In a Written Question, Philip Dunne asks the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about funding for upland areas and commons is spent on grants to farmers and administration.

Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the funding provided by English Nature for land managers in upland areas and commons was spent (a) on grants to farmers and (b) in administration expenses in each year since 2001. [74176]

Barry Gardiner: English Nature does not separately record the administrative costs incurred in setting up agreements. However, the Wildlife Enhancement Scheme was specifically designed to reduce administrative costs by the use of standard agreements and standard payments. Prior to this, each agreement was individually negotiated and could take up to a year to complete.

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