§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much funding is currently allocated by his Department to the encouragement of(a) an integrated plant nutrition system, (b) the raised efficiency of synthetic fertiliser use and (c) the promotion of effective low input systems.
§ Mr. CurryIn 1992–93, the Department will be spending about £7 million on(a) and (b) and £6 million on (c) Some £14.8 million will also be spent on the reduction of pesticide usage, which has a major underpinning role in the development of low input systems. The LINK programme "Technologies for Sustainable Farming Systems", introduced in July 1991, is designed to promote collaborative research in the areas 419W mentioned, and total financial support for that programme will exceed £4 million, of which half will be contributed by the Government.