§ Mr. Colvinasked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the definition of organic farming used for the purposes of his Department.
§ Mr. GummerMy Department does not currently use any one definition of organic farming. However, the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards has recently been established by Food From Britain to consider the question of standards to be observed in organic production and I shall seek advice from that body as required.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he now has concerning the number of farmers, in total and by county in England and Wales, who are using (a) organic methods and (b) low-input, low-output methods.
§ Mr. GummerSuch information is not currently available. In due course, however, it should be possible to produce data on the number of farmers using organic methods and who have registered with the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards.