§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will estimate the amount of peat compost used in the last year by(a) Historic Royal Palaces, (b) the Royal Parks Agency and (c) English Heritage; and if he will make a statement. [115718]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe amount of peat compost used in the last year by these bodies is as follows:
(a) Historic Royal Palaces used 36 cubic metres of peat. This is approximately 50 per cent. less peat than was used 10 years ago.
(b) The Royal Parks Agency did not use any pure peat. However, in two of the Royal Parks the Agency did make use of a compost which had peat as a sub component. The volume of peat involved was minimal and unquantifiable.
(c) English Heritage used 20 cubic metres of peat. This is expected to drop to seven cubic metres next year.