| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Human Genome Sequencing
Dr. Gibson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the share of the world's effort in human genome sequencing which is being undertaken in the UK. [44980]
Mr. Battle: We estimate that the UK undertake one third of the world's effort in sequencing the human genome. The UK contribution is made primarily through the work of the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council.
Nuclear Weapons (Developing Countries)
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she has taken to ensure that no plutonium from the United Kingdom has been used in the production of nuclear weapons in developing countries. [44725]
Mr. Battle: I refer my hon. Friend to the detailed answer given to the hon. Member for Perth (Ms Cunningham) on 1 June 1998, Official Report, columns 119-20.
The stringent controls described in that answer would apply to any applications to export plutonium to a developing country.
Nuclear Power Stations (Health Risks)
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new proposals she has to improve transparency in respect of the health risks arising from nuclear power stations. [43511]
10 Jun 1998 : Column: 598
Mr. Battle:
None. Existing arrangements already provide for a high degree of public openness about health, safety and environmental issues associated with the UK civil nuclear industry.
Nuclear operators publish annual reports which provide detailed information about both the environmental and the health and safety considerations associated with their activities. Those bodies responsible for the regulation of the civil nuclear industry, including the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the National Radiological Protection Board, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, also publish detailed annual reports. Where they believe there to be a matter of particular public interest to be addressed, regulators also published reports covering specific regulatory issues.
Independent expert consideration of the potential implications of the civil nuclear industry for public health is further provided for through the existence of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE). COMARE was established by the Government in 1985 with a remit to investigate and advise on the health effects of both natural and man-made radiation and on the need for further research in this area. COMARE has undertaken investigations into the incidence of cancers in the vicinity of a number of UK nuclear installations and in each case has published a detailed report setting out its findings.
For safety and environmental issues associated with the UK civil nuclear industry, independent expert scrutiny is provided for through the existence of two advisory committees, the Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee (RWMAC). NuSAC publishes a biennial report setting out details of the work of the committee and its sub groups and of its future programme of work. RWMAC publishes a similar report on an annual basis.
Mr. Levitt:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of BSE on the knackers' trade. [44357]
Mr. Rooker:
Cattle displaying clinical signs suggestive of BSE are not sent to knackers yards. They are slaughtered on farm and the carcases taken to incineration facilities contracted to the Department to deal with BSE suspects.
Following the announcement on BSE in March 1996, some £97 million was made available for the rendering industry in the financial year 1996-97. In return, renderers were required to maintain pre-crisis prices and charges to all their suppliers of animal waste. A further £59 million of aid, also designed to help the entire red meat/animal waste chain, was made available during the financial year 1997-98. The support was always intended to be temporary and was phased out gradually during 1997-98 to enable the chain to adjust to the changing economics.
The knacker industry is playing an important role in the collection and transport of Over Thirty Months Scheme casualty animals to incineration facilities. Over 140,000 have been handled to date. However, the Government are
10 Jun 1998 : Column: 599
aware of the concern being expressed by the knacker industry about the increased costs of collecting other fallen stock following the removal of support. Officials are liaising with farming representatives to consider how farmers should, in future, dispose of fallen stock and to encourage the industry to put suitable arrangements in place.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the incidence of BSE by cattle breed in 1997 and 1998 to date. [44897]
Mr. Rooker:
The number of cattle confirmed as having BSE in Great Britain in 1997 and 1998 to date are listed by cattle breed in the table.
10 Jun 1998 : Column: 600
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if Dr. Narang has supplied his Ministry with the information his scientists had requested in order to validate his BSE testing method; and if he will make a statement. [44866]
Mr. Rooker: The Department is not awaiting any information from Dr. Narang. Research funded by the Medical Research Council is underway at Leeds University to investigate the feasibility of diagnosing pre clinical BSE using cattle urine. Dr. Narang is collaborating in this work.
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effectiveness and accuracy of the methods advocated by Dr. Narang for detecting BSE. [44894]
Mr. Rooker: Dr. Narang has advocated a method to detect pre clinical BSE in cattle using urine. Research is currently underway in Leeds University to investigate the feasibility of such a method. It is too early to comment on effectiveness or accuracy.
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the urine test method of detecting BSE in cattle. [44890]
Mr. Rooker:
It is too early for an assessment to be made. The research currently underway at Leeds University to investigate the feasibility of using cattle urine to diagnose pre clinical BSE is in its early stages.
10 Jun 1998 : Column: 601
An independent advisory panel set up by the Medical Research Council is overseeing the work and will be meeting in early July to consider preliminary findings.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |