HC Deb 22 March 1996 vol 274 cc337-8W
Mr. Congdon

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on finalising the nitrate-vulnerable zone designations in England and Wales following the recommendations in the report by the independent review panel published in October last year. [22982]

Mr. Clappison

Environment and Agriculture Ministers have considered the report of the independent review panel. In the light of the panel's recommendations interests (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [21837]

Mr. Moss

[holding answer 21 March 1996]: The information is as follows:

and following consultation with the National Rivers Authority, we have finalised the boundaries of the nitrate-vulnerable zones in England and Wales. Today we have placed in the Library of the House a set of maps showing the 68 zones we have identified, and we have laid before the House the regulations which transpose the formal requirements of the EC nitrates directive into domestic law and designate the zones.

We have also issued the decision document setting out the Government's final decisions on the zone designations following the panel's report. It presents our considered response to the panel's specific recommendations for boundary changes or for the further review of a small number of zones, and to their findings on issues of principle. In most cases we have accepted or acted on the panel's recommendations. The decision document is being sent to each farmer in the designated zones, and to other consultees who made submissions to the panel. I am placing a copy of the document in the House Library.

The measure that farmers will be required to take in the designated zones have been the subject of a recent consultation. Regulations will be drafted taking account of the responses received, and following further consultation these regulations will be laid before the House, and implemented in the zones by the end of 1999.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture will shortly be making an announcement on the re-introduction, in the designated zones, of grants for waste handling facilities.

The maps of the 68 designated zones will be available for inspection at MAFF regional services centres and Welsh Office agriculture departmental divisional offices.