CATEGORIES OF PERMITTED WORK (Hansard, 7 May 1993)

§ Mr. Peter Atkinson
I beg to move amendment No. 8, in page 4, line 40 at end insert— '(bb) uprooting or otherwise destroying, or significantly impairing the quality of, a stretch of hedgerow for the purpose only of carrying out remedial work to a ditch,'.

Mr. Deputy Speaker
With this it will be convenient to discuss also the following amendments: No. 40, in page 4, line 46 leave out from 'hedgerow' to 'and' in line 48 and insert 'for the purpose only of protecting any crops growing on adjacent land from any pests or diseases injurious to them'. No. 31, in page 4, line 48 after 'land', insert 'or livestock depastured on that land,'. No. 9, in page 4, line 48 after 'land', insert— '(dd) uprooting or otherwise destroying, or significantly impairing the quality of, a stretch of hedgerow which is harbouring pests that are causing serious damage to crops growing on adjacent land, or to livestock depastured on that land,'. No. 30, in page 4, line 48 after 'land', insert— '(dd) significantly impairing the quality of a stretch of hedgerow which is harbouring pests that are causing serious damage to crops growing on adjacent land, or to livestock depastured on that land,'. No. 41, in page 5, line 5 at end insert— 'Regulations may make such amendments of section 6 of this Act as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or desirable in consequence of any provision made by virtue of subsection (2) above'. No. 43, in clause 6, page 5, line 17, leave out from 'protecting' to end and insert 'any crops growing on adjacent land from any pests or diseases injurious to them'. No. 56, in clause 15, page 10, line 7 at end insert— '() " Pest" has the same meaning as in the Plant Health Act 1967'. No. 27, in page 10, line 7 at end insert— '(6A) "ditch" has the same meaning as in section 28 of the Land Drainage Act 1991.'. No. 28, in page 10, line 13 at end insert — 468 '(7A) "Remedial work" has the same meaning as in section 28 of the Land Drainage Act 1991.'.

§ Mr. Atkinson
This great rack of amendments has to do with hedging and ditching. We believe that certain hedges or parts thereof should be capable of removal without the farmer being forced to go through the long and tedious process of notification. One aspect concerns clearing ditches in which shrubs can grow up. A second aspect concerns the removal of shrubs to protect crops and livestock from damage.
The amendments tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, East (Mr. Ainsworth) go a considerable way in our direction in respect of diseases in hedges that can affect crops, but he has not dealt with the type of shrubs and hedges which can affect livestock. It is that on which I wish to concentrate.
Several plants and hedges can affect livestock—boxbroom, laurel and yew are all poisonous to livestock. Under the Bill, a farmer who wanted to remove yew or broom from a hedge would have to go through the long and cumbersome process of notification. Our amendments deal with such matters as they affect livestock and I commend them to the House.
Drainage operations can be carried out fairly infrequently. In places such as the Somerset levels, the sides of drainage ditches become covered with hedges and shrubs which would ultimately become informal hedges. The problem with the Bill is that unless it is amended to allow drainage operations to proceed, farmers would be impeded and would have to go through the long process of notification before they could start clearing ditches.
It being half-past Two o'clock, further consideration of the Bill stood adjourned.

Mr. Deputy Speaker
Bill to be considered what day? No day named.

§ Mr. Chris Smith
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We have witnessed the disgraceful spectacle of a small number of Conservative Back Benchers deliberately talking at length about the Osteopaths Bill and tabling a swathe of amendments to the Hedgerows Bill so as to ensure that the Hedgerows Bill will not reach the statute book although the Government support the Bill and it has enormous support outside the House.

Mr. Deputy Speaker
Order. As the hon. Gentleman knows, that is not a matter for the Chair.

§ Mr. Smith
rose—

Mr. Deputy Speaker
Order. Does the hon. Gentleman wish to make a point of order for the Chair?

§ Mr. Smith
Yes, indeed. Will the Government ensure that Government time is made available for further discussion of this Bill? If that is not possible, can they include—

Mr. Deputy Speaker
Order. That still has nothing to do with the Chair. No doubt the Government will have noted the hon. Gentleman's comment.