§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent measures his Department has taken to implement regulation 2078 in the United Kingdom, in respect of setting clear environmental objectives on(a) rural employment, (b) biodiversity, (c) pollution and (d) soil erosion; what measures have been taken in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement. [18613]
§ Mr. BoswellThe aim of Council regulation 2078/92—the "agri-environment regulation"—is to promote farming practices which are compatible with protection of the environment and maintenance of the countryside. It requires all EU member states to introduce programmes of environmental incentive schemes for farmers which reflect their own environmental circumstances and priorities.
The agri-environment regulation has been implemented in England by expanding the existing environmentally sensitive areas and nitrate sensitive areas schemes and by introducing a range of new incentive schemes addressing major environmental priorities such as creation of wildlife habitats, promotion of organic farming, conservation of heather moorland and access. We have also recently completed public consultation on proposals for the expansion and development of the countryside stewardship scheme when it transfers to MAFF from the Countryside Commission at the end of the month.
One of the main aims of our agri-environment programme is to protect and enhance biodiversity, and many of the schemes are contributing towards the Government's objectives under the biodiversity action plan. The schemes also address concerns over pollution by controlling or prohibiting inputs of fertilisers and 329W pesticides, and concerns over soil erosion through measures such as the reversion of arable land to grassland. The issue of rural employment falls outside the scope of regulation 2078/92; the Government's policy in this area is set out in the rural White Paper.
As indicated in the rural White Paper, we have now set up a national agri-environment steering group specifically to advise Ministers on the objectives, targeting, development and monitoring of agri-environment schemes. We have also set up a new national forum, which meets for the first time on 25 March, to allow a wide range of interested bodies the opportunity to feed in their own ideas on these issues.