HC Deb 26 April 2002 vol 384 cc507-8W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received concerning the cost to pig producers of the Government's nitrate vulnerable zone proposals. [51758]

Mr. Meacher

The National Pig Association (NPA) has made representations to the Government about the cost to pig farmers of the Government's proposals for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones. It drew particular attention to the greater difficulty that pig farmers will encounter with the export of surplus manures to neighbouring farms in the proposed, larger, new zones. The Government has considered this representation and proposes to increase the cost assessment in recognition of the need for additional slurry storage capacity to provide more flexibility with the management of exported manures on pig farms.

The NPA urged the Government to introduce a grant scheme to assist farmers to adapt their manure storage facilities to the meet the standards required by the NVZ Regulations. The Government expects to extend the existing Farm Waste Grant Scheme to the new zones when they are designated.

The NPA also argued that the cost assessment for the keeping of additional records should be increased. The Government is not proposing to make changes to the record-keeping component of its cost assessment, which is based on an estimate of the average cost across all farmers affected. We recognise that within this average the costs that individual farmers face will vary depending on the nature and scale of their operations.

The National Farmers Union and the Country Land and Business Association have also made representations to Government about the compliance costs to farmers, including pig farmers.

We will publish a revised compliance cost assessment in due course, when regulations are made to implement the Nitrates Directive.

David Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the financial cost to farmers of the extension of nitrate-vulnerable zones. [51938]

Mr. Meacher

The Department's consultation document issued in December 2001 outlines relative costs to farmers of two options for completing implementation of the Nitrates Directive in England.

  • Total annual costs to English farmers are:
  • Option 1 (whole of England approach)—£32million.
  • Option 2 (targeted NVZ approach)—£23million.

We are currently considering these figures in the light of responses to our recent consultation. We will publish a revised Regulatory Impact Assessment, containing updated compliance costs, in due course when we are in a position to announce a decision on how the Directive is to be implemented.

David Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to what extent her Department proposes to extend nitrate-vulnerable zones. [51817]

Mr. Meacher

The Department is currently considering options for completing implementation of the Nitrates Directive in the light of responses to our recent public consultation. I expect to be able to announce a decision in May.