Countryside Stewardship Scheme (Hansard, 8 June 1999)

§ Baroness Byford
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Countryside Stewardship Scheme is oversubscribed, either in terms of the number of applications or in terms of the money available; and. if so, by how much. [HL2729]
151WA

§ Lord Donoughue
The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is oversubscribed. Just over 50 per cent. of applications were approved in 1998. Some of the applications were ineligible and a proportion would not have been of high enough environmental value to approve.
Agreements were approved in 1998 with a first year cost of £7 million. In 1999 we plan to approve agreements with a first year cost of £8.5 million.

§ Baroness Byford
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What sums have already been granted in each year since the start of the Countryside Stewardship scheme. [HL2730]

§ Lord Donoughue
Payments made to agreement holders in each year under Countryside Stewardship are as follows:

Year £ million

1991–92^* 0.16

1992–93^* 3.82

1993–94^* 8.30

1994–95^* 10.80

1995–96^* 11.26

1996–97 10.93

1997–98 15.08

1998–99 19.90

^* Countryside Commission data.

Year	£ million
1991–92^*	0.16
1992–93^*	3.82
1993–94^*	8.30
1994–95^*	10.80
1995–96^*	11.26
1996–97	10.93
1997–98	15.08
1998–99	19.90
^* Countryside Commission data.