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Right to Buy
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total revenue gathered by the sale of (a) local authority and (b) Scottish Homes houses in each year since 1980 ; what was the percentage of the housing capital programme for (a) each local authority and (b) for
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Scottish Homes which was financed from the sale of houses during the same period ; and if he will make a statement.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information requested is shown in the tables. Disaggregated details of receipts from house sales are not available for 1980-81.
Since 1980, the sale of public sector housing in Scotland has enabled over 284,000 tenants to fulfil their aspirations to home ownership, while generating capital receipts of over £3 billion for reinvestment in Scotland's housing stock.
Capital receipts from house sales
£ million
|Local |Scottish
|authorities |Special
|Housing
|Association/
|Scottish
|Homes
----------------------------------------------------
1980-81 |26 |16
1981-82 |63 |17
1982-83 |102 |19
1983-84 |123 |30
1984-85 |119 |35
1985-86 |106 |25
1986-87 |120 |22
1987-88 |169 |46
1988-89 |258 |78
1989-90 |309 |70
1990-91 |258 |38
1991-92 |247 |51
1992-93 |270 |51
1993-94 |246 |64
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Capital receipts from house sales expressed as a percentage of HRA capital programme
|1981-82|1982-83|1983-84|1984-85|1985-86|1986-87|1987-88|1988-89|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local housing authorities
in Scotland |24.9 |39.9 |40.4 |46.5 |36.0 |34.8 |37.0 |55.1 |63.5 |52.6 |52.6 |60.9 |55.2
Berwickshire |34.9 |37.7 |87.8 |109.6 |44.4 |101.5 |67.0 |118.7 |89.6 |74.3 |78.6 |85.8 |91.6
Ettrick and Lauderdale |64.1 |73.5 |103.8 |198.2 |115.6 |88.2 |80.1 |87.4 |86.6 |56.8 |52.8 |46.5 |46.0
Roxburgh |53.1 |18.4 |30.5 |50.9 |44.6 |43.7 |38.8 |52.7 |37.2 |28.7 |40.5 |41.4 |53.0
Tweeddale |98.8 |225.7 |126.5 |69.0 |59.9 |34.2 |31.3 |113.9 |121.4 |63.0 |39.4 |41.3 |45.7
Clackmannan |31.2 |28.3 |56.6 |66.5 |42.8 |42.1 |44.0 |59.0 |72.4 |61.0 |56.4 |76.5 |82.8
Falkirk |34.6 |50.0 |68.3 |65.5 |44.0 |37.2 |49.2 |62.0 |74.3 |54.2 |47.2 |69.4 |65.1
Stirling |11.4 |20.8 |50.7 |50.4 |37.8 |43.0 |44.4 |60.7 |66.2 |61.4 |56.6 |68.8 |70.5
