| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Transport (Rural Areas)
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has assessed the level of dependence of people living in rural areas on the use of (a) the car and (b) public transport. [99900]
Mr. Hill: The National Travel Survey is used to assess the travel patterns of people living in rural areas. In 1996-98, 69 per cent. of journeys by people living in rural areas were by car, and 4 per cent. by public transport. Bus is the most widely used public transport alternative to the car, 59 per cent. of rural households lived within 13 minutes walk of a bus service with a frequency of at least once an hour.
GM Crops
Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the research data he has received to date on the horizontal spread of marker genes and other transgenic DNA via pollen and dust; and what assessment he has made of this research. [100166]
Mr. Mullin: There are various reports of research into the possibility of horizontal gene transfer from genetically modified (GM) plants. These are publicly available in the scientific literature. The predominant scientific view is that, although a theoretical possibility, any horizontal transfer of transgenes from GM plants in the field would be an exceedingly rare event, and its success will depend greatly on the selective pressure acting on the outcome.
The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) considers horizontal gene transfer in the environmental risk assessment that is conducted before any GM plants can be released. ACRE does not limit itself to considering horizontal gene transfer only from pollen and dust. ACRE concentrates on the likely consequences of such transfers, not on whether or not it could happen. If horizontal gene transfer from a particular GM plant is judged to be harmful to the environment, then the release would not be allowed.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is on using his powers, following the farm-scale evaluations, to revoke consents (a) deliberately to release or (b) to market GM crops. [100002]
Mr. Mullin:
If the farm-scale evaluations provide evidence that there is an adverse effect on human health or the environment as a result of the management of the herbicide tolerant GM crops, then the Government will act upon this evidence, and, if necessary, use the full extent
1 Dec 1999 : Column: 198W
of the powers available to protect human health and the environment, including revoking consents where appropriate.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if consent holders will be able to seek direct commercial benefit from the cultivation of GM crops in field-scale and other plantings, other than the farm-scale evaluations. [99905]
Mr. Mullin:
The renewed agreement with industry on the conduct of the farm-scale evaluations announced on 5 November makes clear that none of the produce from GM crop plantings in the UK will be used in a way which is of direct commercial benefit to the consent holders during the farm-scale evaluation period. Any proposals for field-scale plantings other than those for the farm-scale evaluations must be agreed by the independent Scientific Steering Committee, in the light of their relevance to biodiversity research. Smaller than field-scale plantings, including those necessary for statutory UK and EU requirements, are not covered by the agreement.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if commercial benefits may accrue to any affiliated or associated companies of consent holders in relation to commercial growing of GM crops; [99918]
(3) if he will list the commercial benefits to which the voluntary agreement announced on 5 November on the commercial growing of GM crops does not apply; [99917]
(4) which persons will be entitled to seek commercial benefit from the growing of GM crops before 2003. [99919]
Mr. Mullin:
The renewed agreement with industry announced on 5 November covers the conduct of the farm-scale evaluations for the next three years, through until the Scientific Steering Committee's review and recommendations following collection of data from the 2002 crop plantings. The agreement states that no direct commercial benefit will be sought from the plantings or obtained from use of the crops during the farm-scale evaluation period. This is to protect the integrity of the farm-scale evaluations as wholly concerned with biodiversity research. Subsequent use of produce is not covered by the agreement.
Examples of indirect commercial benefits that might accrue to the consent holders from the farm-scale evaluations could include results from the farm-scale evaluations that aided consent holders' other research work, or a change in share price if a crop was perceived to be proceeding satisfactorily through the evaluation process.
In the Government's view, the renewed agreement with industry does extend to affiliated or associated companies of consent holders. Our understanding is that the farmers growing the crops in the farm-scale evaluations are likely to be compensated by the consent holders; that would be a matter for them. If consents allow, farmers may be able to use produce on-farm as animal feed.
1 Dec 1999 : Column: 199W
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate how many additional council houses have been built as a result of his decision to release for use by local authorities, part of the capital receipts from previous council house sales. [100021]
Mr. Mullin:
The available information relates to new build or purchase of existing dwellings by local authorities. Information provided by authorities on their plans for the use of Capital Receipts Initiative resources for 1997-98 and 1998-99 indicated that around 100 council houses would be built or purchased over the two years. Most of the resources have been used to carry out improvement and renovation work on existing local authority stock.
Mr. Banks:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to (a) oppose any change to the status of elephants at the next Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species which would allow any further international trade in elephant ivory and hides and (b) to consult with EU partners with a view to adopting a common EU position along such lines; if he will inform Parliament of the result of such consultations with EU partners in advance of the conference; and if he will make a statement. [100298]
Mr. Mullin:
The 1997 Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) agreed an experimental one-off transhipment of ivory to Japan from Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. This took place in July 1999, under stringent safeguards agreed by the Conference and CITES Standing Committee. Proceeds from the sales are being directed back into elephant conservation and community programmes. There can be no further trade in ivory unless the next CITES Conference, to be held in Nairobi in April 2000, agrees a specific proposal to permit this.
A key element of the 1997 decision was the setting up of new pan-African and Asian systems to Monitor Illegal Killing of Elephants (known as MIKE), together with an Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS). The MIKE system in particular is new and has not yet progressed to the state where Parties can expect it to produce reliable data in time for the CITES Conference next April.
The UK is Chair of the CITES Standing Committee and we were closely involved in devising and implementing the safeguards under which the 1997 experiment is being carried out. We regret that several Parties have submitted proposals to the next Conference without waiting for the full effects of the experiment to be monitored by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the UNEP CITES Secretariat. The Government believe that any change to the status of elephants at the next CITES Conference would be premature at present. We have made this known to the European Commission and our European partners. A meeting of the EC CITES Committee has been brought forward to 14 January 2000 at the request of the UK and we will seek a common EU position as soon as possible after that meeting takes place. I will inform Parliament of the outcome.
1 Dec 1999 : Column: 200W
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what checks are made before a railway carriage that has been involved in an accident is put back into service; [100223]
(3) what percentage of railway carriages currently in service have previously been in an accident. [100225]
Mr. Hill:
This information is not available as it is not reportable to the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate.
Repairs and maintenance of rolling stock following an accident is a matter for the vehicle owner.
(2) if consent holders will be entitled to seek direct commercial benefit after the farm-scale evaluation period in respect of the cultivation of and the produce from GM crops during the evaluation period; [99906]
(2) what percentage of railway carriages previously involved in accidents were put back into service in each of the last five years; [100224]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |