§ Mr. HoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will name those pesticides approved by the Government in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. MacGregorMy Department has regularly published lists of approved pesticides products. The most recent is HMSO reference book RB500, "Pesticides 1988". This and previous publications are lodged in the House of Commons Library. I regret that it is not possible to break those lists down by year of approval without disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. HoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the cost to his Department of monitoring the levels of harmful residues from the use of pesticides; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McGregorFor 1988 my Department is expected to spend £900,000 on monitoring for pesticide residues.
§ Mr. HoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what method of monitoring the excess use of nitrate in soil is applied by his Department.
§ Mr. RyderMy Department monitors nitrate levels at various sites in order to provide the basis for guidance to farmers on optimum fertiliser use.
This work indicates that the majority of farmers apply fertilisers within recommended levels. ADAS advisory efforts have led to significant reductions in autumn nitrogen applications, but we are impressing upon farmers at every opportunity the importance of further reductions.
Month of clinical onset: 1986 County July August September October November December England Avon — — — — — — Bedfordshire — — — — — — Berkshire — — — — — — Buckinghamshire — — — — — — Cambridgeshire — — — — — — Cheshire — — — — — — Cleveland — — — — — — Cornwall — 1 — — — — Cumbria — — — — — — Derbyshire — — — — — — Devon 1 — — — — — Dorset — — — — — — Durham — — — — — — East Sussex — — — — — —