To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of agricultural land has been designated as environmentally sensitive in England; what percentage of land in the environmentally sensitive areas is farmed under this scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Some 3·4 per cent. of agricultural land in England has been designated as an environmentally sensitive area. Of the eligible land in each ESA which I targeted in the schemes some 92 per cent. is now being farmed under ESA agreement demonstrating the high level of interest among farmers in participation in this voluntary scheme.