§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to direct grant monies towards wildlife-friendly agriculture; and if she will make a statement. [77044]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government are committed to improving standards of environmental protection in agriculture, and are pressing for a shift in Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) expenditure from production-linked payments towards rural development and agri-environment measures.
In 2001, the Government introduced modulation, redirecting a proportion of CAP payments into schemes such as the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and Environmentally Sensitive Areas, both of which aim to safeguard and enhance wildlife habitats.
These schemes form part of the England Rural Development Programme, under which £1.6 billion will be invested in the countryside between 2000 and 2006, including £1 billion on agri-environment measures. The Government have committed an additional £75 million to introduce a new entry-level agri-environment scheme in 2005, following successful pilots. This scheme will be available to as many farms as possible.