§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many applications were received in Wales during 1998 to join the Countryside Stewardship Scheme; what area of land they represented; how many were approved; and what area of land they represented; [76096]
(2) what is the total area of land in Wales covered by the Countryside Stewardship Scheme; and what is the area covered by the scheme within the less favoured areas and its proportion of the total LFA area; [76092]
(3) what the total budget allocated to the Countryside Stewardship Scheme in Wales is in each of the next three years. [76094]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones[holding answer 11 March 1999]: The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is not available in Wales.