Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many expressions of interest have been received for the (a) Mid Tier and (b) Higher Tier of the new Countryside Stewardship scheme.
Expressions of interest were not invited for the Mid-Tier of the new Countryside Stewardship scheme, however:
a) 5,640 requests for Mid-Tier application packs were received, resulting in 2,314 agreement applications; and
b) 1,025 expressions of interest were received for the Higher Tier of the new Countryside Stewardship scheme, together with 257 applications for forestry agreements.