Peat (Hansard, 27 October 1993)

§ Mr. Dafis
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to support the awarding of a European eco-label to peat-free soil conditioners and growing media based on organic waste materials only.

§ Mr. Yeo
The United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board has been established to administer and promote the European Community ecolabelling scheme nationally and has responsibility for dealing with the operational aspects of the scheme.
I understand, however, that the UKEB has submitted to the Commission proposals for soil improvers based on the use of composted waste products. Proposals for growing media are still under consideration.

§ Mr. Dafis
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those sites of special scientific interest which are being damaged by existing peat extraction work and those which have planning permission but are not yet being extracted.

§ Mr. Yeo
The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, under the terms of the agreement reached with Fisons peat extraction is continuing over previously cut areas at Thorne, Goole and Crowle moors, Hatfield moor, Wedholm Flow, Westhay moor and Shapwick heath. I am informed that some peat extraction is taking place at Fenns, Whixall and Bettesfield Mosses, Catcott, Chilton and Edington moors, Tealham and Tadham moors, Bolton Fell Moss, Chat Moss and Danes Moss under planning permissions give prior to SSSI notification.

§ Mr. Dafis
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to introduce a levy upon peat extraction.

§ Mr. Baldry
The Government have no plans at present to introduce a levy on peat extraction.

§ Mr. Dafis
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement outlining the outcome of his Department's review on the rehabilitation of bogs.
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§ Mr. Baldry
The Department's review on the rehabilitation of lowland peat bogs is ongoing and results will be made available next year when the study is complete.

§ Mr. Dafis
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to establish a development agency to secure partnership between central Government and those with a commercial interest in developing and marketing peat-free growing media and soil conditioners.

§ Mr. Baldry
The Government have no plans at the present time to establish such an agency.