§ Lord Ashley of Stokeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Pesticide Usage Survey Group requests information on accidental misuse of pesticides, and when the group conducted its last comprehensive survey of pesticide usage; and when was it published.
Earl HoweFor each survey the Pesticide Usage Survey Group invites a sample of users to answer questions, on a voluntary basis, about their use of pesticides on crops. Individual returns are treated in confidence to secure co-operation and encourage full and honest responses. There is a rolling programme of surveys. Usage on arable crops is surveyed every two years and on other agricultural and horticultural crops every four years. Separate results are published for each survey.