§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the objectives of their plans to bring farmland in the South Downs into public ownership under proposals being prepared in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and by certain agencies associated with that department; and [HL2321]
What is the estimated cost of their intention to bring farmland into public ownership in the South Downs in each of the next five years under proposals being prepared by officials in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and by agencies associated with that department; and [HL2322]
Whether their intention to bring farmland into public ownership in the South Downs under proposals being prepared in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and by certain agencies associated with that department, will include compulsory purchase; and [HL2323]
How many hectares of farmland are to be purchased in the South Downs with public money in each of the next five years under proposals being prepared by officials in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and by agencies associated with that department; and [HL2324]
Which organisations have been consulted, formally or otherwise, about their intention to bring farmland into public ownership in the South Downs under proposals being prepared by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions or by agencies associated with that department. [HL2325]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty)Her Majesty's Government have no current plans to bring farmland into public ownership in the South Downs. The Countryside Agency has submitted a bid to DETR for additional funding for a new restoration initiative involving research and piloting demonstration projects, building on and integrated with existing initiatives to restore open downland and provide access to it in the South Downs. This could involve a number of mechanisms, of which targeted land purchase on the open market might be one. However, detailed proposals have not yet been developed. The Countryside Agency is currently discussing its preliminary ideas with a range of local organisations.