Tir Cymen

Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications were received in (a) 1996, (b) 1997 and (c) 1998 from farmers to join Tir Cymen; what area of land they represented; how many were approved; and what area of land they represented. [77858]

The number of formal applications and the area of land they represented is not readily available. However, over the first five years, 70 per cent. of formal applications concluded in Tir Cymen agreements.

Year	Number of agreements	Area of agreements (Ha)
1996	174	11,955
1997	180	8,597
1998	130	6,157

Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the differences between the Tir Cymen scheme and the Countryside Stewardship scheme operated in England. [77859]

The differences between the Tir Cymen Scheme and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme operated in England are as follows:

1. Countryside Stewardship applies not to the whole farm but to specified eligible landscapes, habitats and features.

In Tir Cymen there is a whole farm code which applies to the entire holding. In addition to this, specific habitats and features on the holding must be managed according to the scheme prescriptions.

2. Countryside Stewardship is a MAFF grant scheme whilst Tir Cymen is an experimental whole farm scheme administered by the Countryside Council for Wales.

3. Countryside Stewardship applies to all of England whilst Tir Cymen applies only to three districts in Wales.

4. Any land manager can apply for a Countryside Stewardship agreement (including local authorities and voluntary bodies). Anyone responsible for a registered farm holding could apply for Tir Cymen.

5. Farms applying for Tir Cymen must meet the qualifying criterion which is that revenue for habitats and permissive paths must amount to a minimum of 10 per cent. of the total revenue payment that the farmer would receive through the scheme. Thus, if the farm area is such that the payment in relation to the whole farm code is £2,000 per annum, then the specific habitat management requirements would have to amount to at least £220 (ie, 10 per cent. of the total of (£2,200).

6. Public Access is not a requirement of Countryside Stewardships. Under Tir Cymen there is an obligation to permit access for the purpose of walking and quiet enjoyment of the countryside, at no charge, on all land which is moorland, heathland, and unenclosed, unimproved upland grassland. Tir Cymen expects agreement holders to fulfil their legal duty to keep existing public rights of way free from obstruction.

Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total area of land covered by the Tir Cymen scheme; and what is the area covered by the scheme within the less favoured areas and its proportion of the total less favoured area. [77857]

By the end of March 1998 the total area of land under Tir Cymen agreement was 89,304 ha. As at 31 March 1998 there were 898 Tir Cymen agreements within less favoured areas in Wales which amounts to some 88 per cent. of the total number of Tir Cymen agreements (1,023 agreements).Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a mater for the National Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total budget allocated to Tir Cymen for each of the last three years [77860]

The budget allocation was as follows:

£ million
Year	Total Expenditure
1996–97	5.3
1997–98	5.7
1998–99	6.2

Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.

Volume 328: debated on Monday 22 March 1999