§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to increase the resources available to the Countryside Premium Scheme; [51530]
(2) if he will publish his budget allocation for agri-environmental programmes for 1998–99. [51533]
§ Mr. MacdonaldThe provision for the Scottish agri-environment programme for 1998–99 is £13 million (as compared with £9.7 million in 1997–98). Of this, £5 million is allocated to the Countryside Premium Scheme (£2.5 million in 1997–98). Decisions on allocations for individual schemes within the agri-environment programme, including the Countryside Premium Scheme, post 1999 cannot be finalised until Agenda 2000 negotiations are completed. Meantime, following the Comprehensive Spending Review, spending on the agri-environment programme is planned to increase to £22 million by 2001–02.