§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what funding will be available for the Integrated Farming Initiative to limit the use of pesticides. [66590]
§ Mr. Nick Brown[holding answer 19 January 1999]: The Department is committed to the encouragement of integrated farming and has spent over £1 million on research in this area in recent1 years, much of it through the LINK programme. The findings of this research were featured in a conference sponsored by MAFF in October 1998. Careful management of pesticide use is only one element of integrated farming and it would not be appropriate to single this out for dedicated funding.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations have taken place with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions concerning the implementation of a pesticide tax. [66591]
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§ Mr. Nick Brown[holding answer 19 January 1999]: Extensive study of the issues surrounding the introduction of a possible pesticide tax has been carried out by ECOTEC Research & Consulting on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. An interdepartmental group of officials, including those from my own Department, oversaw the conduct of this research. Ministers have not so far discussed the consultant's conclusions.