§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to control the sale and distribution of nitrate fertilisers as a means of curbing the nitrate pollution of public water supplies.
§ Mr. CurryNo. Restrictions on the availability of nitrogen fertilisers would be an ineffective and costly68W means of tackling the nitrate problem. My Department does, however, advise farmers on the avoidance of excessive or untimely fertiliser usage, and is currently carrying out local consultations in 21 candidate areas for a pilot nitrate scheme within which a range of voluntary agricultural restrictions, including fertiliser limitations, will be tested.