§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he hopes to finalise his guidelines on good heather and grass burning practice for farmers in England and Wales.
§ Mrs. FennerThe working party, comprising farming and conservation interests, which was set up to produce guidelines on good heather and grass burning practice has met on several occasions and its work is now well advanced.
We expect to be able to publish a code of practice for farmers in good time for the 1984 spring burning season.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many offences against the heather and grass burning regulations under the Hill Farming Act 1946 have been (a) reported and (b) proceeded against in the current year to date.
§ Mrs. FennerNo reports of alleged illegal heather and grass burning have been made so far this year to any of my local offices in England, and no proceedings have been taken. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales that this is also the position for Wales.
Alleged offences may have been reported to the police, but my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has informed me that no records of these are kept centrally. I also understand that no figures are yet available of proceedings so far taken by the police in 1983.