§ Mr. David DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when a report on the nitrate desk studies will be published.
§ Mr. HowardToday I, together with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, have published a research study of the economic and other consequences of various local options for limiting nitrate concentrations in drinking water. I have placed a copy in the Library. The Government will take these studies into account in developing its nitrate strategy and a further announcement will be made in the new year.
Ten widely different catchment areas were chosen for the study. They were selected to provide a good mixture of farming type, geology and climate. There is no implication that the choice of areas in any sense increases the possibility that measures will be introduced in these particular locations.