HC Deb 17 November 1983 vol 48 cc970-2
2. Mr. Andrew Bow Bowden

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made towards finding alternative methods of disposal of straw and straw stubble.

Mr. Jopling

The Government are funding a major programme of research into straw use and disposal. We are spending nearly £2 million a year on this. Current projects include research into using straw for animal feed and fuel and mixing straw into the soil. It is, however, likely that for the foreseeable future burning will remain the only satisfactory method of disposal for much of the surplus straw that is now produced.

Mr. Skinner

Fiddling while Britain burns.

Mr. Bowden

Will my right hon. Friend inject even more urgency into the research? Is he aware that tens of thousands of homes were affected during the summer and that many horticulturists had their crops severely damaged?

Mr. Jopling

I am extremely conscious of the inconvenience that was caused, in most cases by a thoughtless and small minority of farmers. I should like to see the NFU's code of practice and the local authority model byelaws strengthened, and we are taking steps to that end.

Mr. Home Robertson

Will the Minister consider introducing a scheme for subsidising the transportation of straw to remote livestock-rearing areas where much of it could be put to gainful use?

Mr. Jopling

That is easier said than done. It would be a hugely expensive scheme, and almost impossible to monitor properly. As the hon. Gentleman will be aware from his professional experience, a great deal of straw travels from the grain-growing areas to the livestock areas anyway. The difficulty would be in avoiding subsidising an existing trade in an effort to get the extra movement of straw in the way he suggested. It would be a difficult scheme to organise.

Mr. Madel

As an interim measure, will the Government support a proposal made by a number of farmers in Bedfordshire that straw and stubble burning should not be allowed on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays, and that it should not be allowed before 5 o'clock in the afternoon?

Mr. Jopling

We shall want to discuss that helpful suggestion at the talks to which I referred.

Mr. Geraint Howells

How many EC countries have introduced legislation to stop farmers burning straw?

Mr. Jopling

There are different regulations affecting different countries. One of our major problems is that our conditions are different from many countries in the Community. In some eastern counties of Britain, where there is intensive growing of grain and a great surplus of straw, livestock are not spread in the way that they are in other countries. There lies the difficulty.

Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the model byelaws covering straw and stubble burning properly relate to farmers who break the NFU code of practice?

Mr. Jopling

My hon. Friend makes a good point. They are not adequate. That is why we are having talks to see whether we can stiffen them up. At the same time, we are having discussions with the Home Office about the local authority model byelaws, which also need to be reviewed carefully.

Mr. Tom Cox

Is the Minister aware that last summer many farmers disregarded any supposed code of conduct covering straw and stubble burning and that tragically, as a result, people were killed in motorway accidents? Is he further aware that his replies about possible alternatives to burning are unsatisfactory and that the problem requires urgent attention?

Mr. Jopling

The hon. Gentleman directs his vehemence to much too wide a group of people. As I said, I do not believe that many farmers have been abusing the code. We are dealing with a small minority, and we should try to make it much less attractive for them to burn straw in an irresponsible way.

Mr. Gale

Until such time as a total ban is practicable, will my right hon. Friend consider the advice given by his Department to the Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments in April about the burning of grass and heather? Does he agree that the only practical and fair way of monitoring these matters is to have a flexible licensing system? Will he consider applying such a system to straw and stubble burning?

Mr. Jopling

The next question on the Order Paper deals with grass and moorland burning. A licensing system would be extremely costly and of doubtful effectiveness in reducing the problems caused by straw burning. However, it is a point at which we shall be looking.

Mr. Mark Hughes

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the feeling in the House and the country that he has not responded to the depth of anger over the level of straw burning that was carried out last summer? Is he further aware that he has expressed a degree of complacency which I regret deeply and hope he regrets also?

Mr. Jopling

I do not know where the hon. Gentleman spent his summer recess. We announced early on that, in view of the irritation and inconvenience that had been caused, which I greatly regret, by irresponsible behaviour, we would look again with the NFU at the code of practice and start discussions with the Home Office with a view to reviewing the local authority model byelaws. We are doing that. I reject the hon. Gentleman's allegations.