§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the areas of (a) agricultural land and (b) woodland sprayed in each year since 1977 by (i) fixed wing aircraft and (ii) helicopters; if he will give for each year the total number of aircraft involved; and if he will estimate for each year the proportion accounted for by pesticide application.
§ Mr. Michael Spicer[pursuant to the reply, 22 January 1985, c. 400]: Details are available for pesticide use only, and for the total number of aircraft, as follows:
Hectares of agricultural land sprayed with pesticides by air-raft* Fixed wing Helicopters Unknown Total 1978 177,807 150,663 2,857 331,327 1979 201,776 144,637 — 346,413 1980 199,911 133,341 30,815 364,067 1981 160,900 110,592 22,874 294,366 1982 169,865 138,751 51,006 359,622 * Corrected for non returns.
Hectares of forestry and nursery trees sprayed with pesticides by aircraft* Fixed wing Helicopters Unknown Total 1978 124 4,940 — 5,064 1979 3,447 72 — 3,520 1980 1,897 34 3 1,934 1981 64 125 4 193 1982 34 15 — 49 * Corrected for non returns. Sources: MAFF Pesticide Usage Survey Reports 22, 28, 34 and unpublished figures.
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Total number of aircraft involved in aerial spraying* Number 1977 108 1978 124 1979 130 1980 132 1981 106 1982 100 1983 90 1984 94 * Estimated figures Source: Civil Aviation Authority.