§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the economic value of game shooting; and if she will make a statement. [54342]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 7 May 2002]: No assessment has been undertaken by my Department of the direct value to the economy of game shooting.
Through the England Rural Development Programme, we provide a means to help farmers wishing to diversify by developing the potential for activities such as game shooting. The benefits of each proposed project are assessed in deciding whether it should receive financial support under the programme.