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Wild Animal Imports

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what provisions are in place to prevent the import of animals subject to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 to Great Britain via Northern Ireland; [69284]

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(2) what measures are in place to prevent exotic animals being obtained from British zoos for sale outside the United Kingdom as pets; [69286]

(3) what (a) measures are in place and (b) steps he is taking to prevent the importation of wild animals as pets. [69287]

Mr. Meale: The movement of animals between Great Britain and Northern Ireland or by zoos is not restricted, although the trade in species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is strictly regulated. Those species most endangered by trade, such as tigers, elephants, chimps, etc., are subject to sale control and the owner of any CITES specimen must be able to show that it was imported or acquired lawfully. There are no plans to prevent the importation of wild animals as pets, although the import of some species has been prohibited on conservation grounds. The sustainability of the current trade is kept under continuous review.

Genetically Modified Crops

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the genetically modified trial crops currently being grown in Devon, indicating in each instance (a) the specific location, (b) the crop involved, (c) the reason for the crop being grown and (d) which company is growing them. [69338]

Mr. Meacher: There are no genetically modified crops currently being grown in Devon.

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Stinchcombe), of 25 January 1999, Official Report, column 40, concerning GMOs, if he will list the research studies which have indicated potential interference with ecological systems for genetically modified crops, indicating in each case (a) the date of the study, (b) the crop concerned, (c) the potential interference identified and (d) the degree of permanence in respect of potential interference. [69336]

Mr. Meacher: I am not aware of any research studies with genetically modified crops that have shown any more damaging interference with ecological systems than would be expected from the non GM crop in similar circumstances.

My previous answer referred to research studies which indicate the potential to interfere with ecosystems if the results were to be translated to the wider environment. For example, the laboratory based study by Hilbeck et al., (1998) Environmental Entomology 27 p480-487 which showed increased mortality of immature lacewing insects fed on moth caterpillars that had in turn fed on genetically modified maize expressing insecticidal Bt toxin. There is no evidence that this non-target effect on lacewings can be detected in the field when the GM maize is grown, but there may be potential for interference and the Advisory

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Committee on Releases to the Environment have advised due vigilance. Similarly, the report by Bergelson et al., (1998) Nature 395 p25 indicates that GM Arabidopsis thaliana, a model plant used by scientists, might hybridise with neighbouring plants at a higher frequency than non GM Arabidopsis. If this were generally true for GM crops, and there is no evidence that it is, then hybridisation with wild relatives may be more prevalent than expected.

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Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many test sites involving genetically modified crops were found to be breaking regulations in 1997; and if he will list in each case the (a) location, (b) crop type, (c) company involved and (d) infringement. [69279]

Mr. Meacher: Further to my answer on 17 December 1998, Official Report, column 630, in the opinion of the HSE inspector there were three such instances in 1997.

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Location	Crop	Consent holder	Alleged infringement
Holton-le-Moor, Lincolnshire	Oilseed rape	Nickersons Biochem	Isolation distance of 400m not maintained, as GM oilseed rape trial planted close to non GM oilseed rape
Invergowrie, Dundee (at two sites)	Potatoes	Scottish Crop Research Institute	Field beans grown instead of barley as the follow-on crop after the trial of GM potatoes

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Park and Ride (Millennium Dome)

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many vehicles per day are expected to use the satellite park and ride sites at (a) Luton, (b) St. Albans and (c) Walton- on-Thames for access to the Millennium Dome; and how many park and ride buses are expected to carry visitors from each of the sites to the Dome each day; [69339]

(2) if Woolwich football ground is to be used for a park and ride site for the Millennium Dome. [69340]

Ms Glenda Jackson: None of the quoted sites is included on a short-list of six formal park and ride sites recently compiled by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC). A car park at Woolwich Arsenal, but not the football ground, is included in NMEC's short-list.

The NMEC is planning to control park and ride sites in each quadrant within the M25 into which Millennium Experience visitors will be able to book their cars before completing their journey to the Dome on convenient public transport or shuttle bus links. It is estimated that 4,000 spaces will be required on a peak day at the Dome.

West Coast Main Line

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much of the money allocated by Railtrack for the West Coast Main Line is classified by his Department as relating to (a) repair and maintenance and (b) upgrading. [69278]

Ms Glenda Jackson: Railtrack has confirmed that money allocated for the West Coast Main Line stands at:

(a) £1.34 billion for repair and maintenance;

(b) £0.8 billion for upgrading.

Primate Imports (Research)

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of each species of primate was imported from which countries to the United Kingdom for research purposes during 1998. [69280]

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Mr. Meale: The number and species of primates imported in 1998 for research purposes were as follows:

Species	Common name	Country of Origin	Number
Macaca fascicularis	Crab-eating macaque	Mauritius	1,972
		Philippines	144
		Israel	80
Macaca Mulatta	Rhesus macaque	China	160
Saimiri bolivensis	Squirrel monkey	USA	6
Total			2,362

Ecological Tax Reform

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what input he had into the position of Her Majesty's Government at the ECOFIN meeting on 26 January in respect of the discussion on ecological tax reform. [69248]

Mr. Meale: The meeting held on 26 January was a technical working group discussion on the draft Directive on Taxation of Energy Products. Treasury officials lead for the UK at this group, but their approach is agreed across departments.

Railtrack

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the breakdown of the moneys spent by Railtrack by classification into (a) moneys spent on repairs and renewal of existing infrastructure and (b) investment into infrastructure enhancements. [69247]

Ms Glenda Jackson: None. Railtrack is responsible for the repair, renewal and enhancement of the network and sets out its future investment plans in its annual Network Management Statement (NMS). The current NMS gives details of the forecast expenditure on maintenance and renewals and also gives details of forecast expenditure on enhancements. The form of the NMS has to be approved by the Rail Regulator who monitors Railtrack's investment and has powers to take appropriate action to

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ensure that the network is maintained, renewed and developed in a way which meets the reasonable requirements of the railway industry.

UPVC Window and Door Units

Mr. Corbett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the latest guidance issued to local authorities on the use of UPVC window and door units. [69181]

Mr. Meale: There are no restrictions on the use of UPVC windows and doors in the UK and we have not issued specific guidance to local authorities on its use.

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