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18 May 2004 : Column 828W—continued
Fast Food Outlets
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the (a) risk to human health and (b) impact on the environment of discarded waste from fast food outlets; what action she requires to be taken to deal with this problem, and by whom; and if she will make a statement. [173240]
Alun Michael: The Government's approach to cutting fast food litter, with the voluntary code we have promoted resulting in a 20 per cent. cut in fast food litter in pilot areas compared with a general worsening by 12 per cent. across the country between 2002 and 2003. The challenge now is for all concerned to put the lessons into practice.
In October 2003 Defra launched a consultation exercise in order to establish a Voluntary Code of Practice for the Fast Food Industry, following 18 months of research with industry representatives. Defra commissioned ENCAMS (formerly Tidy Britain Group) to develop the voluntary code. In February we published the Local Environmental Quality Survey for England 2002–03 (LEQSE) carried out by ENCAMS which showed fast food litter had increased by 12 per cent. over the last year, and that it had become more widespread. However, with practical application of the code's recommendations, a good practice example project led to a 20 per cent. reduction in fast food littering.
The aim of the proposed voluntary code of practice is to reduce fast food litter and waste that becomes litter in the local environment by outlining best practice and recommendations for action to be taken by all fast food retailers working with local authorities and seeking to involve the local public. It will allow all parties to work together in a mutually supportive partnership, to find local solutions to local problems.
In addition the Government are involved in studies regarding the health effects of waste management processes, although these have not been concerned with small scale local issues such as commercial waste from food outlets. These are dealt with effectively by way of local authority Environmental Health Officers.
Fertilisers
Patrick Mercer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what plans she has to make the regulations for (a) the manufacture and (b) the supply of ammonium nitrate fertiliser more stringent; [172742]
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(2) what measures her Department and its predecessors have taken to control the manufacture, storage and use of ammonium nitrate fertiliser; [172745]
(3) how many tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser was manufactured in the United Kingdom in each year since 2000. [172747]
Alun Michael: The Government have taken a number of measures to control the manufacture, storage and use of AN fertiliser in the general climate of heightened security. We need to balance the risks of potential misuse associated with AN against its clear and proven benefits in supporting food output in this country.
The Government have been working with the fertiliser industry to improve controls in the storage and supply chain of AN. We have endorsed industry guidelines which advise producers and sellers of AN fertiliser to:
sell only to known, bona fide customers, in particular those who have a credit account;
refrain from making cash sales;
ask questions to potential buyers of AN fertiliser to establish their knowledge of agriculture;
in the case of suspicious inquiries, to record and notify the police of the purchaser's name and address (verified by documentary proof such as details from a driving licence) and full details of the inquirer's vehicle, including the registration number.
We are continuing our dialogue with industry and have asked them to produce a code of practice to encourage direct deliveries from manufacturers to farmers to shorten supply chains and ensure better traceability. We have also endorsed industry guidance, produced in collaboration with farmers unions and the police, on 'Security of Fertiliser Storage on Farm'.
To supplement the voluntary measures, Defra has introduced regulations to control the supply of both home produced and imported AN. The regulations require AN fertiliser, with a high nitrogen content, including mixtures, to have satisfied a Detonation Resistance Test and all sellers have to maintain records of sales.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a self-help checklist to all those known to be handling or storing significant quantities of AN. The checklist has been distributed widely. It is aimed at spreading good practice and offering HSE as a source of further advice. Additionally, HSE has lowered the notification threshold under the Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances Regulations 1982 from 500 to 150 tonnes and widened the range of products to be included in the notifications.
The regulations governing the manufacture and supply of AN fertilisers are kept under continuous review and further measures will be taken if necessary.
The following amounts of ammonium nitrate (AN) fertiliser have been manufactured in the United Kingdom since 2000:
| Thousand tonnes | |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,263 |
| 2001 | 952 |
| 2002 | 1,181 |
| 2003 | 1,250 |
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The reduction in manufacturing output in 2001 was a consequence of the foot and mouth disease outbreak and an exceptionally wet autumn which, together, led to a fall in demand for AN.
Fishing Industry
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the use of pelagic fishing gear for the fishing of demersal species; [172946]
(2) whether her Department classifies sea bass as a (a) pelagic or (b) demersal species. [172947]
Mr. Bradshaw: Pelagic fishing gear is normally used for shoaling mid-water swimming species such as mackerel, pilchards and sprats. Other species of fish may also be taken as a bycatch when pelagic gear is used and these may include demersal species.
Sea bass can be taken in both pelagic (that is, fished in mid-water) and demersal (fished in contact with the seabed) gears and so could be classed as either pelagic or demersal since its behaviour at different times of the year leads it to swim in mid-water or near the bottom.
Horse Passports
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horse passports had been issued by the issuing authorities by 1 May; how many applications received are awaiting issue; how many she expects to be issued by 30 June; and what percentage of the horse-owning population she expects to comply. [173101]
Alun Michael: As of 1 May, Defra have been notified of a minimum of 179,000 passports issued. This figure will increase as we are waiting for some Passport Issuing Organisations to inform us about how many passports they have issued.
The above figure includes passports returned to Passport Issuing Organisations for updating in order that they meet the new European requirements.
Passport Issuing Organisations based in England have approximately 37,000 outstanding passport applications.
All horse owners will be expected to comply with the regulations.
Correspondence
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter to her from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 15 March 2004 with regard to Jo Hopkin. [168986]
Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State responded on 14 May.
Mayor of London
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list (a) the official meetings she has had with the Mayor of London since July 2000 and (b) the dates and subject of each meeting. [170569]
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Margaret Beckett [holding answer 4 May 2004]: No such meetings have taken place.
Meat and Livestock Commission
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the conditions are for repayment attached to the loan to the Meat and Livestock Commission in respect of the welfare scheme which operated during the foot and mouth disease outbreak; and whether the loan has been repaid. [172683]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Pig Industry Development Scheme (PIDS) was initiated in March 2001 to establish an industry fund to help provide advice, services, facilities and financial assistance to British pig producers to assist with the prevention of exotic pig diseases such as Classical Swine Fever, and/or to help minimise their impact. Collection of this industry levy was delayed due to the foot and mouth disease outbreak of that year. In April 2001 the then MAFF and the Meat and Livestock Commission concluded a loan agreement to enable early payment of the industry top-up to producers.
Under the terms of the loan agreement, repayment, including interest, was due on 31 July 2003. However problems associated with the unforseen decline in pig slaughterings delayed the collection of the levy from pig producers to repay the loan. By mutual agreement the loan deadline was extended to 31 December 2003 and repayment was made by that date, including the interest to that date.
The PIDS levy on slaughterings was reduced to zero in August 2003; however the scheme is to remain open for the foreseeable future with the facility to increase the levy if required.
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