§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list his current powers to control aerial crop spraying.
§ Mrs. FennerWe have no powers currently to control aerial spraying, but under the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme (PSPS), which is jointly administered by my Department, the Department of Health and Social Security, the Department of the Environment, the Health and Safety Executive and responsible Departments for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Ministers consider the suitability of chemicals for aerial application. Only certain less toxic pesticides are cleared for application from the air. However, controls over aerial crop spraying are exercised by the Civil Aviation Authority under article 40 of the Air Navigation Order 1980. In addition, the Government are seeking powers in the Food and Environment Protection Bill lo control the supply and use 623W of pesticides. These powers would be sufficiently broad to allow the imposition of environmental safety conditions on aerial application. They would thus complement current controls.