§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the total land area of England was designated as environmentally sensitive; what financial provision his Department allocated to environmentally sensitive areas in the years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96; what percentage of the total land area of England will be designated as environmentally sensitive; and what financial provisions his Department will allocate to environmentally sensitive areas in each of the years 1996–97 and 1997–98. [29326]
§ Mr. JackI have been asked to reply.
The 22 currently designated English environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) cover 1,149,217 hectares. This is 8.8 per cent. of the total land area of England, excluding inland waters, and includes approximately 10 per cent. of agricultural land in England. Provision for payments to farmers was £30 million in 1993–94, £31 million in 1994–95 and is £43 million per annum for 1995–96 to 199798. There are no plans at present to increase the area designated.