HC Deb 16 October 1995 vol 264 cc112-3W
Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what subsidies were paid out for environmentally sensitive areas in Wales for(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95, (d) 1995–96; and how many individuals were recipients of these payments in these years. [37127]

Mr. Gwilym Jones

The amount of subsidies paid out for environmentally sensitive areas in Wales was:

  • 1992–93:£1,503,000
  • 1993–94: £1,542,000
  • 1994–95: £1,536,000

Provision for 1995–96 is £6,971,000 as shown in the 1995–96 Main Supply Estimates, Class XV, Vote 1 (CM 271-XV).

Information on the number of recipients receiving payments by financial year is not held.

The number of live management agreements at the end of each financial year was:

  • 31 March 1993: 857
  • 31 March 1994: 794
  • 31 March 1995: 883

The number of current management agreements as at 31 August 1995 was 1,111.

Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what area, in hectares and percentage terms, of environmentally sensitive areas in Wales is made up of productive, or potentially productive, agricultural land. [37126]

Mr. Jones

The following is the information:

Hectares productive land Percentage of total area
Cambrian Mountains 118,780 77.3
Lleyn Peninsula 41,304 90.9
Radnor 91,769 91.6
Ynys Mon 66,063 92.5
Preseli 113,878 94.2
Clwydian Range 25,725 92.3
457,519 88.1

The figures quoted exclude urban areas, mineral workings, open water and rivers, unvegetated land and coniferous forests which are within the respective environmentally sensitive areas.