§ Mr. Meacher:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has completed the further work and analysis on the design of a possible pesticides tax or other economic instrument to minimise the adverse effects of pesticide use as referred to in the Pre-Budget Report presented in autumn 2002. [141741]
§ John Healey:In 2001, the Government introduced the Voluntary Initiative to reduce the environmental impacts of pesticide use. Work on further or complementary measures, which could take the form of economic instruments, is on-going. The case for using any alternative measures will depend on the progress of the Voluntary Initiative.