§ Sir John Gilmourasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce special 279W measures to promote the storage and use of slurry in order to reduce costs and ease the risk of pollution.
§ Mr. StrangFarm waste is a subject constantly kept under review by my Department. Financial assistance is already available under the farm capital grant scheme and the farm and horticulture development scheme for the provision of storage compounds for livestock manures arising from beef and dairy production and within certain limits for pig production.
The results of continuing research and development being undertaken by the Agricultural Research Council, ADAS and the Scottish Colleges have already led to substantial improvements in practice. My Agricultural Development and Advisory Service advises the industry on the profitable utilisation of all livestock manures in crop production and on the design, layout and construction of livestock buildings, including the collection, storage and handling of slurries. With other organisations earlier this year it mounted a National Farm Waste Management Demonstration aimed at showing ways of using farm animal waste economically and to the benefit of farms. An advisory leaflet is available entitled "Profitable Utilisation of Livestock Manures", and another leaflet is presently being prepared giving advice on how best to avoid pollution.