§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dry stone dykers have been employed on repairing or rebuilding dykes on Scottish farms with support from grants under the farm and conservation grant scheme; if he will make a statement on the effect of the closure of that scheme; and what plans he has for further incentives for such work in future. [21874]
§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonResponsibility lay with farmers to employ dykers for projects on which grant was claimed from the farm and conservation grant scheme. Dykers were not employed directly by the Scottish Office, and no records are held on the numbers engaged in grant-assisted works.
The nationally-funded component of FCGS closed on 19 February when the governing legislation expired. Improvement plans approved under the EC-funded component of the scheme are not affected. Closure of the scheme was widely anticipated by Scotland's farming communities, and most farmers were able to submit claims for grant before the 19 February deadline.
584WIt is important to note that the FCGS is not the only source of public assistance towards dyking projects. For example, farmers in environmentally sensitive areas can receive payments for dyke building, depending on the terms of their management agreements. In addition, the agricultural business improvement scheme, which operates in the Highlands and Islands, provides 70 per cent. grants for dyking projects on inbye and hill land, and the crofting counties agricultural grant scheme currently provides grants at the rate of 55 per cent. for traditional walls in the crofting counties. Scottish Natural Heritage can also provide assistance towards traditional field boundaries such as dry-stone walls which enhance the attractiveness of the landscape.
With regard to the future, the Government announced in the Scottish rural White Paper our intention to consult on proposals for a new conservation scheme for farmers and crofters which would extend the range of conservation incentives currently available, and also contribute to the rationalisation of the agri-environment programme. Our proposals are set out in a consultation paper published on 8 March. It is intended that the restoration of traditional stone dykes will feature in the scheme as a capital item eligible for assistance.