HC Deb 29 June 1989 vol 155 c552W
34. Mr. Key

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the control of the burning of straw and stubble.

Mr. Donald Thompson

My Department's policy is to reduce the level of straw and stubble burned in the field by encouraging farmers to adopt alternative disposal methods where practicable, while at the same time reminding those farmers who continue to employ burning to observe the NFU code and local byelaws. Our annual straw survey indicates that, between 1983 and 1988, the proportion of straw disposed of by burning fell from 37.7 per cent. to 23.8 per cent., and there has also been a substantial reduction in complaints and prosecutions.

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