§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions illegal burning of moorland was recorded in Wales in the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe information requested is not available, but I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department that records available to him, which may be incomplete, show the following number of defendants proceeded against in Magistrate Courts in Wales.
204W
Defendants proceeded against for burning heather or grass without a licence contrary to regulations made under Section 20 of the Hill Farming Act 1946 Year No. of defendents No. proceeded against No. found guilty 1972 1 1 1973 2 2 1974 3 3 1975 nil nil 1976 2 2 1977 nil nil 1978 nil nil 1979 1 1 1980 2 2 1981 1 1 Information for 1982 is not yet available but indications from local sources in Wales are that there were no prosecutions in that year.