§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his discussions with the National Farmers' Union on 23rd November, on ways in which the union's code of practice for straw burning can be made more effective, with the aim of avoiding risks of damage or nuisance and of preserving the wild life of the countryside.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe meeting called by the National Farmers' Union was attended by representatives of several Government Departments and of a wide range of other organisations, including those concerned with farming, the Fire Service, and the amenity and wild life of the countryside. There was general agreement that there would be little risk of damage or nuisance if straw and stubble burning was carried out according to the advice in the Union's code of practice, and that more should be done to bring this advice to the notice of those concerned and to pursuade them to follow it. Suggestions were also made for some improvements in the code. The Union, in consultation with my Department and others, will now be considering ways to revise the code and to improve the publicity for it, in order to make it more effective. The union is also to set up a working party to consider alternative means of disposing of and using straw, and my Department will be keeping in close touch with these studies.