Soil Health

Debate between Lord Morgan and Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Monday 8th July 2019 Lords Chamber

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

The noble Countess is right that part of min-till or no-till is that glyphosate is required because of the accumulation of weeds. We in the department will always act on the best independent scientific evidence available, and glyphosate is on the market because it is deemed safe.

[Lord Morgan (Lab)]

My Lords, the Minister has not mentioned devolution in this connection. Can he make some observations about its importance for the Government’s plans?

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, I did not raise it because soil is a devolved matter and it will therefore be for the other Administrations to work on this. All I can say is that soil is an asset of great value across the country. In Defra’s collaborations and discussions with all Ministers from all the Administrations, soil and its health are clearly of national interest—by that, I mean for the United Kingdom.