You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Hansard > Commons Debates > Commons Debates by date > Commons Debates - previous sessions > Bound Volume Hansard - Written Answers
Previous Section Index Home Page

Tuberculosis

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the compensation levels for farmers with cattle affected by tuberculosis. [8833]

Mr. Rooker: It would be inappropriate to review compensation while Professor Krebs' Committee is looking at badgers and bovine tuberculosis.

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive the Krebs report on future policy in relation to badgers and tuberculosis. [8832]

Mr. Rooker: Later this year.

17 Jul 1997 : Column: 278

Broiler Chickens

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the need for legislation to protect broiler chickens; and if he will make a statement. [8657]

Mr. Morley: The Government intends to ensure that the broiler industry works to high welfare standards. Work on a new welfare code is already in hand. I have received various representations that there is a case for further legislation and will consider this in the light of developments here and in Europe.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of broiler chickens which suffer from (a) leg disorders and (b) heart disease because of rapid body growth. [8658]

Mr. Morley: (a) It is not possible to give a simple estimate of the number of broiler chickens which suffer from leg disorders. Those that occur may be the result of one, or a combination of, a number of different factors. The severity of the effect on individual birds will also be subject to variation. (b) I know of no scientific data which allows for conclusions to be drawn on any direct relationship between rate of growth and the incidence of heart disease in broiler chickens.

Hunting Ban (Disposal of Stock)

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what alternative arrangements he is considering for the disposal of fallen stock and destruction of animal casualties if hunting were banned. [8843]

Mr. Rooker: There are already arrangements for disposing of fallen stock and the destruction of animal casualties other than via hunt kennels. Disposal can be by rendering at an approved rendering plant, incineration or burial, in accordance with the provisions of the Animal By-Products Order 1992 (as amended). This Order also provides for certain premises to receive fallen stock, including knackers' yards: knackermen will usually be licensed slaughtermen for the purpose of killing animal casualties.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

Contaminated Land

Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to lay new regulations about contaminated land. [7874]

Angela Eagle: We hope shortly to be able to make an announcement of how we propose to proceed regarding the implementation of the contaminated land provisions in Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (inserted by section 57 of the Environment Act 1995).

Voluntary Sports Clubs

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his

17 Jul 1997 : Column: 279

assessment of the cost of granting mandatory rate relief to voluntary sports clubs in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [7991]

Mr. Raynsford: We have insufficient data on which to make a reliable estimate of the cost of granting mandatory rate relief to voluntary sports clubs. However, we are currently reviewing the basis on which voluntary sports clubs are eligible for rate relief.

Water Companies

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those water companies which offer lower drainage charges where a property does not drain surface water into a public sewer; and if he will ensure that all water companies are obliged to offer such a charge. [8462]

Angela Eagle: Lower drainage charges for customers who do not receive a surface water drainage service are offered by three water companies: North West Water, Severn Trent Water and (for customers with rateable values over £7000) Northumbrian Water. Customers are liable for sewerage service charges and companies are not obliged to offer this rebate. The Director General of Water Services, however, would not like to see customers charged for a service which is not provided, and has raised this matter in discussion with companies.

Construction Industry

Mrs. Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will list the membership of each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies with responsibility for the construction industry, indicating their functions and terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on their role in respect of Government policy in the construction industry. [8458]

Mr. Raynsford: There are four such bodies.


The Committee is established under Section 14 of the Building Act 1984 to advise the Secretary of State on the exercise of his power to make building regulations, and on other subjects connected with building regulations.


17 Jul 1997 : Column: 280

The British Board of Agrement (BBA), established in 1966, assesses and certifies the performance of construction products and materials which are new or innovative or for which no technical standards exist. Agrement Certificates are recognised within the Approved Document to Building Regulation 7 as a means of establishing a product's fitness for use.

BBA also provides important services in relation to implementation of the Construction Products Directive, representing the UK in the European Organisation for Technical Approvals (EOTA), and in the European Union of Agrement. BBA currently holds the Presidency of EOTA.

Although BBA is an executive NDPB, it also runs as a commercial organisation and is a company limited by guarantee.


The terms of reference of the Panel are to provide informed, strategic advice to the Department on trends in construction and the development of research strategies in relation to emerging technical issues relevant to the construction process and to the Department's statutory responsibilities and policy objectives; and to give informed, strategic advice on the value of past research--its appropriateness, relevance to policy, management, impact, achievement and transfer into effective application.


17 Jul 1997 : Column: 281

The terms of reference of the Group are:


    To provide timely and effective advice to DETR Ministers and Officials on methods and priorities for pursuing business opportunities overseas for UK suppliers of building materials and construction products.


    To provide feedback more generally on the delivery and effectiveness of support mechanisms provided by government and other organisations and, where appropriate, to suggest improvements.


    To provide advice on measures to improve co-ordination, communication and presentation of export opportunities and initiatives within the industry and between government and industry.

Sewerage Pipes

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the extent of damage being caused to plastic sewerage pipes by rats; and what assessment he has made of potential risks to public health from this. [8454]

Angela Eagle: I understand that the water industry is not aware of any documented evidence of a problem of rats chewing through sewer pipes and there are no indications that such damage to plastic pipes is causing risk to public health.

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what regulations control the use of high pressure water jets to clean sewerage pipes; and if these take account of possible damage caused to the pipes. [8453]

Angela Eagle: No formal regulations exist to control the use of high pressure water jets to clean sewerage or drainage pipes. The Water Research Centre has prepared a Code of Practice on pressure jetting which has been accepted by the manufacturers of such equipment and contractors. I understand that water companies are likely to specify its use in pressure jetting contracts.

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if standards for the manufacture of plastic sewerage pipes take account of the need to resist damage by rats. [8445]

Angela Eagle: Standards for plastic sewer pipes do not contain any particular provisions to take account of the need to resist damage by rats but my Department will ensure that the issue is raised with the British Standards Institution and organisations which test the suitability of plastic pipes to be used for drainage.

Next Section Index Home Page