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17 Dec 2002 : Column 688W—continued
Fluoridation
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to fluoridate water supplies in the UK; and what health risks have been identified with fluoridation. [86305]
Ms Blears: I have been asked to reply.
We consider that decisions to fluoridate a water supply should be taken locally. We are seeking to ensure that, where a local community wishes to consider this option, they have easily accessible and reliable information on the effects of fluoridation. The only risk that has been identified is that of dental fluorosis or flecking or mottling of the teeth which, where it is judged to be cosmetically unacceptable, can be treated by dental polishing or, in extreme cases, by veneers.
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultation has taken place with relevant groups regarding the fluoridation of water supplies in the UK; and if she will make a statement on her assessment of the impact of fluoridation on oral health. [86307]
Ms Blears: I have been asked to reply.
We funded research projects undertaken by the University of York in 1999–2000 and the Medical Research Council in 2001–02, aimed at strengthening the evidence base on fluoridation. Steering groups including consumers, people sceptical about the benefits of fluoridation, doctors, toxicologists and dentists contributed to these projects. The reports concluded that fluoridation achieves a 14.6 per cent. reduction in dental decay and that further research is needed to improve our understanding of this beneficial effect.
Illegal Food Imports
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what quantities of illegal imports of food were found in each of the last three years, broken down by port of entry. [86931]
Mr. Morley : A central database of illegal animal product seizures notified to Defra was set up in April 2001. The database holds details of seizures of illegal imports of products of animal origin, including foodstuffs.
17 Dec 2002 : Column 689W
Import Controls
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) airports and (b) seaports there are, broken down by region at which her Department has responsibility for import controls. [86576]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 11 December 2002]: Responsibility for setting policy on import controls at all airports and seaports for animals and plants and their products, and live fish from non-EU countries, lies with Defra and the devolved administrations.
As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in the House on 6 November, responsibility for anti-smuggling controls is to transfer to Her
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Majesty's Customs and Excise, as soon as is practicable. Currently the responsibilities for execution and enforcement of import controls are as set out below.
The State Veterinary Service, part of Defra, is responsible for executing checks and enforcement of the rules at border inspection posts (BIPs) through which only those products referred to in Annex I of Council Directive 92/118/EEC which are not intended for human consumption; or live animals are introduced into the UK. There are 16 BIPs approved for this purpose—five airports and six seaports in England, and two airports and three seaports in Scotland.
Each local authority is responsible for executing the import checks rules within its area for products of animal origin other than those products mentioned above. These are carried out at approved BIPs as set out below:
- England
18 ports
5 airports
Wales
1 port
Scotland
4 ports
1 airport
Northern Ireland
1 port
1 airport
Responsibility for checks to protect plant health of imported plants and plant produce lies with Defra's Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate at all airports and seaports in England and Wales.
Insecticides
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations prevent gardeners from manufacturing home-made insecticides for use in their own gardens; and if she will make a statement. [86487]
Mr. Morley: All pesticides used in this country, including those used in domestic gardens, must first be approved by Ministers. Approval is then only granted provided thorough scientific evaluation shows that they can be used safely.
I am, however, aware that there are some gardeners who like to use home garden remedies to protect their plants. The Department does not however condone the promotion of such use either by individuals, organisations or the media.
Landfill
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) number and (b) total size is of planned landfill sites in the United Kingdom; and when each is expected to begin operations, broken down by region. [85893]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 11 December 2002]: Waste Strategy 2000 recognises that landfill will still have a role to play in any sustainable waste management system, but that it will be a much smaller role.
Local authorities should take into account the landfill diversion targets required by the landfill directive to reduce the landfilling of biodegradable waste across the United Kingdom by around two-thirds in line with the
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timetable set out in the directive (i.e. by 2016, should the UK decide not to take advantage of the final four-year derogation) and the recycling and recovery targets set out in WS2000.
Information on the number of planned landfill sites is not available centrally.
Packaging Waste
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the viability of enforcing greater use of (a) biodegradable plastic bottles and (b) plastic bottles which can be crushed down once empty. [86022]
Mr. Meacher: Substitutes for plastic made from potato starch have been developed and are being used for some types of packaging by some retailers. Such material is entirely biodegradable and can be composted.
A number of companies are marketing degradable plastics technology and products manufactured from these materials. These new materials are based on modified plastics manufactured from mineral oil and still have to be sent for recycling after use. We do strongly support the development of biodegradable plastics made from non-fossil sources, providing these will actually be composted and not sent to landfill.
Plastic bottles which can be crushed down once empty are useful, particularly in terms of saving space in household bins. We are looking at ways to encourage this.
Ministerial Speeches
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what speeches (a) she and (b) Departmental ministerial colleagues have made since 23rd July to external organisations, stating in each case whether the speech is publicly available; and if she will place in the Library copies of those speeches not hitherto publicly available. [82852]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 27 November 2002]: All Defra Ministers make a number of speeches every week and so it would only be at disproportionate cost that a fully comprehensive list could be assembled. However a list has previously been placed in the library of the House which shows the principal keynote speeches made by DEFRA Ministers from 7 June 2001 to 1 June 2002. Some of these are available on the DEFRA website (as are other, more minor speeches) and, where possible, the others are available upon request although generally not in an 'as delivered' format.
17 Dec 2002 : Column 692W
| Date | Speech |
|---|---|
| 17 September 2002 | UCL Conference |
| 19 September 2002 | Water UK |
| 25 September 2002 | Defra Conference |
| 26 September 2002 | ENVEC (recorded) |
| 10 October 2002 | European Environment Bureau |
| 14 October 2002 | Soil Association Conference |
| 18 October 2002 | Nuclear Free Local Authorities Conference |
| 4 November 2002 | RIIA Seminar |
| 5 November 2002 | LARAC Conference |
| 6 November 2002 | DEMOS Seminar |
| 14 November 2002 | Defra Conference |
| 15 November 2002 | Country Land and Business Association Conference |
| 20 November 2002 | Magistrates Association Conference |
| Date | Speech |
|---|---|
| 2 September 2002 | Wildlife Trust Conference |
| 18 September 2002 | Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers Dairy Show |
| 19 September 2002 | Timber Trade Federation Annual Conference |
| 11 October 2002 | Open Wash Banks Flood Alleviation |
| 16 October 2002 | Economist Water Conference |
| 17 October 2002 | Launch of CAWC Report |
| 24 October 2002 | Cold Water Prawn Forum |
| 28 October 2002 | National Flood Forum |
| 4 November 2002 | Abbots Hall Farm |
| 6 November 2002 | Launch of Pets for North America |
| Date | Speech |
|---|---|
| 31 July 2002 | Sheep 2002 |
| 2 September 2002 | Dorset Chamber of Commerce |
| 12 September 2002 | Learning to last Conference by Learning Skills and Development Agency |
| 19 September 2002 | Congress of European Agriculture |
| 21 October 2002 | TGWU Food and Agriculture Conference |
| 25 October 2002 | Food From Britain Reception |
| 29 October 2002 | Association of Parliamentary Food and Health Forum Conference |
| 30 October 2002 | David Black Awards |
| 31 October 2002 | Women's Food and Farming Union |
| 31 October 2002 | Meat and Livestock Commission Catering Sector Conference |
| 12 November 2002 | National Food Assurance Conference |
17 Dec 2002 : Column 693W
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