Agri-environment Schemes

HC Deb 11 July 2002 vol 388 c1130W

Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much land was covered by the major agri-environment schemes in(a) 1990,> (b) 1995, (c) 1997,(d) 1998,(e) 1999, (f)2000 and (g) 2001; and if she will make a statement.[69157]

Mr. Morley

Details for the Environmentally Sensitive Areas, the Countryside Stewardship and the Organic Farming Schemes are set out in the table in hectares. The area of land under these schemes continues to increase. The Government are firmly committed to agrienvironment schemes, and a significant increase of funding was announced in 2000 at the beginning of the England Rural Development Programme.

	ESA	CSS	OFS
1990	111,550	—	—
1995	424,567	190,900	2,118
1997	469,121	118,300	6,130
1998	501,255	139,900	10,683
1999	523,545	192,100	16,095
2000	531,900	263,300	2115,387
2001	579,204	2333,300	2112,832
1Total for 1991–95 when the scheme was operated by the then Countryside Commission. The former MAFF assumed responsibility for the scheme in 1996.
2Provisional estimates.

Note:

Organic Aid Scheme operated until 1999 when it became the

Organic Farming Scheme.