§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps her department is taking(a) to collect and (b) to publish data for the regular two-yearly monitoring of the use of peat and peat alternatives; [157173]
(2) what steps her Department is taking to meet the Biodiversity action plan targets for the replacement of peat in the horticulture industry. [157174]
§ Mr. BradshawThe latest information on monitoring of peat and alternative products for growing media and soil improvers in the UK was published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2003. The Department now has responsibility for this issue. We are considering arrangements for a further monitoring exercise later this year with a view to publishing the data in 2005.
955WIn the meantime we have commissioned ADAS to produce a report which will provide details of the current use of peat and growing media alternatives in the commercial horticulture sector in England.
The Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is carrying out research into the use of recycled and compost materials in the production of growing media. The research includes a programme of demonstration growing trials across the UK, covering a range of plant types, growing regimes and commercial situations. The growing trials involve trials of peat-free and reduced peat formulations against a standard peat based formulation. It is expected that the results from the research will be published in April this year.