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Cremation

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to reduce the emissions of mercury from crematorium chimneys; and if she will make it her policy to ensure that the emission of mercury from cremation ceases at an early date. [178669]

Alun Michael: The Department consulted on a review of the technical issues relating to emissions of mercury from crematoria in May 2003 and published a summary of responses and initial conclusions in November 2003. These can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/crematoria/index.htm. We propose to issue a further consultation paper containing proposals to address mercury emissions from crematoria shortly.
 
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Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much mercury is estimated to have been released into the atmosphere in the UK each year as a result of cremating mortal remains containing mercury-based tooth fillings since (a) 1979 and (b) 1997; what assessment she has made of the environmental impact from these releases; and if she will make a statement. [178705]

Alun Michael: Based on monitoring and expert advice, the amount of mercury emitted per cremation ranges between 0.9 g and 3 g. We are currently attempting to achieve more precision, but based on these figures, total UK mercury emissions from crematoria in 2002 will have been between 0.4 and 1.34 tonnes. We do not have estimates for other years: the mercury content might have varied according to the differences in the dental situation of those cremated, and account would have to be taken of any changes in the numbers of cremations.

Total UK mercury emissions have declined from 44.9 tonnes in 1970 to 8.8 tonnes in 2000. The Department consulted on a review of the technical issues relating to emissions of mercury from crematoria in May 2003 and published a summary of responses and initial conclusions in November 2003. These can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/crematoria/index.htm. We propose to issue a further consultation paper containing proposals to address mercury emissions from crematoria shortly.

EC Water Framework Directive

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to integrate the delivery of biodiversity action plans into river basin management plans under the EC Water Framework Directive. [176916]

Mr. Morley: Demonstrating how biodiversity targets can be integrated into river basin management has been allocated top priority for the Water and Wetlands implementation programme of the England Biodiversity Strategy. The Environment Agency and English Nature will shortly be commisioning a project to take this work forward, with results scheduled for March 2005. The River Ribble will be used as a test-bed for the work, reflecting its role as a pilot catchment for public participation aspects of the Water Framework Directive.

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to draw up a register of existing and potential wetlands to help meet the requirements of the EC Water Framework Directive. [176917]

Mr. Morley: The Water Framework Directive requires that a register of protected areas is drawn up to help determine management of water bodies. This register will include protected wildlife sites of wetland character such as those designated as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under the Birds Directive and candidate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) under the Habitats Directive. The Environment Agency, in its role as competent authority for the Water Framework Directive, English Nature and others are actively exploring ways of how best to incorporate wetlands into
 
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integrated river basin planning and management. The River Ribble catchment is being used to test such an approach, which if successful, could be applied more widely in due course.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether radioactive forcing will be taken into account in plans to incorporate aviation within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. [177953]

Mr. Morley: I assume that the hon. Member intended to ask about radiative forcing.

It is the Government's intention to address the radiative forcing of aviation in fulfilling its Air Transport White Paper commitment to ensure that the aviation industry takes account of, and where appropriate reduces, its contribution to global warming. A decision on how the radiative forcing of aviation should be taken into account when designing the sector's participation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme has yet to be made. Our adopted approach on this issue will reflect the need for consensus within the EU.

Fallen Stock

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will list (a) hunt kennels, (b) knacker's yards, (c) renderers, (d) maggot farmers and (e) others approved to collect fallen stock under the EU Animal By-Products Regulations; [176296]

(2) how many (a) hunt kennels, (b) knacker's yards and (c) renderers are approved under the EU Animal By-Products Regulations to collect and process fallen stock in each county in England; [176301]

(3) how many constituencies in England have no approved fallen stock collector based within its boundaries. [176302]

Mr. Bradshaw: Although information regarding the location of fallen stock collection and disposal premises is available, this is not kept in a format which would allow their relationship to county and constituency boundaries to be ascertained However, the State Veterinary Service is currently working on a national Geographic Information System database which will, on completion, be capable of providing such information.

To allow premises to continue operating whilst individual inspections for approval were being carried out by the State Veterinary Service (SVS), animal by-product premises, including hunt kennels, knackers yards and rendering plants are subject to a series of general approvals.

The general approvals do not apply to premises which have been granted or refused an individual approval under these Regulations since 1 July 2003. For other premises the general approvals cease to apply either when the premises are inspected and an approval is either granted or refused, or on 1 August 2004, whichever is the earlier.
 
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Prior to the Animal By-Products Regulations 2003, which came into force on 1 July 2003, Knackers' Yards required approval under the Animal By-Products Order 1999.

Hunt kennels, zoos and maggot farms required registration under the Order.

In June 2003, before the Animal By-Products Order was revoked, there were 63 approved knackers' yards, 34 registered maggot farms, 90 registered zoos/circuses and 294 registered hunt kennels—not all hunt kennels collect and/or dispose of fallen stock.

As of 1 April 2004, 13 rendering plants are approved under the Animal By-Products Regulations to process fallen stock. These are listed at Annex 1.

My officials have arranged for a list of those premises which were approved or registered, prior to 1 July 2003, by the Department to collect/dispose of animal by-products such as fallen stock, to be placed in the Library of the House. This list will be amended as and when premises are either granted or refused individual approvals under the EU Regulation.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of hunt kennels (a) charge for provision of a fallen stock service and (b) provide a fallen stock service free of charge to the livestock farming industry. [176297]

Mr. Bradshaw: This information is not available to the Department, although we are aware that a number of hunt kennels may provide a free service, normally disposal of calves which die on farm, in return for farmers allowing hunts to use their land.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the oral answer of 20 May 2004, Official Report, columns 1079–80, on fallen stock, what evidence her Department has received to support the statement that the role of hunt kennels in collecting fallen stock is small. [176303]

Mr. Bradshaw: Many hunt kennels traditionally dispose of calves, which are the most suitable livestock for feeding to hounds, although some may take small numbers of horses, sheep and other livestock. As hunt kennels do not operate in all areas of the UK and calves are estimated to form only a small percentage of the overall quantity of fallen stock that requires disposal the role of hunt kennels in collecting and disposing of fallen stock under the National Scheme is likely to be small.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the postal address for the National Fallen Stock Company is. [176307]

Mr. Bradshaw: The postal address is the registered office for the Company which is the National Fallen Stock Company Ltd., c/o Saffery Champness, Stuart House, City Road, Peterborough, Cambs, PE1 1QF.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the oral answer of 20 May 2004, Official Report, column 1080, on fallen stock, what evidence she has received from the Chairman of the National Fallen Stock Company in support of his assurance that a ban on hunting would have no impact on the industry's capacity to dispose of fallen stock. [176308]

 
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Mr. Bradshaw: In discussions that my Department has had with the Chairman, he has stated that in the Company's consultation with the knacker and rendering industries it was made clear that they have the capacity to deal with additional quantities of fallen stock likely to arise under the National Fallen Stock Scheme. It is true that the Company has registered a substantial level of interest in the Scheme from hunt kennels. Although they will be permitted to continue their current practice of feeding material to hounds, their presence in the Scheme will otherwise be on the basis that they have made the necessary investment to operate in a similar way to knackers yards for the collection and disposal of fallen stock.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many carcases were collected by (a) hunt kennels, (b) knackers yards, (c) renderers, (d) maggot farmers and (e) others in (i) 2002 and (ii) 2003. [176309]

Mr. Bradshaw: This information is not held by the Department.

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