§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on special project schemes in each region in each of the last 10 years. [93743]
§ Alun MichaelThe amount of Government funding for Countryside Stewardship Special Projects1, in each Government Office region over the last 10 years has been as follows:
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Government funding per year(£1,000s) Region 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total West Midlands 2 23 16 7 93 57 74 65 120 212 670 Yorks/ Humberside 2 10 25 5 15 52 54 126 127 175 590 Total 138 241 386 258 456 887 816 924 1,179 1,926 7,211 1 These figures include two types of Countryside Stewardship special projects: projects for land management (e.g. overwintered stubbles for cirl buntings) where the payment is made annually for 10 years and capital works projects (e.g. restoration of traditional buildings) where the payment is made in one year only.
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to rationalise the special projects scheme; and if she will make a statement about her plans for its future. [93745]
§ Alun MichaelWe are carrying out a wide-ranging review of English agri-environment schemes, including the Countryside Stewardship scheme, under which special projects are available.
The review has now reached the second consultation stage, within which views have been invited regarding the Agri-environment Framework document. This document contains a proposal that a higher tier scheme should:
…include provision for special projects, focussing particularly on encouraging group applications aimed at tackling localised environmental problems requiring collective or co-ordinated management, especially where this falls outside the standard menu of options".Responses to this consultation should be received by 28 February 2003.