§ Mr. Charles KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers and crofters have entered(a) an environmentally sensitive area scheme and (b) the Countryside Premium Scheme; and in each case how many participants have taken up options relating to (i) arable field margins, (ii) beetlebanks, (iii) conservation headlands and (iv) extensive cropping since January 1997. [36699]
§ Mr. MacdonaldAs at the end of February 1998, the number of farmers and crofters participating in the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme was 1,668 and for the Countryside Premium Scheme was 485. Information about participants taking up options for arable field margins, beetlebanks, conservation headlands and extensive cropping since January 1997 is set out in the following table.
559W
Options Number of CPS participants Number of ESA participants (i) Arable field margins 1121 2112 (ii) Beetlebanks 1— 3— (iii) Conservation headlands 88 255 (iv) Extensive cropping 111 3— 1 Items (i) and (ii) are recorded as a single option under the CPS 2 Included as part of wider prescription covering arable land 3 Not directly applicable to ESA schemes
§ Mr. Charles KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a schem available to land managers, irrespective of their agricultural status, to encourage biodiversity, access and amenity; and if he will make a statement. [36698]
§ Mr. MacdonaldThe Government have recently consulted on proposals to merge the existing agri-environment schemes into a single all-encompassing scheme for Scotland's farmers and crofters. We have no plans to extend eligibility to non-agricultural land. Support to land managers to achieve biodiversity, access and other natural heritage objectives is available through management agreements and a number of grant schemes operated by Scottish Natural Heritage.
§ Mr. Charles KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of land managers in Scotland excluded from entering agri-environment schemes because they are not registered holders of agricultural land; and if he will make a statement. [36700]
§ Mr. MacdonaldThe Scottish Office has no information on the number of land managers who are not registered holders of agricultural land or the number of applicants excluded from entering agri-environment schemes for that reason. It is widely known that only legal occupiers of agricultural land are eligible.