§ 27. Mr. CorbynTo ask the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what actions are being taken by his Department to ensure preservation of natural habitats in set-aside land. [17572]
§ Mr. BoswellThe UK's management rules for set-aside were drawn up in consultation with farming and environmental organisations and are designed to protect wildlife and the environment while allowing farmers to carry out their normal agricultural operations. For example, environmental features such as hedgerows, streams and ponds on or adjacent to set-aside land may not be damaged, destroyed or removed. The rules are regularly reviewed and from 1997 have been further modified to help protect groundnesting birds.