994-95 was £1,533,000; (b) precise administrative costs are not available, because staff combine work on this area and others schemes. However, the costs of relevant administrative work alone will have amounted to around £276,000. In addition, professional ADAS staff provided scientific and technical advice at a cost of around £1,965,000. Most staff time was devoted to developing detailed rules and regulations for the new scheme, in preparing scheme literature, and in providing farmers with assistance in drawing up whole farm plans and preparing their management agreements.
71W
§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales(a) what percentage of the total land area of Wales was designated as environmentally sensitive; (b) what financial provision his Department allocated to environmentally sensitive areas in the years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96; (c) what percentage of the total land area of Wales will be designated as environmentally sensitive; and (d) what financial provision his Department will allocate to environmentally sensitive areas in each of the years 1996–97 and 1997–98. [29327]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe information requested is as follows:
- (a) 25 per cent.
- (b) Total payments for years:
- 1993–94: £5.8 million
- 1994–95: £6.9 million
- 1995–96: £7.0 million
- (c) 25 per cent. There are no plans at present to designate further areas of Wales as environmentally sensitive.
- (d) 1996–97: £6.9 million
- 1997–98: £6.9 million
These are planned figures which may be subject to change.
§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the(a) total annual budget (b) annual budget for administration and (c) number of administrative staff for the environmentally sensitive area grants. [28301]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe total programme budget for 1995–96 is £6,971,000. Precise administrative staff figures and costs cannot be given, because staff combine work on this area and other schemes. However, relevant administrative work alone is likely to account for approximately 18 staff years at a cost of around £264,000. In addition, professional ADAS staff are expected to provide scientific and technical advice at a cost of around £1,798,000. Most staff time in 1995–96 will be devoted to advising farmers on the key habitats to be included in their agreements; in drawing up maps of their farms showing the relevant features; and in negotiating and preparing their written management agreements.