§ Earl Peelasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the level of grant available under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme is sufficient to stem the spread of bracken. [HL1736]
Lord WhiittyThe Countryside Stewardship Scheme is a multi-objective scheme which makes payments to farmers and other land managers to improve the natural beauty and diversity of the countryside. It is not a scheme designed to control the spread of bracken.
Payments for the control of bracken are available under the scheme, but only as part of a comprehensive programme of environmental improvements.
§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 29 November (HL 1566), when they will clear the 26 stewardship scheme payments which have been outstanding since February. [HL1776]
§ Lord WhittyDEFRA regional staff are actively seeking to resolve all these outstanding claims and aim to pay them as appropriate once current investigations have been completed. Although we cannot give a specific date by which we can guarantee to have cleared all 26 claims, we will ensure that all claimants are kept informed.