§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the budget was and how much was spent on pesticides by the Royal Parks Agency in each year since 1997. [115077]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 22 May 2003]Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency and I have asked its Chief Executive, William Weston to reply.
Letter from William Weston to Mr. Nick Harvey, dated 3 June 2003:
I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to answer your Parliamentary Question about the amount spent by the Royal Parks on pesticides as this is an operational matter which is the responsibility of the Royal Parks.We do not budget specifically for pesticides because horticultural and other ground maintenance work in the Royal Parks has been contracted out since 1992. We specify what work we require and how we want it done. The contractors then carry the work out using whatever equipment and materials, including pesticides, are necessary in the circumstances and we pay according to a scale of charges for the work, as laid down in the contract.