§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to make a statement on the effectiveness of the Pesticides Voluntary Initiative. [169487]
§ Alun MichaelThe Government regularly reviews progress with the Voluntary Initiative on pesticides and reports its broad conclusions in the Budget and Pre-Budget Report. In Budget 2004 the Government confirmed the view that the Initiative will achieve the most effective way of reducing the environmental impacts of pesticide use provided it is fully implemented. However, to cover the potential case that the Initiative might fail to deliver the required environmental benefits within a reasonable time scale, the Government continues to keep the options for a tax or economic instrument under review. This remains the Government's position.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulation of sprayers her Department undertakes under the Pesticides Voluntary Initiative. [170135]
§ Alun MichaelThe Voluntary Initiative on Pesticides includes a National Sprayer Testing Scheme. This tests spray equipment to ensure that it can be used safely and effectively. The Scheme had a target to test 5,000 sprayers by 31 March 2004 and, while final figures are not yet in, appears to have achieved that level of uptake.
The Initiative also includes projects to develop and promote best practice in the use of spray equipment. In particular, the National Register of Sprayer Operators helps pesticide users to keep up to date with good practice.
As its name suggests, the Voluntary Initiative is not part of pesticide regulation as such but the Government wishes to see the Initiative succeed and has urged pesticide users to take part.