Annandale and Eskdale |34.8 |31.9 |21.0 |29.4 |32.7 |35.8 |38.3 |53.1 |54.4 |41.9 |48.3 |63.9 |63.7
Nithsdale |94.6 |25.7 |44.4 |40.3 |44.5 |43.1 |43.7 |56.1 |45.1 |33.7 |38.4 |46.8 |47.8
Stewartry |50.9 |35.8 |21.9 |40.6 |24.0 |35.8 |51.0 |41.8 |47.7 |42.3 |51.4 |68.7 |77.1
Wigtown |76.6 |31.5 |49.1 |54.2 |35.2 |32.2 |30.4 |36.8 |32.5 |30.9 |35.1 |66.7 |60.9
Dunfermline |79.8 |66.0 |122.9 |71.8 |43.2 |38.5 |40.8 |67.1 |77.5 |61.9 |52.9 |67.6 |61.8
Kirkcaldy |14.2 |35.8 |58.0 |86.3 |72.7 |47.9 |40.1 |52.4 |60.8 |59.1 |70.7 |88.1 |85.7
North East Fife |78.3 |83.4 |66.2 |71.1 |52.6 |52.9 |58.3 |84.4 |104.2 |0.0 |80.6 |78.4 |72.0
Aberdeen |13.0 |99.4 |64.8 |69.5 |49.5 |33.5 |28.8 |45.3 |52.6 |62.3 |60.8 |109.8 |109.2
Banff and Buchan |31.8 |38.3 |65.0 |89.0 |73.9 |64.9 |58.7 |77.7 |74.3 |63.3 |74.7 |118.4 |86.8
Gordon |26.4 |39.3 |56.8 |62.5 |26.7 |32.5 |17.0 |13.7 |21.4 |25.6 |36.7 |46.0 |39.9
Kincardine and Deeside |72.9 |35.5 |33.8 |28.7 |33.9 |20.8 |15.1 |23.7 |17.4 |14.9 |33.9 |42.0 |80.7
Moray |37.4 |24.0 |49.8 |68.6 |73.6 |67.8 |55.8 |79.9 |84.6 |62.9 |71.0 |87.6 |95.0
Badenoch and Strathspey |47.5 |20.6 |31.7 |28.4 |31.5 |104.3 |61.9 |96.1 |59.1 |29.0 |37.8 |42.1 |72.6
Caithness |53.7 |24.1 |32.8 |33.3 |24.5 |22.5 |29.7 |20.3 |12.7 |16.0 |17.8 |26.7 |38.8
Inverness |49.5 |55.1 |28.8 |28.1 |36.3 |27.7 |30.5 |37.4 |49.1 |40.6 |43.7 |67.1 |55.9
Lochaber |17.5 |22.8 |22.8 |18.7 |15.2 |26.5 |31.6 |36.3 |36.1 |0.0 |40.4 |43.4 |54.3
Nairn |36.5 |61.0 |51.2 |76.8 |33.5 |33.7 |16.7 |22.0 |25.3 |32.1 |38.8 |40.7 |59.8
Ross and Cromarty |37.0 |17.8 |19.6 |13.6 |14.7 |19.8 |13.3 |20.9 |21.7 |26.7 |40.0 |49.1 |45.2
Skye and Lochalsh |38.2 |9.8 |19.0 |16.6 |9.8 |15.7 |11.5 |15.8 |10.6 |22.7 |17.8 |22.2 |35.1
Sutherland |32.2 |14.0 |18.1 |8.5 |13.5 |6.4 |15.1 |18.8 |14.8 |15.9 |33.2 |37.9 |41.4
East Lothian |18.7 |69.9 |62.0 |82.2 |46.6 |49.0 |61.7 |81.5 |92.4 |69.0 |80.6 |82.8 |68.0
Edinburgh |45.6 |60.2 |50.5 |67.8 |44.9 |30.8 |30.9 |70.5 |83.2 |63.2 |53.5 |46.8 |38.4
Midlothian |26.0 |100.4 |107.4 |84.1 |62.9 |61.1 |73.4 |134.8 |137.9 |80.8 |72.8 |76.6 |50.1
West Lothian |27.1 |32.2 |53.0 |45.2 |38.5 |33.7 |41.4 |70.6 |86.5 |84.2 |69.8 |108.9 |78.9
Argyll and Bute |20.7 |24.4 |35.5 |47.7 |61.5 |36.1 |32.0 |37.9 |48.1 |62.7 |73.8 |61.8 |70.3
Bearsden and Milngavie |56.8 |40.4 |99.5 |85.9 |43.1 |33.9 |25.1 |33.4 |63.4 |78.8 |65.4 |69.0 |75.4
