§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about his assessment of the impact on the environment including the ozone layer, of the burning of straw and stubble.
§ Mr. MacleanThe effect of straw burning on the ozone layer or global warming is negligible. My Department will,756W in 1990–91, be initiating research to measure dioxin emissions from straw burning. The careless burning of straw may cause nuisance, or damage trees, hedges or wildlife. This is why we have urged farmers to adopt alternative methods of disposal wherever possible; and to observe the local bye-laws and the NFU code of practice when burning has to be carried out.