§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what ways she proposes that agri-environment schemes will contribute to maintaining the UK's biodiversity, with particular reference to insects. [165305]
§ Mr. MorleyWe regularly monitor our existing Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) and Countryside Stewardship (CS) schemes to assess their environmental benefits. This has demonstrated substantial benefits for many Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitats and species, including mammals, birds, plants and insects.
Recent Defra-sponsored research has shown that simple measures such as planting a seed mix of flowers in field margins to provide pollen and nectar can attract huge numbers of insects (bumble bees, butterflies, and others) relative to the in-field crop. Full details are available at http://www.f-e-c.co.uk/Buzz/index.htm.
Defra has also sponsored specific research on butterflies. This has shown that ESAs and CS schemes are slowing, and in some cases reversing, the long-term decline in numbers of England's rarer butterflies. Further details are available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2002/020806a.htm.
Recent Defra-funded reports on 'Managing priority habitats for invertebrates' will help inform targeting and formulating of future agri-environment agreements. `Environmental Stewardship' (ES) will rationalise and replace ESAs and CS in 2005. ES will be divided into two levels: an Entry Level (ELS) and a Higher Level (HLS). ELS should include measures beneficial for biodiversity, including insects, in the wider countryside. The HLS Scheme will continue the work of ESAs and CS by targeting management on the most valuable and vulnerable farmland habitats. The options available under these new schemes will also have the advantage of having greater generic benefits for insects. Further details of these schemes can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/reviews/agrienv/entrylevel.htm and http://www.defra. gov.uk/erdp/reviews/agrienv/higherlevel.htm.