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SSSIs
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many sites of special scientific interest there are in the Buckingham constituency. [14205]
Mr. Meacher: There are 17 SSSIs wholly within the constituency and four partly within it.
The SSSIs wholly within the constituency are:
- Foxcote Reservoir
Tingewick Meadows
Pilch fields
Sheephouse Wood
Finemere Wood
Grendon and Doddershall Woods
Ham Home-cum-Ham Green Woods
Long Herdon Meadow
Rushbeds Woods and Railway cutting
Bugle Quarry
Stone
Warren Farm, Stewkley
Pokers Pond Meadow
Muswell Hill
Pitstone Hill
Pitstone Quarry
Ivinghoe Hills.
- Ashridge Common and Woods
Shabbington Woods complex
Whitecross Green and Oriel Woods
Kings and Bakers Woods and Heaths.
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Mr. Meacher: There are 14 SSSIs within the constituency. These are:
- Bolter End Sand Pit
Fayland Chalk Bank
Frieth Meadows
Gomm Valley
Hollowhill and Pullingshill Woods
Homefield Wood
Millfield Wood
Naphill Common
Moorend Common
Rodbed Wood
Swain's Wood
Temple Island Meadows
Widdenton Park Wood
Wormsley Chalk Bank.
Water Supplies (Chemical or Biological Attacks)
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the water companies and the MoD about the protection of water supplies from chemical and biological attack. [13977]
Mr. Meacher: Discussions take place regularly with relevant interested parties on matters relating to emergency planning in the water industry. The content of these discussions is not made public for security reasons.
Chemicals
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set targets to reduce the release of (a) cancer-causing chemicals and (b) other harmful chemicals. [14527]
Mr. Meacher: The Government set a range of targets in their Chemicals Strategy published in 1999, "Sustainable Production and Use of Chemicals—a strategic approach". Our key priority is to make progress in generating information about chemicals in widespread use and identifying those of most concern so that action can be taken. A Stakeholder Forum was established to implement the strategy and it met its first target by publishing a set of criteria for identifying chemicals of most concern in December 2000. The forum is now working to identify chemicals that meet these criteria.
The Stakeholder Forum is developing indicators of environmental exposure to hazardous chemicals, including those that are carcinogenic. This research will be used to set more specific targets for reducing overall exposure of the environment. I expect the development of the indicators to be completed by July 2002.
In the meantime, an international programme has been agreed to assess the hazards of chemicals that are produced in high volumes. A target has been set to complete 1,000 hazard assessments by 2004. These assessments will provide the information needed to decide whether a chemical is likely to be of concern. The Government will keep the programme under review. Industry and the Stakeholder Forum will review all of the chemicals that meet the criteria for concern. Risk management strategies on chemicals likely to cause serious damage will be produced by 2010 to ensure their
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withdrawal from use. By 2015, the international chemicals industry aims to have completed hazard assessments for the 4,100 high production volume chemicals. The UK strategy aims to have at least sufficient data to characterise hazards of all commercially produced chemicals.
The emphasis of the strategy is voluntary action, and full transparency in decision making. This will be a faster route to phasing out chemicals of most concern than the legislation, although I will resort to that if we fail to secure co-operation.
In parallel with the UK strategy, the European Commission is developing legislation to implement its White Paper on a future chemicals policy. The Government are playing an active role to shape the proposals to ensure that an effective mechanism is put in place to ensure rapid progress in phasing out the uses of chemicals of most concern.
Foot and Mouth
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if Ministers will give evidence in person to Professor Anderson's inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreak; [14113]
- (2) what powers Professor Anderson has to summon (a) officials and (b) Ministers to give evidence to his inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreak. [14114]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 12 November 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr. Paterson) on 7 November 2001, Official Report, column 300W.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local areas are conducting their own inquiries into the recent foot and mouth disease breakdown; and what response her Department is making to them. [8543]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 18 October 2001]: We are aware that a number of local studies or inquiries are planned or are taking place. DEFRA is prepared to assist these by providing general information on the epidemic and answers to written questions on focused areas of particular concern to the local authorities. However, such assistance must be limited by the need to ensure that staff are not diverted from the prime task of eradicating the disease and preventing its return. DEFRA will not therefore be able to meet requests for wide ranging information and views, nor will staff be available to answer oral questions.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what help is available to farmers who lost stock owing to the recent foot and mouth outbreak. [8533]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 18 October 2001]: Farmers who have lost stock as a result of foot and mouth disease are eligible for compensation for the value of animals destroyed, and for other items seized and destroyed such as fodder and hay.
A further range of measures to help these farmers, amounting to £15.4 million, have also been announced. These are: £10.4 million for an enhanced Farm Business Advice Service (FBAS) offering up to five days of free
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business advice for farmers whose livestock have been slaughtered under the foot and mouth control measures; £2 million in grant aid made available under a new round of the Agricultural Development Scheme, to improve marketing performance and competitiveness of sectors affected by foot and mouth; and £3 million for a targeted trade development and market campaign, made available through Food from Britain which will co-ordinate their campaign with the Countryside Agency, Meat and Livestock Commission and others with an active interest.
The FBAS is a free and confidential service which offers up to five days advisory time to be provided by an experienced farm business adviser and is available to any farmer in England who has had stock compulsorily slaughtered as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak. It will be available until March 2003. We have sent a letter to all farmers in this category.
An adviser will review the farmer's business and arrange for an environmental evaluation to be conducted by an appropriate specialist. The adviser will then help them prepare a whole farm recovery plan which will help farmers to develop new income opportunities and access the range of other support measures available to them. Advice is also provided on re-stocking.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the guidelines on access to holdings which lost stock owing to the recent foot and mouth outbreak, with specific reference to those tasked to advise farmers on future opportunities. [8534]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 18 November 2001]: The guidelines drawn up by DEFRA, which are also used by the Farm Business Advice Service, are currently being further revised. Until now, other Government agencies have drawn up and disseminated their own guidelines for use by their staff in consultation with DEFRA. However, it is expected that when the new guidelines are issued, all Government personnel will adhere to them when visiting any agricultural premise. The revised guidelines will be placed on the DEFRA website.
Refrigerators
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what emergency measures she is considering for the disposal of refrigerators after 1 January 2002. [14411]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 14 November 2001]: Although the UK does not currently have facilities capable of extracting ozone depleting substances, including CFCs, from insulation foam, it is anticipated that some plant may come on-line as early as spring 2002. The Department is finalising measures to manage waste refrigeration equipment in the interim. Advice on storage of waste refrigeration equipment will be issued shortly. We are currently considering funding options for local authorities.
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she is expecting to announce details of financial assistance to local councils for the disposal of refrigerators after 1 January 2002. [14410]
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Mr. Meacher [holding answer 14 November 2001]: Shortly.
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