Clydebank |0.0 |30.1 |23.2 |24.0 |22.2 |35.8 |32.8 |64.4 |65.6 |84.3 |63.6 |75.1 |49.4
Clydesdale |22.0 |17.0 |22.4 |29.7 |45.6 |48.0 |50.8 |95.7 |107.9 |53.8 |52.7 |57.6 |60.0
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth |23.1 |15.4 |42.1 |35.6 |45.6 |52.8 |47.8 |85.3 |103.3 |58.0 |76.1 |67.3 |81.4
Cumnock and Doon Valley |37.0 |21.4 |40.9 |27.4 |32.7 |57.4 |59.9 |77.6 |60.0 |47.2 |62.9 |61.7 |75.4
Cunninghame |23.0 |36.5 |34.3 |56.2 |45.3 |53.7 |59.7 |75.1 |85.3 |0.0 |56.5 |54.9 |66.2
Dumbarton |15.7 |45.5 |59.3 |84.7 |32.4 |32.0 |31.0 |78.3 |85.8 |55.7 |36.2 |50.6 |50.3
East Kilbride |50.1 |38.2 |33.7 |42.3 |52.2 |86.9 |113.5 |168.8 |109.2 |90.6 |59.4 |78.7 |62.9
Eastwood |73.7 |159.3 |44.2 |49.9 |41.3 |77.0 |58.7 |67.2 |68.2 |47.7 |34.3 |84.0 |66.3
Glasgow |2.8 |27.5 |13.8 |12.5 |11.9 |13.6 |17.8 |32.9 |45.6 |45.8 |41.8 |43.0 |33.2
Hamilton |9.2 |45.1 |39.0 |43.7 |30.7 |54.3 |58.0 |82.6 |89.7 |79.2 |66.2 |76.7 |80.3
Inverclyde |20.5 |22.2 |37.4 |63.6 |65.8 |40.2 |43.7 |36.1 |42.9 |38.3 |42.0 |52.0 |38.1
Kilmarnock and Loudoun |38.4 |43.7 |48.6 |47.5 |44.0 |54.8 |53.8 |83.6 |91.0 |48.1 |55.7 |61.3 |56.5
Kyle and Carrick |18.7 |38.5 |51.1 |72.7 |63.6 |83.9 |75.1 |98.7 |109.4 |82.1 |63.6 |84.4 |76.8
Monklands |5.3 |11.0 |9.9 |21.4 |19.1 |38.6 |34.9 |51.0 |70.0 |54.1 |61.7 |72.7 |76.8
Motherwell |10.0 |25.0 |19.7 |34.2 |36.1 |36.5 |47.3 |54.4 |61.8 |67.2 |48.8 |62.1 |65.6
Renfrew |30.4 |67.5 |35.2 |42.6 |38.0 |38.6 |51.1 |57.4 |82.8 |55.5 |55.8 |66.1 |46.2
Strathkelvin |43.3 |38.1 |41.3 |42.1 |50.5 |54.4 |79.3 |89.4 |74.6 |56.6 |59.4 |80.2 |63.3
Angus |70.1 |69.3 |92.2 |109.0 |66.5 |61.0 |72.3 |90.2 |76.9 |54.0 |70.3 |56.9 |66.1
Dundee |16.6 |24.3 |24.2 |42.8 |32.4 |28.6 |24.1 |47.4 |66.8 |74.7 |63.2 |52.3 |53.1
Perth and Kinross |66.5 |140.8 |76.1 |51.7 |58.6 |56.6 |63.8 |66.7 |76.7 |93.9 |81.2 |92.6 |38.7
Orkney |146.7 |24.0 |15.9 |9.9 |29.9 |54.8 |41.3 |64.8 |67.2 |46.1 |306.1 |182.2 |121.2
Shetland |25.5 |20.5 |24.3 |10.0 |9.7 |7.4 |16.0 |10.5 |8.7 |8.6 |12.6 |19.3 |29.3
Western Isles |11.3 |24.4 |20.7 |14.5 |13.5 |13.2 |7.0 |5.8 |9.2 |10.4 |15.2 |11.3 |24.9
Scottish Special Housing
Association/Scottish Homes<1> |37.8 |32.2 |47.6 |59.3 |56.8 |39.3 |71.9 |125.8 |71.4 |20.3 |19.1 |15.0 |17.4
<1> Based on the housing capital programme of the Scottish Special Housing Association up to 1988-89; and, thereafter, on Scottish Homes total
programme expenditure.
