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Light Pollution

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to deal with light pollution, with particular reference to domestic security equipment not requiring planning permission. [128413]

Mr. Bradshaw: Defra considered the control of nuisance caused by security lighting in its recent consultation "Living Places—Powers, Rights, Responsibilities".

The paper sought opinions as to whether the Government should introduce new regulations for the positioning of external lighting (including domestic or security lighting, but excluding street lights); and whether the remit of the statutory nuisance regime should be extended to include such lighting. The consultation period closed on 14 February. A summary of the comments received to this consultation exercise has now been published. Most respondents felt that the statutory nuisance regime would be the most effective option, but issues were highlighted regarding the need to identify a feasible means of assessing external light for enforcement purpose. Copies of the summary report

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have been placed in both houses, and it is also available at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/consult/pubspace/index.htm.

The House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology recently held an inquiry into light pollution and astronomy. This focused on the effectiveness of measures taken to reduce the impact of light pollution on astronomy and considered what further steps, if any, are required. The outcome of the inquiry will be published in due course and will be made available on the House of Commons' website.

The Government will consider its future course of action taking into consideration any recommendations and conclusions emerging from the Select Committee's inquiry and from Defra's recent consultation exercise.

Sheep Dip

Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent to which farmers use arable cypermethrin for sheep dip; what the implications of its inappropriate use are in terms of risk to (a) the environment, (b) animal health and (c) human health; and if she will make a statement. [129185]

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Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 11 September 2003]: Cypermethrin is included as an active ingredient in 12 products currently authorised for use as veterinary medicines, including a number of sheep dips. All of these products have been fully assessed against a number of statutory criteria designed to assure their safety, quality and efficacy for this use.

However my officials are currently investigating reports that suggest that a number of farmers may be purchasing an arable form of cypermethrin for use illegally to dip sheep. Although these investigations are at an early stage we have identified a number of sheep farmers in the Ceredigion region of South Wales who do not grow arable crops but who recently have purchased arable cypermethrin products.

The arable product has been assessed for use as a pesticide, not as a sheep dip. It is not possible accurately to quantify the risks to the environment, animal health or human health from the illegal use of arable cypermethrin products as sheep dips as more information is required on how the product has actually been used. We are trying to collect this information and will carry out a risk assessment as soon as we are able. However, from the limited information currently available, our main concern relates to the potential environmental damage that might be caused by the inappropriate use, and disposal, of such products.

Training Opportunities (Countryside)

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what training opportunities are available for those working in the countryside. [130588]

Alun Michael: With the exception of schemes targeted at particular industry sectors, such as the Vocational Training Scheme provided under the England Rural Development Programme, people working in the countryside are entitled to the same wide and diverse range of training opportunities as people working elsewhere. The pattern of provision varies from place to place. Issues which are specific to the countryside, such as access to training for people living in remote rural areas, are being examined in the Department's Learning Skills and Knowledge Review.

Urban Commons

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what types of development are permissible on land designated as urban common under the Law of Property Act 1925; and whether such development requires approval by the Secretary of State; [129436]

(2) under what circumstances the erection of fencing is permitted on land designated as registered urban common under the Law of Property Act 1925. [129437]

Alun Michael: Under the provisions of section 194 of the Law of Property Act 1925, the Secretary of State's consent is required for any works which prevent or impede access to any land which, on 1 January 1926, was subject to rights of common. Such consent is separate from any other consent that might be needed, for example, under planning legislation.

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It is not possible to say what types of work might receive the Secretary of State's consent, or in what circumstances such consent might be granted. Each application is treated on its individual merits after full consideration of all relevant factors. Details of any proposed works would have to be advertised in the local press.

Varroa

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on chemical resistant varroa mites; and what plans she has to contain the spread of varroa mites. [113257]

Mr. Bradshaw: Controlling varroa is still the single most important challenge to UK beekeeping today. The pest is now endemic across much of the UK. Defra (and MAFF before it) has been funding a range of measures applied by the National Bee Unit under the Department's bee health programme, and R&D to better equip beekeepers to manage varroa infestations in their colonies ever since it was first detected in Devon in 1992. These measures include the provision of a free diagnostic and inspection service as well as training and education to enable beekeepers to become self-reliant in controlling the mite through improved bee husbandry.

The Department has not yet commissioned any R&D on resistant mites, although current research investigating biological control methods for varroa is extremely relevant given the presence in England and Wales of varroa mites resistant to Apistan and Bayvarol, until recently the only two varroacides authorised for use in the UK.

As has been demonstrated on the Continent, the varroa mite will develop resistance to most chemicals applied to control it; the spread of resistance is therefore inevitable. However, with foresight, the National Bee Unit began implementing a surveillance programme monitoring apiaries for signs of resistance in early 2000. As a result, the UK has been one of only a few countries that has been able to detect resistance before it has become fully established, thus enabling us to take action to help beekeepers treat affected colonies at an early stage. Although resistance is more widespread this year, the recent introduction on the UK market of a new treatment for varroa is welcome. Unlike Apistan and Bayvarol, the new product, Apiguard, is not based on a pyrethroid active ingredient and beekeepers will be able to use this, along with other controls, in particular Integrated Pest Management, which we are strongly advocating, to combat pyrethroid resistant mites.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Music Piracy

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment she has made of the effect of web music piracy on (a) music sales and (b) the cost of legally purchased music; [128132]

(2) what action she is taking to prevent web music piracy. [128133]

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Mr. Timms: We have studied various and somewhat contradictory assessments that have been made by others considering the effect of music piracy on the internet on music sales and the cost of legally purchased music. These suggest that reliable evaluation of the relationship would be difficult. Moreover, my understanding is that much illegal file sharing on the internet is illegal private copying rather than piracy which further adds to the difficulty of an evaluation.

Although UK copyright law already provides strong protection for those who own rights in music, our implementation in the UK of the EU Copyright Directive will clarify these rights and introduce criminal offences for internet music piracy, that is wilful illegal transmission of music on the internet when conducted at least on a commercial scale. The increasing availability of legitimate music tracks on the internet should also assist in encouraging those engaged in illegal private copying to desist and the clarification of the law resulting from the Copyright Directive should enable the music industry to trade online with even greater confidence.

Civil Relationships Registration Scheme

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the rights which a married couple have, but a couple under the proposed civil relationships registration scheme would not have. [129235]

Jacqui Smith [holding answer 11 September 2003]: The consultation paper on civil partnership explains the main proposed rights and responsibilities that the Government has identified as important for same-sex couples who choose to register their partnerships. We are currently consulting on whether there are any significant rights and responsibilities not mentioned in the paper that should be addressed.

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