HL Deb 07 December 2001 vol 629 c165WA
Earl Peel

asked 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 Whiitty

The 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 Byford

asked 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 Whitty

DEFRA 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.