§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received and what 811W steps he has taken to ascertain the extent of and trends in soil erosion in England and Wales; and if he will state the geological formations where related soils are currently at greatest risk.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonMy Department's Agricultural Development and Advisory Service has this year completed a five-year study of soil erosion in collaboration with the Soil Survey of England and Wales. This study covered 16 areas known to be at risk from soil erosion by water, with a variety of soil types and climates. The final report will be available early next year.
University Departments and other organisations also conduct studies on soil erosion, and publish reports on these in scientific journals from time to time.
Sandy and silty soils are more susceptible to erosion than heavier soils, but the soil texture is not always closely related to the underlying geological formation. Many other factors also influence the risk of erosion. Among the most important are the steepness and length of slopes, the amount of crop cover and the intensity of rainfall. The risk of erosion on susceptible sites can be minimised by careful soil and crop management, and my Department advises farmers on the appropriate techniques.