Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Walpole (Crossbench). It was answered on Tuesday, 16 December 2008.

Pesticides

Question: My Lords, I want to follow on from what the noble Baroness, Lady Trumpington, said, and to say what I feel is happening now. Farmers or their staff used to do the spraying themselves, and we certainly told everyone where we were going to spray and, if possible, when. The new idea that all farmers should use contractors for everything means that contractors are much sloppier, and, judging by the way they are behaving around us, do not carry out these things properly.

Answer: My Lords, clearly, the farmer must take responsibility for the work undertaken on their farm by the contractor. The good practice code is clear about the benefits of giving the kind of warnings that the noble Lord has suggested. However, we should never be complacent and must do everything we can to ensure that where notification is appropriate, it is duly given.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 706 c738
Session: 2008-09
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Health hazards Judgements Pesticides High Court Crop spraying Downs, Georgina
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk