§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total budget for(a) environmentally sensitive areas and (b) the Scottish countryside premium scheme, over each of the next three years. [15213]
§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonThe overall planned provision for the Scottish agri-environment programme is £9.235 million for 1997–98, £13.468 million for 1998–99 and £15.7 million for 1999–2000. This excludes running costs for the schemes, since this information is not collected separately.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what funding his Department has allocated in the current year for the operation of agri-environment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the operation of the schemes. [15211]
§ Mr. RobertsonThe overall financial provision for the Scottish agri-environment programme for 1996–97 is £9.248 million. This includes monitoring costs for environmentally sensitive areas but excludes running costs for the schemes, since this information is not collected separately.
615WAll aspects of the operation of the schemes are kept under review. Following completion of a programme of biennial reviews, substantial increases in payment rates and ceilings for environmentally sensitive areas were implemented last year. In addition, the new countryside premium scheme, which we plan to launch in the spring, will provide a comprehensive menu of conservation options previously only available to farmers and crofters in environmentally sensitive areas.