§ Sir Nicholas LyellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many notices under section 1 of the Weeds Act 1959 have been served during each of the past three years; and on how many occasions he has exercised default powers under section 3 of the Weeds Act 1959 in respect of common ragwort. [133956]
§ Mr. MorleyDuring 1998, staff at MAFF Regional Service Centres, acting on the Minister's behalf, served one notice under section 1 of the Weeds Act 1959; one notice was served in 1999 and one has been served so far this year; default powers were exercised last year in respect of the 1998 notice.
§ Sir Nicholas LyellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many complaints about common ragwort his Department has received in each of the past three years; and how many landowners have been approached or written to by his Department's officials following such complaints in each of the past three years. [133984]
§ Mr. MorleyDuring 1998, MAFF Regional Service Centres received 290 complaints from occupiers of farmed land about injurious weeds; 242 complaints were received in 1999; 249 have been received so far this year. Most of these complaints related to common ragwort.
Figures for the number of occupiers of infested land who were approached or written to following complaints are not held centrally. However, Regional Service Centre staff endeavour to contact all such occupiers, providing their whereabouts are known.