This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Agri-environment schemes: Merger will be linked to Agenda 2000
16/06/1998
Plans to merge existing conservation schemes in Scotland will go ahead in tandem with development of the EC's recently published Agenda 2000 proposals, Scottish Agriculture and Environment Minister Lord Sewel announced today.
Lord Sewel said:
"A revised timetable will enable us to take full account of the Agenda 2000 proposals which are now much clearer and have already made good progress in Brussels under the UK Presidency. It also meets concerns on timing expressed in response to the consultation paper I issued earlier this year.
"I was very pleased with the overwhelmingly positive tone of the responses to our consultation paper. I intend now to engage with key interests to develop our proposals in the light of the many helpful suggestions made.
"All in all, this should ensure that the new scheme will command the broadest possible degree of consensus and truly reflect the needs both of Scotland's farmers and crofters and of the environment."
Some 60 replies to the consultation paper were received. The vast majority of these were in favour of merger in principle. Some key interests thought that the Government were moving too fast and suggested that additional time taken to develop the proposals further would be worthwhile.
BACKGROUND
News Release 0108/98 of 23 January 1998 announced the issue of a consultation paper containing proposals for a new agri environment scheme encompassing the best elements of the three existing schemes (the Environmentally Sensitive Area Schemes, Countryside Premium Scheme, and Organic Aid Scheme).
It is anticipated that the new merged scheme will open for applications as soon as possible after the Agenda 2000 proposals are finalised. Until any new scheme is brought into operation, the existing suite of schemes will continue to operate.
News Release: 1244/98
16 June, 1998