Written question asked by Huw Irranca-Davies (Labour) on Thursday, 22 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 March 2012. It was answered by James Paice (Conservative) on Monday, 16 April 2012 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect on the regulatory burden on farmers of changes in nitrate-vulnerable zones.

Answer: The current Action Programme for the implementation of the nitrates directive in England for the period 2008 to 2012 was accompanied by a regulatory impact assessment that included assessments of the regulatory burden on farmers.DEFRA is currently undertaking a review of the Action Programme that will operate from 1 January 2013 until December 2016. This review, which commenced on 16 December 2011, included a full public consultation and was accompanied by an impact assessment. The consultation was informed by the findings from the Task Force on Farming Regulation, which had made recommendations on how DEFRA may reduce the regulatory burden.DEFRA has undertaken a specific industry focused workshop aimed at developing further the practical responses received from the consultation. DEFRA is now working through the range of views in order to develop a Government response, which is expected in late May.

Secondary information