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Forestry Commission Disposals

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many disposals of land (a) under 100 acres and (b) over 100 acres have been completed by the Forestry Commission in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and (iii) Wales. [101739]

Mr. Morley: The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by Forest Enterprise. I asked its Chief Executive, Dr. Bob McIntosh, to arrange a written response.

Letter from Bob McIntosh to Mr. Peter Duncan, dated March 2003:

I refer to your question asking the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for details of sales of Forestry Commission land.

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I set out below details of the number of cases of forestry land sold this financial year.

(40 hectares)

Country	Under 100 acres	Over 100 acres
Scotland	15	5
England	6	1
Wales	1	1

I hope that you will find this helpful.

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her policy towards Forestry Commission disposals of land to (a) community purchase and (b) smallholding farmers. [101742]

Mr. Morley: The Forestry Commission operates a sponsorship scheme by which bodies with environmental responsibilities or interests and local communities may be given a preferential opportunity to acquire surplus property which has been identified for sale and which has either a recreational, conservation or amenity interest or is of interest to a local community for their social and economic development.

Communities may purchase such surplus on condition that they gain sponsorship from the relevant Government Department or Agency. The sponsorship is, in effect, a statement from the Department or Agency certifying that a sale direct to the community would be more in the public interest than selling the land on the open market. The District Valuer determines the sale price.

There is no specific policy in respect of sales of land to Smallholding Farmers. However, the Commission usually sells surplus agricultural land on the open market. Where the land is tenanted, the farmer would be given a prior opportunity to purchase.

GM Crops

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultations with Government the Food Standards Agency undertook before embarking on the GM public debate. [100864]

Mr. Meacher: The Food Standards Agency announced its plans to involve consumers in debating issues related to GM food last July and has kept both Government and the Public Debate Steering Board fully informed of progress since then.

Dairy Products (Imports)

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list dairy products which if brought into the UK by international travellers are considered to be a health risk by the "Don't Bring Back More Than You Bargained For" campaign; and what risks are associated with each. [101268]

Mr. Morley: Passengers entering the United Kingdom from third countries are prohibited by EU and domestic law from bringing in for their personal consumption, milk and milk products.

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These prohibited products include, milk, cheese, butter, yoghurt, ghee, and milk powder.

In terms of animal health, exotic viral diseases that can be transmitted in milk include Foot and Mouth Disease, Rinderpest and Peste des Petits Ruminants. Heat treatment or other processing could destroy some or all of the virus present in the product but there remains the possibility of recontamination after production.

In terms of human health, there is no definitive list of dairy products that may be considered to be a health risk. All food products that are not subject to stringent health and hygiene controls may be contaminated with bacteria or undesirable chemicals. The Food Standards Agency has responsibility for human food safety matters.

Uncontrolled animal products (including dairy products) pose an increased risk to human and animal health in general terms primarily due to their perishable nature and association as vectors of both animal disease and human pathogens.

Light Pollution

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department is taking to curb light pollution; and if she will make a statement. [101186]

Alun Michael: We included nuisance lighting options in our "Living Places—Powers, Rights, Responsibilities" consultation paper. That consultation exercise closed on 14 February. We are in the process of analysing the responses received in order to decide how to proceed.

Poultry Meat Imports (Brazil)

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has made representations concerning the non-compliance of Brazil with EU residue testing and veterinary certification requirements. [101571]

Mr. Morley: Following the detection of nitrofurans in poultry meat imported from Brazil, the EU has introduced legislation requiring all consignments of poultry meat from Brazil to be tested to ensure that the products concerned do not present a hazard to human health. No poultry meat from Brazil is permitted to enter the community unless the results of these checks are favourable. Any poultry meat that tests positive for nitrofurans or their metabolites will be destroyed.

The UK has implemented the provisions of this decision. The European Commission is engaged in discussions with the Brazilian authorities and my Department is monitoring the situation.

All meat imported into the UK from third countries must enter at designated UK Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) where it is subject to veterinary inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 20 per cent. of consignments undergo physical checks. These ensure import conditions are met and that the products remain in a satisfactory condition during transport.

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If during the documentary check, a problem is found with the accompanying veterinary certification, appropriate action will be taken.

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received concerning the import into the UK of whole turkeys from Brazil at below production cost. [101573]

Mr. Morley: My colleagues and I, and the Department, have received two letters on this subject, and the broader question of imports of poultry meat from third countries has been discussed with several stakeholders in recent weeks.

Noise Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the EU Directive relating to noise emissions from outdoor equipment. [102475]

Mr. Wilson : I have been asked to reply.

The EC noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors Directive was adopted by the European Parliament and Council on 3 July 2000 as Directive 2000/14/EC. Its purpose is to harmonise national laws of member states regarding noise emission limits and labelling requirements at the manufacturing stage.

The Directive was implemented into UK law by The Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/1701) made under the European Communities Act 1972.

The Directive and implementing UK Regulations apply to 57 types of equipment for use outdoors ranging from construction machinery to lawnmowers that require noise emission measurements to be taken and to fix labels showing the "guaranteed" noise levels of each machine. In addition the Directive and implementing UK Regulations set noise limits for 22 of the 57 types of equipment that are intended to be first placed on the market or taken into service as an entire unit.

Equipment is subject to conformity assessment, as with other European Directives of this type. Certain types of equipment, is subject to third party assessment by a Notified Body. In the UK these organisations are appointed by the Secretary of State, according to certain minimum criteria laid down in the Directive and Regulations, following an assessment by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. A manufacturer or his authorised representative established in the Community may use the services of Notified Bodies in any of the other member states.

Once conformity assessment has been completed and provided that the equipment subsequently complies with the provisions of the Directive and any other applicable Regulations, the manufacturer will be required to affix the CE marking together with the indication of the guaranteed sound power level.

Enforcement of the UK Regulations is carried out by the Vehicle Certification Agency. The penalties for non-compliance range from the issuing of suspension notices to imprisonment or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the

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standard scale. It should be noted, however, that the VCA are seeking to work with manufacturers to help them comply properly, as well as taking enforcement action in justifiable cases.

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