§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will review his Department's publication, "Home Defence and the Farmer", in the light of recent evidence concerning the likelihood of climatic changes caused by nuclear explosions;
(2) if his Department has prepared contingency plans for the agriculture and food industries in the event of climatic changes caused by nuclear explosions;
(3) what would be the short-term and long-term effect on British agriculture of prolonged cold and darkness caused by nuclear explosions.
§ Mrs. FennerRecent evidence about the climatic effects of nuclear explosions stems principally from the Washington conference on the long-term biological consequences of nuclear war held in October 1983.
Scientists involved have expressed reservations about the conclusions of this conference and the scientific community at large is currently reviewing their validity. In particular the scientific committee on problems of the environment—part of the International Council of Scientific Unions—is studying the subject and is expected to report in late 1985.
The Government will follow developments closely but it would not be prudent to attempt to anticipate the findings of the study.