Peat

Ms. Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ban all use of peat by his Department; whether he will formulate a national peatlands conservation policy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Roberts
Peat is used to only a very limited extent by the Department. Alternatives will continue to be  considered whenever appropriate but there are no plans at present to introduce a total ban. On the wider issue, I have nothing to add to the answer given by the hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside on 27 April 1990.