§ 30. Mr. Madelasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he is making in relation to problems caused by straw stubble burning; and if he will make a statement.
§ 37. Mr. Aitkenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in implementing the results of his Department's inquiry into straw burning; and if he will make a statement.
§ 45. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progess towards implementing the proposals he announced following his review of straw and stubble burning.
§ Mr. JoplingMy officials have begun discussions with officials of the Home Office about ways of strengthening the model byelaw on which local authority byelaws on straw burning are based. They are also participating in the NFU's straw burning working party which is currently considering ways of strengthening the NFU code of practice.
§ 43. Mr. Galeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further proposals he has received from the National Farmers' Union to strengthen its code governing the burning of straw and stubble; and how this code will now be enforced.
§ Mr. JoplingMy officials are in touch with officials of the NFU over the revision of their code of practice on straw and stubble burning. Issues of particular concern relate to the reduction of smoke and smuts nuisance, greater protection of trees and hedges and restriction of the area of straw to be burned at one time. The parallel strengthening of the model byelaw on straw and stubble burning will reninforce the effectiveness of the NFT code.
§ 47. Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on the development of an alternative to burning as a means of disposing of straw or incorporating it into the land.
§ Mr. JoplingI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) earlier today.