§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has issued written advice to(a) local authorities and (b) the Highways Agency setting out their responsibilities under the Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort; and if she will make a statement. [186074]
§ Alun MichaelI launched the Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort at the Royal Show on 4 July. The code provides comprehensive guidance for all those with land management responsibility, including the Highways Agency and local authorities, on how to develop a strategic approach to ragwort control where there is a risk to animal welfare. It sets out clearly the responsibilities of horse and livestock owners, as well as those of land managers. The code provides advice on how to assess the risk posed by ragwort to horses and other grazing animals, the different control methods available, environmental factors, and health and safety issues.
A copy of the code has been sent to the Highways Agency and to all local authorities. I have urged all landowners and land managers to work with horse and animal owners to implement the recommendations of the code which have legal underpinning in enforcement proceedings under the Weeds Act 1959. A representative of the Highways Agency was involved last year when I launched an earlier draft of the code at Hickstead as a voluntary code, prior to completion of the legislation and spoke in support of the code.