§ 38. Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's estimate of costs to farmers of the proposed nitrate vulnerable zones regulations. [46548]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Department's consultation document issued in December 2001 outlines relative costs to farmers of two options for completing implementation of the Nitrates Directive in England.
Total annual cost to English farmers are:
- Option 1 (whole of England approach)——£32 million.
- Option 2 (targeted NVZ approach)——£23 million.
We are currently considering these figures in the light of responses to our recent consultation. We will publish a revised regulatory impact assessment, containing updated compliance costs, in due course when we are in a position to announce a decision on how the directive is to be implemented.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies she has undertaken into the proportion of nitrates leached from arable land which derive from atmospheric deposition. [48199]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 10 April 2002]: Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen, from the air pollutants nitrogen oxides (mainly from vehicle exhausts and industry) and ammonia (mainly from livestock manure), is measured across the UK by the National Acid Deposition Network.
Most of the nitrogen deposited in arable areas is taken up by crops during the growing season, but in late autumn and winter, a proportion is vulnerable to leaching. Studies at the Institute of Arable Crops Research have shown that atmospheric deposition usually contributes around 20 to 30 per cent. of the nitrate leached from arable land.
Atmospheric deposition is a major cause for concern in upland semi-natural habitats which are naturally adapted to receiving low supplies of nutrient nitrogen. Atmospheric deposition is largest in the uplands, where rainfall is highest. Excessive deposition can lead to adverse changes in plant diversity and, in some cases, to nitrate leaching.
Under the UNECE Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone, and the European National Emissions Ceilings Directive, the UK is committed to further significant reductions in nitrogen oxide emissions, and to curbing ammonia emissions, from 2010. Achieving these emission reduction targets will cut the amount of nitrogen deposited onto agricultural and semi-natural land. We will publish a consultation this year seeking views on how to curb ammonia emissions.
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§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will(a) determine and (b) regulate closed seasons, under the nitrate directive, on a regional basis. [48201]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The information requested is as follows.
(a) Determination of closed periods:
Annual closed periods in existing NVZ areas are:
For nitrogen fertilisers:
- On arable land——1 September to 1 February
- On grassland——15 September to 1 November
For slurries, poultry manures and liquid-digested sewage sludge:
- On arable land without autumn sown crop: 1 August to 1 November
- On grassland or arable land with autumn sown crop: 1 September to 1 November.
The current Action Programme does not include variations on a regional basis in England. We are considering responses received to our recent consultation on completing implementation of the Nitrates Directive which have raised this issue.
(b) Regulation of closed periods: The Environment Agency will be responsible for enforcing compliance in the new areas where farmers are required to take action to reduce nitrate pollution, as well as in existing Nitrate Vulnerable Zones. The Agency propose to develop a risk based approach to enforcement, for instance by relating the frequency and nature of inspection to the risk of pollution.
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her policy with respect to nitrate vulnerable zones. [46522]
§ Mr. MeacherFollowing the Department's recent consultation on how England should complete implementation of the nitrates directive, I hope to be able to announce a decision in May.