§ Matthew GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will carry out the appraisal of the progress of the voluntary initiative on pesticides at the end of 2003, as recommended by the Environmental Audit Committee in its First Report of Session 2002–03. [139530]
§ Alun MichaelIn its response to this Environmental Audit Committee report, the Government said that it would continue to make regular assessments of progress and would be looking for real steps forward during 2003. In particular, the Government said it would be important for the initiative to demonstrate growing farmer uptake and progress on outcomes, particularly in respect of the water catchment project.
903WThe Government's assessments of progress are published in the Budget and Pre-Budget Reports. The next such assessment will be in next month's Pre-Budget