You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Hansard > Commons Debates > Commons Debates by date > Commons Debates - previous sessions > Bound Volume Hansard - Written Answers
Previous Section Index Home Page

10 Jul 2003 : Column 921W—continued

Recycling

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent

10 Jul 2003 : Column 922W

assessment she has made of the number of local authorities that are meeting their targets for recycling; and if she will make a statement. [119700]

Mr. Morley: Local authority Statutory Performance Standards ('targets') for recycling and composting of household waste have been set for the years 2003–04 and 2005–06. Local authorities will submit performance data, against which the 2003–04 targets will be measured, to the Audit Commission in summer 2004 and audited performance figures will be available towards the end of 2004.

Targets for individual authorities are published on Defra's website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/management/guidance/mwms/10.htm.

The most recent data on progress towards achieving targets are for 2001–02. Local authority figures are available through the Best Value Performance Indicator website at www.bvpi.gov.uk . These data show a wide range in performance with some authorities already achieving their individual targets and others, generally with the larger percentage increases, still with some way to go. Data for future years are more likely to show the impact of action being taken to achieve targets which were only set in 2001.

The Audit Commission will make audited performance figures for the year 2002–03 available later this year.

Scallop Fishing

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has (a) received from and (b) made to the Scottish Executive concerning bans on scallop fishing in Scotland since the establishment of the Food Standards Agency, broken down by (i) subject matter of representation, (ii) date and (iii) responsible minister. [122513]

Mr. Bradshaw: I am not aware that any such representations have been received or made. Responsibilities for this matter lie with the Scottish Executive and the Food Standards Agency Scotland.

Sharks

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with EU Ministers about the killing of sharks; what proposals there are to change EU policy; and if she will make a statement. [124033]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 7 July 2003]: A regulation restricting the practice of shark finning has been adopted at a recent Council of Ministers meeting. We were able to get the text of the measure before the council strengthened to include additional control clauses and a commitment to a complete review of the regulation.

We have also been pressing the European Commission to bring forward action to fulfil the EU's commitment to implement the UN Food and Agriculture Organisations 1999 International Plan of Action for the conservation and management of sharks; I am pleased to report that work will begin shortly on the development and implementation of a Community

10 Jul 2003 : Column 923W

Plan of Action. This work will also contribute to the review of the shark finning regulation. I will be working for agreement on a comprehensive management plan which will provide effective protection for sharks.

Soil Improver

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with officers from the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority regarding their soil improver product; and what assessment she has made of whether the soil improver product will meet the requirements of the Animal By-products Order. [116025]

Mr. Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 25 March 2002, Official Report, column 712W. No further discussions have taken place. The Animal By-Products Regulations 2003 came into force on 1 July, and will permit the treatment of catering waste and low-risk animal by-products in composting/biogas premises. No assessment of such premises or their products could be made before 1 July, as the process was not legal before that date.

Waste Management

Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made in examining whether there is a link between gas emissions from landfill and hazardous waste sites and birth defects. [122786]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 1 July 2003]: Following a 1998 European study (the first EUROHAZCON study—Dolk, H et al; www.lshtm.ac/eeu/research.hmtl) that reported a higher rate of non-chromosomal anomalies among people living near hazardous waste sites, the Government commissioned a programme of work on health effects of landfill sites including a much more extensive national study by the Small Area Health Statistics Unit (Elliott, P et al; www.imperial.ac.uk/p396.htm). This was published in the summer of 2001.

The SAHSU study looked at the rates of all birth defects (chromosomal and non-chromosomal) and found only a slightly higher rate (1 per cent.) in populations living near landfill sites and a 7 per cent. higher rate near hazardous waste sites. The Government's expert advisory committee, the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, noted that this excess risk was small and could be accounted for by factors other than the landfill sites. The study has not shown, or, indeed, could show, a causal link between landfill sites and birth defects.

However, the Government recognised that, in the light of the findings of these various studies, more research was needed on the health impacts of landfill sites. As a result, Defra, the Environment Agency and the Department of Health have a considerable amount of research either planned or already under way. Among the projects planned is one related specifically to emissions from hazardous waste sites.

Also, the Government have commissioned a review of the environmental and health effects of all waste disposal, and management options. They aim to report on the findings of this review later in the year. The review will

10 Jul 2003 : Column 924W

provide a rational side-by-side comparison of the impacts of different waste management options, which will inform Government policy, and assist local authorities and other relevant bodies in making waste management decisions.

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Municipal Waste Management Statistics 2001–02 will be published. [123816]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 2 July 2003]: Summary results for the Municipal Waste Management Survey 2001–02 were published on 22 May 2003. The information can be found at the Defra website at http://www. defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/wastats/bulletin/index.htm.

The bulletin with more detailed results is due to be published in August 2003, and will be placed in the Library of the House.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government has taken to improve waste management. [124201]

Mr. Morley: The Government have done a great deal to improve waste management. "Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales" 1 was published in May 2000. It describes the government's vision for managing waste and resources better, and sets out the changes needed to deliver more sustainable development.

Progress against the targets set out in the Waste Strategy can be found in this year's Departmental Report 2 . Most recently, the Government have published its response 3 to the Strategy Unit report on waste, this sets out a package of strategic measures that will help to boost the minimisation, re-use and recycling of municipal waste, and move waste management up the waste hierarchy.




Water Abstraction

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Environment Agency in respect of water abstraction guidance. [124195]

Mr. Morley: Since the introduction of the Water Bill to Parliament, the Department has discussed with the Environment Agency guidance on time limited licences, including presumption of renewal. We expect this guidance to be revised in light of any changes to the proposals during the course of the Water Bill.

Waterways

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy

10 Jul 2003 : Column 925W

is on the potential conflict of interest between British Waterways' responsibilities as a regulator and its role as a waterways business operator. [122774]

Margaret Beckett: It is clearly an advantage to have synergy within British Waterways in respect of navigation work and its work as an operator and on the field of regeneration. I am aware of the need to deal clearly with any potential conflicts of interest between British Waterways' statutory functions as a navigation authority and its role as a business operator. I am therefore pleased that British Waterways plans shortly to consult on its proposals to improve its wider accountability and consultation processes.

Next Section Index Home Page