| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
World Bank Projects
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the World bank projects involving (a) the construction of dams and (b) population resettlement, which have been given category "B" status. [87119]
Clare Short:
The World bank informs us that according to the information in its database, there are 95 projects currently under implementation which are listed as having significant dam components. Of these, 41 are listed as Environmental Assessment category "B" projects. According to the report "Inventory of Projects with Involuntary Resettlement" dated 14 June 1999, the bank has 234 projects with resettlement which are currently under implementation. Of these, 122 projects are classified as category "B" projects.
17 Jun 1999 : Column: 199
Genetically Modified Crops
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if another member state of the European Union were to license the commercial planting of genetically modified crops by a company there would be any bar to that company proceeding with commercial planting in the United Kingdom. [86135]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 8 June 1999]: Commercial growing of a genetically modified crop can be approved only at community level, not by an individual member state. The relevant legislation is Council Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Under Part C of this Directive, applications for consent for placing on the market products containing or consisting of GMOs must be considered and cleared by all member states at the Community level. Once a GM crop has Part C (marketing) consent under the Directive, it applies across all member states, including, of course, the United Kingdom.
However, before any new variety of a crop, including GM varieties, can be grown commercially, it also has to have passed the necessary tests and be placed either on the UK national list of seeds or the EU common catalogue. If the crop is herbicide tolerant, the use of that herbicide on the GM crop may also require specific approval under the pesticides legislation.
Specific conditions may be attached to consents issued under the Directive, for example to limit the geographical area in which the GM crop is grown or used. But in absence of any such restrictions and subject to the other necessary approvals for any crop being in place, there is no bar to commercial planting in the UK.
A safeguard clause, Article 16, in the Directive allows a member state provisionally to restrict or prohibit the use and/or sale on its territory of a GMO that has been given consent if there are justifiable reasons to consider that the product constitutes a risk to human health or the environment. In such circumstances a decision on whether or not to uphold the consent is subsequently taken at Community level after consideration of the new evidence.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice he has obtained about the use of antibiotic marker genes in genetically modified plants which provide raw materials for the production of cosmetics and perfumes. [86316]
Mr. Meacher:
All releases of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are governed by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 as amended. Under the Regulations, the possible effects of using antibiotic marker genes in a GM plant on human health or the environment are considered as part of the approvals process. However, once any GM plant material had been processed for use in products such as cosmetics and perfumes, it would not come under the scope of these Regulations because it is no longer a living organism, i.e. not capable of replication or of transferring genetic material. The products would, however, be
17 Jun 1999 : Column: 200
assessed under the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996 to ensure that they are not harmful to human health.
The Government welcome the European Commission's plan to develop harmonised guidelines for GMO risk assessments for cosmetic products and will push in Europe for their adoption.
Mr. Davidson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 26 May 1999, Official Report, columns 170-71, when he expects to make a decision on the recommendation of the Health and Safety Commission to implement a ban on white asbestos; and when he expects the European Commission to ratify the vote of their Technical Committee to tighten the restrictions on the import of white asbestos; and if he will make a statement. [86651]
Mr. Meacher:
The Government are determined to apply further necessary restrictions to the importation, marketing and use of white asbestos. I have received advice from the Health and Safety Commission about those new restrictions in the form of draft regulations. I will act on that advice as soon as the European Commission has ratified the vote of their technical committee on 4 May to adapt to technical progress Council Directive 76/769/EEC. Under European law, it would be illegal for new domestic restrictions to be introduced before this has happened. I am hopeful that the European Commission will ratify the adaptation directive this month. The UK continues to encourage the European Commission to act swiftly on this vitally important measure.
Mr. O'Hara:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the research conducted by Age Concern and RADAR into the performance of local authorities in meeting their duties to provide adaptations for older and disabled people. [86918]
Mr. Raynsford:
I have read with interest the initial findings of the research undertaken by Age Concern and RADAR. We are currently consulting on "You and Your Services", a draft charter for long-term care, and would encourage Age Concern and RADAR in their response to consider how that charter could be used as a basis for setting targets for performance on housing adaptations. My Department is addressing other issues of local authority performance in this area in the work we are doing to develop the Best Value regime, and in our guidance to local authorities on the Housing Investment Programme. We will consider these issues further in the light of our consideration of the recent report by the Royal Commission on Long Term Care.
Mr. O'Hara:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to update the joint Department of Health and Department of the Environment Circular 10/90 (LAC (90)7) on house adaptations for people with disabilities. [86919]
17 Jun 1999 : Column: 201
Mr. Raynsford:
My Department has no plans to update the Circular. It was replaced in December 1996 by a new Circular, Department of the Environment Circular 17/96, which contained guidance on changes made by the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 to local housing authorities' responsibilities. The parts of Circular 17/96 which updated Circular 10/90 were written in consultation with the Department of Health, and that Circular was sent to all local authorities, including those responsible for the provision of social services.
Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with English Nature on the environmental impact of a right to roam in (a) national nature reserves, (b) Ramsar sites, (c) special protection areas under the EU Birds Directive, (d) special areas of conservation under the EU Habitats Directive, (e) sites of special scientific interest and (f) other environmentally sensitive areas. [86421]
Mr. Meacher
[holding answer 14 June 1999]: Before reaching our decision to legislate for a new statutory right of access to open countryside, we consulted a wide range of organisations, including English Nature. In addition to that, I have regular quarterly meetings with English Nature, where we have exchanged views on the Government's access proposals.
Access on foot is generally compatible with the conservation of wildlife. Indeed, many sites protected under national and international legislation are already open to public access. However, we recognise that restrictions on access may, in some cases, be necessary to protect particular wildlife interests. We shall, therefore, be looking to English Nature to provide advice on the need for closures and restrictions on conservation grounds.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's system of monitoring the rent levels of local authority (a) leased property and (b) allocated bed-and-breakfast accommodation. [86890]
Ms Armstrong
[holding answer 16 June 1999]: Our system of monitoring local authority rents does not cover these types of property, which would fall outside an authority's Housing Revenue Account.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |