§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what subsidies were paid out for environmentally sensitive areas in Northern Ireland in(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–5 and (d) 1995–6; and how many individuals were recipients of these payments in these years. [37129]
§ Mr. AncramThe expenditure on ESAs for the years 1992–93 to 1995–96 and the number of persons receiving payment is as follows:
Year 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–961 Expenditure (£'000s) 465 586 527 697 Claimants 1,062 1,059 1,050 526 1 To 6 October 1995
§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what area, in hectares and percentage terms, of environmentally sensitive areas in Northern Ireland is made up of productive, or potentially productive, agricultural land. [37128]
§ Mr. AncramThe total land area of the five areas designated as environmentally sensitive areas in Northern Ireland is 247,000 hectares. Of this, 221,800 hectares—89 per cent.—is productive agricultural land.