Test Range, Dundrennan
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence or the director of the Defence Research Agency in regard to the future of the test range at Dundrennan, Kirkcudbright.
Mr. Lang : I am in regular contact with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence about this and many other matters.
Marshland
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his assessment of the value of marshland areas in lochs for the safeguarding of water quality ; and what advice he has had on this topic from the advisory committee on sites of special scientific interest.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 28 June 1994] : There is no doubt about the importance of marshland areas in lochs both for safeguarding water quality and for providing shelter for wildfowl and other aquatic wildlife. The United Kingdom is a contracting party to the Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance and a total of 25 sites in Scotland have been designated under its terms. More will follow. In additon many marshlands and similar wetland areas such as fens, flushes and mosses have been notified as sites of special scientific interest. It is for Scottish Natural Heritage to advise my right hon. Friend in relation to these issues. The advisory committee on sites of special scientific interest provides advice to SNH where there are objections on scientific grounds to the notification of such sites.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he and SNH have had from the advisory committee on sites of special scientific interest in relation to the Lake of Menteith concerning the preservation of the peripheral marshland areas, and their value in controlling the chemistry of inflowing burns.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 28 June 1994] : The statutory function of the advisory committee on sites of special scientific interest is to provide advice to Scottish Natural Heritage when there are objections on scientific grounds to the notification of a particular site. The committee does not provide advice to my right hon. Friend.
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In its advice to SNH the committee endorsed, inter alia, the inclusion in the site of special scientific interest of the burns which feed the Lake of Menteith so as to maintain its hydrological integrity. It recommended that the width of the areas adjacent to the burns should vary according to topography, soil type and land use. SNH accepted nine of the committee's 10 recommendations on aspects of this case but did not accept the recommendation on "buffer zones". It proceeded with "buffer zones" of uniform width to produce a boundary that would be more straightforward to apply in practice. The committee provided no advice on marshland areas, of which the site has relatively few.Sheep Quotas
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to have installed the necessary computer programme to enable the issue of top-up payments to those whose sheep quota entitlements have been adjusted ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Hector Montro [holding answer 30 June 1994] : The computer programme is already in place and the payments of sheep annual premium issued in May 1994 to more than 15,500 claimants reflected their latest quota position. This includes any adjustment already made to take account of quota allocated from categories 1 and 2 of the national reserve. Any top-up payments to producers whose quotas are further adjusted will be made as soon as possible after the adjustment has been made.
Departmental Books
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the titles of the (a) video recordings, (b) audio recordings, (c) books, (d) periodicals and magazines, (e) professional and trades journals and (f) other publications he has obtained for his Department since 1 June 1993.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 24 June 1994] : During the period from 1 June 1993, a large number of books and periodicals have been purchased for use by my Department and its agencies. I regret that information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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WALES
Rhydlafar Hospital
Mr. Rowlands : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hip and joint replacement operations upon Mid Glamorgan patients have been made at Rhydlafar hospital in 1992, 1993 and so far in 1994.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Information for 1993-94 is not yet available. Figures for 1991-92 and 1992-93 financial years are given in the table :
Hip and knee replacement operations<1> Year |Number ---------------------- 1991-92 |137 1992-93 |160 <1>Includes joint replacements, revisions and conversions. Source: Patient Episode Data base for Wales.
