§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy for owners of land to be made legally responsible for offences committed by people in their employment in respect of offences relating to endangering wildlife and keeping pesticides illegally under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
§ Mr. BaldryThe Government have no plans at present to introduce legislation to amend the relevant provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The keeping of pesticides is governed by regulations made under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 for which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is responsible. It is an offence for any person, without reasonable excuse, to cause or permit another to contravene those regulations.