HC Deb 21 February 1996 vol 272 c164W
Ms Ruddock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Ministry will issue a consultation paper on the environmental assessment regulations for the use of uncultivated land. [15848]

Mr. Boswell

Consultations will be undertaken in due course.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the reason for the delay in issuing the consultation paper on the environmental assessment regulations for the use of uncultivated land. [15849]

Mr. Boswell

We need to ensure that the measures which we propose balance carefully the need to provide for environmental assessment in the small number of cases where this may be required by the EC directive with the minimum regulatory and administrative burden. Consultations will be undertaken when proposals have been developed further.