§ 25. Mr. Lordasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department has completed its discussions with the Home Office on a new model byelaw for local authorities on straw and stubble burning; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerDraft model straw and stubble burning byelaws were issued in January to the local authority associations and other interested parties for comment by 20 February. We are now considering these comments in consultation with the Home Office and the Department of the Environment and hope to make an announcement shortly.
§ 39. Mr. Tom Coxasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the discussions he has had with the National Farmers Union on the policy to be followed on straw burning for 1984.
§ Mrs. FennerWe have been in close touch with the National Farmers Union about the draft revised model straw and stubble burning byelaws to which I referred in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Central (Mr. Lord) earlier today. The NFU's straw burning working party, on which my Department is represented, is currently revising and strengthening the code of practice on straw and stubble burning.