§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment what progress has been made on the establishment of action programmes in respect of the proposed nitrate vulnerable zones; and if he will make a statement. [3907]
§ Mr. GummerMy right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Wales and I issued today a consultation document giving details of the action programme to be established under the terms of the EC nitrate directive, and which will apply in nitrate vulnerable zones. It also gives details of the draft regulations which transpose the formal requirements of the nitrate directive into domestic law. This is the latest of several rounds of consultation about implementation of the directive. The document is being sent to farmers in parishes or communities affected by the proposed zones, farmers' representatives, environmental and consumer groups, and to the water industry.
The draft action programme contains measures on use of inorganic fertiliser and organic manure, and on storage of slurry in nitrate vulnerable zones, in accordance with the directive. The proposed measures are those described in the brief outline of the action programme included in the May 1994 consultation document on the boundaries of proposed zones. In developing the measures, we have made use of experience and knowledge gained from other Government initiatives to reduce agricultural nitrate pollution. The measures should bring about reductions in nitrate leaching in vulnerable zones.
I am placing copies of the consultation document in the Library.
806W