§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about his Ministry's aerial photography, including the counties covered, the frequency with which the photographs are taken, what is identified, and to what use the photographs are put.
§ Mr. GummerThe aerial photography unit, which is part of the Agricultural Development Advisory Service, undertakes aerial survey work both in support of the activities of my Department and as a commercial service. Aerial surveys have covered sites in all counties in England and Wales. Many sites are photographed only once, others at infrequent intervals. The environmentally sensitive areas have been photographed at three-yearly intervals to assist in my Department's long-term monitoring programme. Other work for my Department is used in a wide range of applications related to environmental monitoring, land use, crop husbandry and disease studies. Commercial applications include photography in connection with land use and planning, coastal and flood protection, conservation and landscape inventories and crop trials.