Dental Services
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average salary for dentists offering a full NHS service in Wales in 1993 ; what was the average salary of a dentist who practises in the private sector in Wales in 1993 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The information is not available in the form requested. During 1993, general dental practitioners in Wales received £65,820,972 in respect of their NHS patients. On the basis that there were 834 general dental practitioners in Wales as at 30 June 1993 this would give average gross income of £78,922 per practitioner. The income for individual practitioners ranged from £2 to £276,437. Figures for dentists' earnings in the private sector are not available.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dental practices which offered a full NHS dental service closed in Wales in 1993 ; how many practices which offered the same full NHS dental service opened in Wales in 1993 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The requested information is not available centrally.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many registered dentists there are in (a) Clwyd, (b) Gwynedd, (c) Dyfed, (d) Powys, (e) Gwent, (f) South Glamorgan, (g) West Glamorgan, (h) Mid Glamorgan and (i) Wales ; how many of these registered dentists offer a full NHS dental service for the population of the above areas ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The latest available information, which relates to the number of registered dentists--principals, assistants and vocational trainees--in the general dental service as at 31 March 1994, is given in the table. Dentists practising in more than one family health services authority are counted in each FHSA but only once in the Wales total. It is not known centrally how many of these dentists offer a full NHS dental service.
|<1>Number
|of dentists
----------------------------------------
Clwyd |128
Gwynedd |72
Dyfed |114
Powys |40
Gwent |169
South Glamorgan |153
West Glamorgan |140
Mid Glamorgan |138
Wales |858
<1> Provisional (based on notifications
received up to 28 April 1994).
Development Board for Rural Wales
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he proposes to make for the filling of the post of chairman of the Development Board for Rural Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 30 June 1994] : An announcement will be made in due course.
TRANSPORT
M25
Sir Geoffrey Pattie : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will clarify the time scale for the pilot scheme to introduce variable speed limits by using electronic sensors to monitor traffic flows and activate message signs on the south-west sector of the M25.
Mr. Key : I expect the M25 controlled motorways pilot scheme to be operational by Easter 1995, subject to the granting of type approval for the new system by the Home Office, and to the enforcement procedures with the police being in place. The pilot scheme will be assessed after the first 12 months of operation.
Civil Service (Privilege Day)
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the privilege day as granted to staff in his Department for the official birthday of Her Majesty the Queen is a privilege day within the meaning of section 3.5 of the civil service management code.
Mr. Norris : I can confirm that the privilege day referred to is a privilege day within the meaning of section 3.5 of the civil service management code.
Transport Research Laboratory
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on road safety research of the proposed reduction in the number of staff at the Transport Research Laboratory.
Mr. Key : The chief executive has assured me that the proposed reduction in the number of staff at the Transport Research Laboratory will have regard to the need to meet, in competition with other research suppliers, the Government's future requirement for road safety research.
Air Traffic Safety
Mr. Gapes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the near miss between two large passenger aircraft over Ilford at approximately 18.16 hours on Friday 17 June.
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Mr. Norris : My officials have consulted the Civil Aviation Authority about this. They have so far been unable to find any evidence of an air miss on the day stated involving two large passenger aircraft in the Ilford area.
Sir Peter Fry : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports he has received of problems for aircraft following immediately behind Boeing 757 aircraft in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Norris : Reports of this kind are made to the Civil Aviation Authority's national air traffic services, under the wake vortex incident reporting scheme. In 1991, NATS reported its findings from operating the Wake Vortex database in CAA paper 91015--"United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Wake Vortex Database : Analysis of Incidents Reported Between 1982 and 1990". The subject of B757 aircraft was covered in section 7 of that report.
Highways Agency
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Highways Agency has spent on public relations to date ; what is its public relations budget for this year ; and to which companies it has awarded any contracts for public relations work.
Mr. Key : This question is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. The chief executive, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, has written to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Simon Hughes, dated 24 June 1994 :
I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on how much the Highways Agency has spent on public relations ; what is the public relations budget for this year ; what companies have been awarded contracts for public relations work.
Latest figures show that the Highways Agency has spent some £38,000, excluding VAT, on public relations, mainly on regional press activity relating to road maintenance and construction schemes. An overall public relations budget has yet to be established. The Central Office of Information provides press services in the regions. The Highways Agency has its own press office to deal with national issues.
