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Fertilisers

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment has been made of the possible link between the use of chemical fertilisers in agriculture and the health of the wild freshwater fish population in the UK. [165570]

Mr. Bradshaw: No specific study has been undertaken recently of possible links between the use of chemical fertilisers in agriculture and the status of the wild freshwater fish populations in the UK. However, various studies have been undertaken on the effects of increased nutrient loads in rivers and lakes. In addition, water quality, including the effects of contaminants such as chemical fertilisers, is one the factors routinely considered when assessing the state of fish stocks. Water quality is assessed when developing Salmon Action Plans aimed at the conservation and enhancement of salmon in rivers in England and Wales.

Fisheries

Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish the outcome of the review of fisheries and environmental enforcement; and if she will make a statement. [165197]

Mr. Bradshaw: I am considering the report of the Review and expect to publish it shortly.

Food Promotion

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to encourage the local sourcing of food and other products. [167865]

Alun Michael: The Government recognises the benefits of local food and is keen to encourage a flourishing local food sector. Money is available under the England Rural Development Programme for supporting activities such as the establishment of Farmers' Markets, the development of regional and local branding of foodstuffs and the formation of collaborative groups to market quality products. For example, within the last year we awarded £100, 256 to
 
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the National Association of Farmers' Markets to raise the profile of farmers' markets across England and to increase public awareness of them.

DEFRA has also helped finance a number of local sourcing workshops organised by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) designed to bring together supermarkets and small local producers to explore how barriers to local sourcing can be overcome. Following on from this, we helped fund the Business in The Community (BiTC) and IGD guide for small businesses looking to work with large food retailers and food service companies—"Local Sourcing—Opening the Door for Small Business". In addition to this, our Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative is designed to encourage public sector bodies to procure their food in a manner that promotes sustainable development and to encourage more small and local businesses to compete to supply them with food.

This work will be complemented at a regional level through the regional plans that each Regional Development Agency (RDA) is drawing up to help deliver the Government Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food. Although the nature of this support will be determined according to regional priorities, issues to be addressed will include the production and supply of locally sourced food by encouraging food hubs and shared facilities and the linking of local producers with local retailers and tourist businesses.

Greyhounds

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the minimum standards for kennels at greyhound tracks are. [165486]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Government do not currently set minimum standards for kennelling at greyhound tracks but under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to a domestic or captive animal. This offence covers welfare at racetracks. It is proposed to consolidate and modernise the legislation relating to domestic and captive animals and a draft Bill is currently being prepared.

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what minimum standards breeders of greyhounds must meet. [166752]

Mr. Bradshaw: Commercial greyhound breeding is covered by the Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973 and 1991, and the Breeding and Sale of Dogs Welfare Act 1999. There is also protection under the Protection of Animals Act 1911, under which it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to a domestic or captive animal. It is proposed to consolidate and modernise this legislation and a draft Bill is currently being prepared.

Harmful Chemicals

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects on UK citizens of exposure to harmful chemicals, with particular reference to those found in everyday products. [168564]

 
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Alun Michael: The Department carries out and/or evaluates research on a wide range of industrial chemicals through three main routes. In each case, the work focuses on particular chemicals or groups of chemicals of interest irrespective of exposure route (environmental, consumer, etc.). These chemicals have many uses and are present in many everyday products.

Through our commitments to the European Union's risk assessment programme under the Existing Substances Regulation (EEC) 793/93. Details of the programme can be found on the European Chemicals Bureau website at: http://ecb.jrc.it/existing-chemicals/. The programme aims to identify potentially harmful chemicals based on four priority lists of substances drawn up by the European Commission in consultation with member states. The UK has been the sole rapporteur for 21 and joint with other member states on a further five of the 141 substances this programme has identified.

At a national level, through bodies like the Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances (ACHS) (see http://www. defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/achs/index.htm) and the Chemicals Stakeholder Forum (CSF) (see http://www. defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/csf/index.htm). These bodies investigate the effects of chemicals on the environment and society as well as providing advice and guidance on dealing with hazardous chemicals. Defra also commissions and evaluates research, often in close co-operation with the Environment Agency, on the hazards and risks of specific chemicals or groups of chemicals of concern such as perfluorooctanyl sulphonate (PFOS), endocrine disrupters, chlorinated and brominated flame retardants and dioxins and dioxin-like substances.

Through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Chemicals Programme. Defra provides funding to this organisation where risk to human health and the environment posed by chemicals is determined by chemical-specific hazard properties and the amount of exposure to chemicals. The organisation assists member countries in developing and harmonising methods for assessing such risk.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to recommend that the proposed European Chemicals Regulation (REACH) incorporate a legal framework for the substitution of harmful man—made chemicals where safer alternatives exist; and if she will make a statement. [168565]

Alun Michael: The authorisation process under REACH is designed to ensure proper control of substances of high concern and their eventual replacement by suitable substances or technologies. There are practical difficulties in making substitution an absolute legal requirement under REACH. The Government is currently considering the provisions relating to substitution to see whether they are likely to achieve the desired effect of acting as a sufficiently strong incentive—along with other incentives such as market pressure—for industry to develop new and safer substitutes.
 
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In order to make an informed decision, the Government is consulting on proposals for addressing substitution as part of its consultation paper on the New EU Chemicals strategy issued on 30 March 2004 and all contributions are welcome. The closing date for responses is 25 June 2004.

Information is available on DEFRA website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/reach/index.htm.

Hunting Ban

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans are in place to prevent the destruction of hunting dogs in the event of a hunting ban being introduced. [167758]

Alun Michael: The owners are responsible for the welfare of their animals. The Government would expect organisations such as the Kennel Club and the RSPCA to give advice and help on the best course of action to owners of dogs affected by any legislation such as the proposals on hunting with dogs.

Evidence to the Burns Inquiry suggests that hunts keep some 20,000 dogs for hunting. Several thousand dogs are put down every year after some six or seven years' hunting, when they are considered to have reached the end of their working lives. Some dogs presently involved in hunting are capable of being domesticated or are domestic animals and capable of rehoming. It may be the case that some dogs are pack animals which would not settle and could not be rehomed.

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