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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much land was covered by the major agri-environment schemes in (a) 1990, (b) 1995, (c) 1997, (d) 1998, (e) 1999, (f) 2000 and (g) 2001; and if she will make a statement. [69157] Mr. Morley: Details for the Environmentally Sensitive Areas, the Countryside Stewardship and the Organic Farming Schemes are set out in the table in hectares. The area of land under these schemes continues to increase. The Government are firmly committed to agri- environment schemes, and a significant increase of funding was announced in 2000 at the beginning of the England Rural Development Programme. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. ESA CSS OFS 1990 111,550 -- -- 1995 424,567 {1}90,900 2,118 1997 469,121 118,300 6,130 1998 501,255 139,900 10,683 1999 523,545 192,100 16,095 2000 531,900 263,300 {2}115,387 2001 579,204 {2}333,300 {2}112,832 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Total for 1991-95 when the scheme was operated by the then Countryside Commission. The former MAFF assumed responsibility for the scheme in 1996. {2} Provisional estimates. Note: Organic Aid Scheme operated until 1999 when it became the Organic Farming Scheme.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

388 c1130W; 69157

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Agriculture Land Environment protection Organic farming Subsidies Countryside stewardship scheme Organic farming scheme Environmentally sensitive areas Agri-environment action plan

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk