To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on the Countryside Agency’s Diversity Review; how much he expects the consultation “Outdoors for All?” draft diversity action plan will cost; and how much has been allocated to the running costs of the diversity action plan for each year of its planned duration. (85470)

Between 2002 and 2005 the Countryside Agency spent some £1.74 million on the diversity review. In 2006-07 spending on the consultation exercise on the draft diversity action plan is expected to be in the region of £1 million.

No firm figures are available on costs from 2007 onwards. A draft action plan is currently the subject of a public consultation exercise, and until that has been completed no conclusions can be reached about the activities to be undertaken during the 10-year life of the plan or their cost. The agency has estimated that the cost of pursuing the draft action plan might be in the region of £25 million over its 10-year life.