§ Mr. Iain Millsasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he is satisfied with the present system of control and licensing of crop spraying helicopters; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he has received any representations about indiscriminate spraying by crop spraying helicopters that has affected domestic dwellings and gardens.
§ Mr. David MitchellProcedures for aerial crop spraying are subject to approval by the Civil Aviation Authority and I am satisfied that the authority's arrangements for controlling spraying operations by helicopters and fixed wing aircraft are adequate. I am asking the authority's chairman to write to my hon. Friend explaining how controls on aerial crop spraying operate, and to send him a copy of the bulletin the authority prepares annually analysing complaints it has received about spraying.