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GM Crops

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what data has been collected from the field trials of genetically-modified crops in respect of (a) cross pollination with (i) non-GM crops and (ii) wild flora, (b) distance measurements of GM drift, (c) impact upon insect life within test and adjacent sites and (d) sub-spoil impact assessments; and in what form the data is available for scrutiny. [119112]

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Mr. Meacher: The information is as follows:

(i) My Department, through a research contract with the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, has been monitoring field trials of GM herbicide tolerant oil seed rape for cross pollination with neighbouring crops and wild relatives since 1995. Last year the two fields of spring sown rape grown as part of the farm scale evaluations were included in this study. Some of the results from earlier years have already been published in scientific journals and a full report will be published later this year.

(ii) GM pollen drift is being measured between both the GM and non-GM sides of the fields of rape and maize in the farm scale evaluations and fields of these crops growing within a 1000 metre radius of the GM crop. In addition since 1993 all the sites at which research trials of GM crops have been grown and their immediate environs have been checked in subsequent years for 'GM volunteers' Reports of this monitoring are available on the public register held in the Department.

(iii) and (iv) Data in respect of impact on insect life and the sub-soil are being collected during the farm scale evaluations. The data will be reviewed by the Scientific Steering Committee overseeing the evaluations and submitted for publication as soon as possible in peer reviewed scientific journals. The research consortium has already published two reports on progress with the evaluations and more will follow at six-monthly intervals.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish the first results, including interim data, from the farm-scale evaluations of GM crops under way in the UK. [120719]

Mr. Meacher [holding answer 3 May 2000]: The design of the farm scale evaluations requires data to be collected over a three-year period to give a big enough sample size to allow statistically valid conclusions to be drawn. The Scientific Steering Committee therefore takes the view that it is unlikely that sufficient data will be available for scientifically reliable results to be published until late 2002 for the spring sown crops and late 2003 for the autumn sown crops.

The Scientific Steering Committee and the research contractors have agreed that reports on progress with the evaluations should be prepared and published at six-monthly intervals. Two interim reports have already been agreed by the committee and published by the research consortium. A further report on progress with the evaluations will be published in late 2000. This will include analysis and assessment of the study protocols and the validity of data obtained this year.

The research consortium will also shortly be submitting for publication in a scientific journal information on the design of the evaluations including the statistical power to detect potential differences.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has (a) been, and (b) asked to be, informed of the locations in the United Kingdom where Advanta Seeds UK's conventional rapeseed sown in 1999 and 2000 contained genetically modified rapeseed; and if he will place copies of written information in his possession on such locations in the Library. [126172]

Mr. Meacher [holding answer 15 June 2000]: The presence of the GM seed was not discovered until this year and therefore no action has been taken to find out where it was sown in 1999.

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Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have written to all farmers who have sown the relevant Hyola varieties this year, to clarify the subsidy position and inform them that if they received seed from the specific batches that were affected, their crops must not be marketed in the EU.

Advanta have put in place their own arrangements to identify and compensate farmers and the Government's inspectors, the Central Science Laboratory (CSL), will audit these arrangements to ensure that none of the affected oil seed rape enters the food chain.

In light of these measures, and in light of the advice that the growing of these seeds does not pose a threat to human health or the environment, I have not been, or asked to be, informed of the exact locations where the affected Advanta seeds were sown.

Byker Heat Station, Newcastle

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library the annual approved discharge limit and the annual actual known discharge limit of dioxins from the Byker Heat Station, Newcastle for each year since 1985. [125139]

Mr. Hill [holding answer 12 June 2000]: The plant was not authorised under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 until March 1993 and annual returns were not required by the authorisation until March 1994.

The Annual Mass Emission Limit for dioxins has remained at 30g since that first authorisation. The actual reported discharges of dioxins against this limit were:

April 1993-March 1994: 0.147g

April 1994-March 1995: 0.1g

April 1995-March 1996: 0.117g

April 1996-March 1997: 0.131g

January 1997-December 1998: 0.0955g

January 1999-December 1999: 0.016g.

The Annual Mass Emission Limit appears higher than needed. However, in practice this limit is not used for day to day regulation of the authorised process by the Environment Agency. In line with current Agency guidance (S2 5.01 on Waste Incineration), the process is controlled and limited by reference to the concentration of dioxins released to the air. The authorisation sets an emission concentration of 1.0 ng/m ³ TEQ (Toxic Equivalent), which is a far tighter control parameter than is implied by the 30g mass limit. Tests on the plant in the years 1994 to 1999 have shown concentrations between 0.22 and 0.76 ng/m ³ .

The Environment Agency is considering the introduction of a 0.1 ng/m ³ limit which could be considered to be BATNEEC (Best Available Technique Not Entailing Excessive Cost) for existing incinerators, and could therefore be achieved under existing legislation. The Environment Agency also advise that they will in future authorisations for industrial plant reduce the limit in the authorisation to 0.1ng/m ³ , in line with the proposed EC Waste Incineration Directive and their current guidance on new plant.

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Admiralty Arch

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the fixtures and fittings ordered for his residence in Admiralty Arch since May 1997, with particular reference to carpets; and if he will estimate the cost of them; [129361]

(2) what refurbishment work (a) is under-way and (b) has been completed in the flat which he occupies in Admiralty Arch; and what is his estimate of the costs of such work since May 1997. [129360]

Ms Beverley Hughes: The flat occupied by the Deputy Prime Minister at Admiralty House was completely renovated and refurbished in 1997 and partly recarpeted this year. The total cost was £99,936 of which £11,139 + VAT was for carpets.

M11 Link Road

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the final cost of the M11 Link Road, separately identifying each consultant's fees relating to the M11 Link Road and indicating the purpose for which these were paid. [131687]

Mr. Hill: Responsibility for this scheme, together with the relevant papers, passed to Transport for London on 3 July.

This is a matter for Transport for London to decide on as the contracts and the consultant's duties are continuing. Until the final accounts for the main works contracts have been settled and the consultant's duties have been completed, it is not possible to give the final cost of fees. It would prejudice the ability to negotiate settlement of contracts if a detailed breakdown of estimated final cost is provided before the negotiations are complete. A detailed breakdown will be available when the final cost of the A12 Hackney to M11 Link Road is known.

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the basis was for calculating the £15 million estimate for local compensation in relation to the M11 Link Road. [131688]

Mr. Hill: The estimate was made by the Highways Agency's professional adviser using the best information on land and property values available at the time. Responsibility for this scheme, together with the relevant papers, passed to Transport for London on 3 July.

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures his Department has taken to ensure that there has not been unreasonable profit-taking in the last 12 months of contracts for the M11 Link Road; and if he will make a statement. [131689]

Mr. Hill: Under the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) Conditions of Contracts used on this scheme, the value of the works is determined by an independent engineer, not by the contractor. The Highways Agency's quantity Surveyor makes regular visits to the site offices to ensure the works are being valued in accordance with the contract. Responsibility for this scheme, together with the relevant papers passed to Transport for London on 3 July.

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