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Ministerial Visits

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those constituencies he has visited in the last three months on official business and those constituencies he intends to visit in the next three months; and if he will make a statement. [35761]

Mr. Douglas Hogg: I have visited the following constituencies on official business in the last three months:

Constituency	Event	Date
Gainsborough and Horncastle	Lincolnshire Show	19 June 1996
Cirencester and Tewksbury	Royal Show	1 July 1996
Lincoln	Upper Witham Internal Drainage Board	8 July 1996
Stamford and Spalding	Elsoms Seeds Ltd.	8 July 1996

During the next three months I plan to visit:

Constituency	Event	Date
Eddisbury	Reaseheath College (Meeting with Beef/Dairy Farmers)	15 July 1996
Congleton	Wimboldsely Hall/Weaver Bank Farm	15 July 1996
Stamford and Spalding	CLA Game Fair	26 July 1996

Cattle Slaughter Scheme

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, under the accelerated slaughter scheme, compensation for cattle slaughtered will be to the value of a replacement heifer of the same breed and standard of the culled cow. [36837]

Mr. Baldry: The Government issued a consultation document on the accelerated slaughter scheme on 3 July. The deadline for responses was 9 July, and we are considering those we have received.

EU Standing Veterinary Committee

Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the United Kingdom was represented at the meeting of the EU Standing Veterinary Committee meeting of 9 and 10 October 1990; and if he will make a statement on the conclusions concerning BSE arising from the meeting. [37866]

Mrs. Browning: The United Kingdom was represented at this meeting. Our record of the meeting shows that, although BSE was discussed, no conclusions were reached.

22 Jul 1996 : Column: 22

Fisheries Committee (European Parliament)

Mr. Steen: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many seats the UK is entitled to on the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament; and how many seats the UK currently occupies. [38404]

Mr. Baldry: The UK is entitled to have five full members on the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament and two substitute members. UK members of the European Parliament currently occupy all five full seats.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Postage Costs

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how much has been spent on postage costs for the House in each of the last five financial years. [38637]

Mr. Michael J. Martin: Postage costs for the House of Commons for the last five financial years are as follows:

1991-92: £1,304,419
1992-93: £1,451,836
1993-94: £1,760,770
1994-95: £1,771,183
1995-96: £1,710,899.

Members' Salaries

Mr. Winnick: To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members notified the Fees Office after each increase in salary during the past 17 years that they did not wish to accept an increase in their salary; and for how long they maintained such decisions. [36772]

Mr. Newton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 10 July, Official Report, column 238. I have asked the Fees Office to write to the hon. Member with such additional information as it feels can properly be provided without incurring disproportionate cost, bearing in mind also its obligation to preserve confidentiality in its dealings with individual hon. Members.

Mr. Winnick: To ask the Lord President of the Council when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his question, for answer on 11 July, in respect of salaries. [38789]

Mr. Newton: I have replied to the hon. Member today.

Mail

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many items of mail were delivered to the House in each of the last five financial years. [38638]

Mr. Michael J. Martin: This information is not recorded. Royal Mail estimates that 35,000 items are received on each sitting day and that this figure has not changed significantly over the last five financial years. This does not include items delivered via courier and messenger services.

22 Jul 1996 : Column: 23

ENVIRONMENT

Air Pollution

Mr. Barry Porter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account the Environment Agency is obliged to take of (a) general air quality standards in a locality and (b) the cumulative effects of other emissions into the atmosphere in determining whether to grant an authorisation. [37839]

Mr. Clappison: Under section 7 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Environment Agency is obliged to set such specific conditions as it considers appropriate to achieve any quality standards or quality objectives prescribed by the Secretary of state under any relevant enactments.

Asbestos

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with other European Ministers on the production and use of asbestos-based building materials; and if he will make a statement. [38188]

Mr. Clappison: No discussions on the use of asbestos-based building materials have taken place at ministerial level, but our officials continue to play an active part in EU negotiations and to promote awareness and understanding in EU discussion of asbestos issues.

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department has taken to ensure asbestos-based building materials are clearly marked. [38186]

Mr. Clappison: The Asbestos Products (Safety) Regulations 1985 as amended require that any products containing asbestos are labelled in accordance with the schedule to the regulations. The label serves as a warning that asbestos is present, and gives details of precautions to be taken in handling the product.

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated regarding the use of asbestos-based building materials in house building. [38185]

Mr. Clappison: The Department of the Environment has commissioned research on fibrous materials in the non-workplace environment. This includes a review of the past and current uses of asbestos in products and building materials. A report on this research will be published early next year.

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to promote a ban on the import and use of asbestos-based building materials; and if he will make a statement. [38187]

Mr. Clappison: The United Kingdom takes the view that prohibitions on the marketing and use of asbestos, including asbestos-based building materials, should be based on agreements within the European Union. The Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992 and their Northern Ireland equivalents implement EU legislation which totally prohibits the use of blue and brown asbestos, and some uses of white asbestos, in building materials. At present, the UK has no plans to promote an EU discussion for an extension of the existing ban.

22 Jul 1996 : Column: 24

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statistics he has collected on the number of deaths from exposure to asbestos products. [38184]

Sir Paul Beresford: The Health and Safety Executive maintains a register on the number of deaths from mesothelioma and asbestosis, which are mostly related to exposure to asbestos fibres. This is published in "Health and Safety Statistics", the statistical supplement to the Health and Safety Commission's annual report.

Merseyside Development Corporation

Mr. Parry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will meet the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside, to discuss matters affecting his constituents living in the Merseyside development corporation area; and if he will make a statement. [38863]

Sir Paul Beresford: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to his constituents living at the Albert dock. For the most part, the issues raised by the residents at the dock have been matters for the residents to resolve themselves with the Merseyside development corporation or Arrowcroft. In those circumstances, I cannot see a meeting would be helpful. A meeting has, however, been arranged between Merseyside development corporation, the Government office for Merseyside and the Albert dock residents association to hear views on the proposed management company.

Albert Dock Company

Mr. Parry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who are the owners of the Albert Dock Company; and if he will make a statement. [38839]

Sir Paul Beresford: The Albert Dock Company is owned by Arrowcroft.

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