§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration the Government have given to the recommendation in section 5.41 of the report on the sustainable use of soil from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution in 1996 on soil erosion control; and if he will make a statement. [20513]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government believe that the provision of soundly based guidance to farmers should continue to be the centrepiece of public policy on the protection of agriculture soils. For this purpose, Agriculture Departments have made available a wide range of advice about the protection of soil. In particular, the MAFF/WOAD Soil Code provides farmers with comprehensive advice about the impact of agricultural practices on soil condition. This includes advice on preventing or minimising erosion. In addition, this Department published an advisory booklet during 1997, "Controlling Soil Erosion", which gave farmers further help in dealing with soil erosion problems.
The Department has also commissioned a step by step guide to help farmers plan erosion control systematically. The draft guide will be trailed over the winter in certain areas of England with soils at high risk of erosion by water.