Written question asked by Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 14 October 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 October 2005. It was answered by Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 October 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Environmentally Sensitive Areas Agreements

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects on farmers of the ending of the environmentally sensitive areas agreements.

Answer: The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme began in 1987 when farmers were offered 10-year agreements to protect and enhance the flora and fauna on their land. The Government have always encouraged farmers to enter into another agreement at the end of their existing 10-year agreement. The Environmental Stewardship (ES) scheme, introduced this year, comprises the new Entry Level Stewardship, which is open to all farmers in England, and the more targeted Higher Level Stewardship. Higher Level Stewardship will replace the ESA and Countryside Stewardship (CSS) schemes, which were closed to new applicants in 2004.Under ES, the Government will continue their policy of encouraging farmers to enter into new agreements when their previous ESA and CSS agreements expire. This year an additional one million hectares has already been brought into ES, bringing the total area in these schemes to 2.3 million hectares. The Government have also made available an extra £150 million a year for new ES agreements.

Secondary information