Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the code of practice on how to prevent the spread of ragwort published in July 2004.

We have not assessed the effectiveness of the Code of Practice. We are, however, continuing to review our policy on ragwort, including a review of the current evidence to ensure that we minimise the risk of injury to horses and other grazing livestock. This work will highlight what changes, if any, might be needed to the Code of Practice.