Railways (Objectives)
Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what objectives he has set for the chairmen of British Rail and Railtrack for 1994-95.
Mr. MacGregor : I have written to the chairmen, separately, setting their objectives. Copies of the letters have been placed in the Library.
Cones Hotline
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total cost to public funds of the cones hotline.
Mr. Key [holding answer 14 June 1994] : This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the hon. Member.
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Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 30 June 1994 :You asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total cost to public funds of the Cones Hotline. As this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency, I have been asked to reply.
The new dedicated Cones Hotline telephone number, which became operational in March this year, is costing approximately £450 per month, including call charges. Other running costs are not separately identifiable since they have been, and are still being, met from within budgets agreed before the Hotline was established.
Twyford Down
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total cost to date of court action taken against protestors against the M3 Twyford Down section ; and what amount he expects to recoup from protestors.
Mr. Key [holding answer 27 June 1994] : This question relates to operational matters of the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. John Denham, dated 30 June 1994 :
The Minister for Roads and Traffic, Mr. Robert Key, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the cost of court action against protestors against the M3 through Twyford Down and how much we expect to recover from them. The total cost of legal fees to date in connection with action against trespassers on the M3 construction site is approximately £216,000 excluding VAT.
The amount of award against the defendants is the matter for adjudication by the Court.
Batheaston Bypass
Mr. Don Foster : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which firm of private detectives is employed by the Highways Agency to monitor the Batheaston bypass ; if he will give details of the value, period and purpose of the contract ; and what guidelines and instructions have been given to the firm by the Highways Agency.
Mr. Key [holding answer 28 June 1994] : The question is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. The chief executive, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, is writing to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Don Foster, dated 30 June 1994 :
I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Transport about the use of a firm of private detectives to monitor the Batheaston/Swainswick Bypass. This is a matter for which the Highways Agency is responsible. Brays Detective Agency has been appointed by solicitors engaged by the Highways Agency. The appointment will last only as long as the firm's services are required, so its cost and duration are not known at present. The firm is being employed at Batheaston in connection with possible legal action to gain control of the land on which this much needed bypass is being built. Their instructions are to record and collate evidence relating to trespass on the construction site, so that such evidence may be presented in legal proceedings if required.
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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Nitrate Sensitive Areas
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made with the implementation of the nitrate sensitive areas scheme ; and if she will make a statement.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : Following extensive consultations on the nitrate sensitive areas scheme, I am very pleased to announce that details of the new scheme are available from today. The necessary Statutory Instrument designating the NSAs and setting out the measures and associated payment rates has been laid before Parliament.
The new scheme will build upon and extend the voluntary approach introduced by the 10 pilot NSAs in 1990. The 22 new NSAs cover 28 separate water sources where nitrate levels exceed, or are predicted to exceed, the EC limit of 50 mg per/litre and will add a further 35, 000 hectares to the 10,500 hectares of the pilot NSAs.
Farmers in these areas will have the opportunity to reduce nitrate leaching from their land by opting to make
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substantial changes to their farming systems. The new scheme offers increased flexibility and farmers can choose to enter land on a field-by-field basis, within a range of options, into agreements lasting for five years. I hope that all farmers in the NSAs will feel able to enter land into the scheme.The pilot NSAs are already demonstrating that NSA measures, are effective in reducing nitrate leaching. I am confident that this new scheme will make a major contribution towards ensuring the future viability of these key sources of public drinking water.
All farmers with land in the NSAs will automatically be sent an information pack about the scheme by their local Ministry regional service centre. Applications to join the scheme this year must be returned to regional service centres by 19 August.
The new nitrate sensitive areas scheme is one of the six EC-assisted environmental schemes which MAFF is launching this year as a consequence of the common agricultural policy reforms agreed in 1992. Total expenditure on the NSA schemes is planned to rise to £8.3 million a year.
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