HC Deb 12 June 1986 vol 99 cc488-9
9. Mr. Phillip Oppenheim

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Department is considering the publication of a White Paper on the future of agricultural land use.

Mr. Jopling

No, but my Department has commissioned, or is involved in, a number of studies into future agricultural land use. I expect that the results of these studies will be made widely available to enable informed discussions to take place on this important issue.

Mr. Oppenheim

Is my right hon. Friend aware that one of the greatest problems facing agriculture is the sense of uncertainty and the lack of direction? The publication of a Government White Paper would at least have the effect of pointing farmers in the right direction and at the same time might have the effect of scotching some of the more ridiculous alternative land use schemes, such as Government subsidies for growing trees, which are phenomally expensive?

Mr. Jopling

My hon. Friend will recall that for many years there have been Government subsidies to encourage people to grow trees. I am sorry to hear that he believes that is a mistake. I perfectly understand and agree with him about the vital future importance of land use. However, I remain to be convinced that the correct way to proceed is to produce a White Paper. Let me give him one example. In the last six months of this year we shall be discussing a new beef regime. Neither I nor anyone in the Community or the House has any idea of the outcome of the discussion. It would be very difficult to produce a White Paper with that imponderable taken into account.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Should not a White Paper be announced to disclose the Government's intention to carry out a study into the effects of acid rainfall on agricultural land use? As last year, 150,000 people died of cancer, and as we know that coal-fired power stations are emitting carcinogenic material by the tonne every day of the week, do not the Government have a duty to discover whether any of that carcinogenic material is making its way into the food chain? Should not the Government, especially the Minister's Department, address that issue?

Mr. Jopling

The hon. Gentleman knows that we regularly monitor food health and safety. Food is becoming safer as time goes by. That is certainly the case with regard to radioactive material. The hon. Gentleman has drawn our attention to this difficult area. He requests a White Paper on acid rain, another on cancer and another on emissions from power stations. There is no end to it.

Mr. Coombs

Despite the obvious attractions of a White Paper and the consultation process, will my right hon. Friend take an early opportunity to tell the British people that there is no question of large numbers of golf courses being sought as the solution to this problem? Will he assure the House that, if we are to have trees, they will be British trees such as the oak, the ash and the beach and not the anonymous conifers of Scandinavia and North America?

Mr. Jopling

My hon. Friend will recall that we recently announced a broad-leaved policy for woodlands, which was most warmly received. My hon. Friend should address his question about golf courses to my hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for sport.

Mr. Home Robertson

How can there be the informed discussion to which the Minister referred against the background of cuts which the Government have made in the Soil Survey for England and Wales and the Macaulay Institute, which does the same work in Scotland? For how much longer will the Minister shirk his responsibility for giving the industry the guidance that it needs to readjust the pattern of production and supply? If he is thinking about some form of set-aside scheme, will he give the House some answers and stop trying to duck questions, as he did in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Pontypridd (Mr. John)?

Mr. Jopling

There is no question of ducking questions. I have explained clearly our views on set-aside. I have explained them in the Community, and they are becoming more recognised. I do not understand what all this has to do with the Soil Survey.

Mr. Home Robertson

That says it all.