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18 Jun 2004 : Column 1123W—continued
Hazardous Waste
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much hazardous waste was illegally dumped in (a) Merseyside and (b) Crosby in each of the last three years; and how many prosecutions resulted. [177861]
Mr. Morley: Information has been provided for the numbers of incidents involving illegal deposits of hazardous waste recorded by the Environment Agency. While the Agency holds prosecution data for all illegal deposits of waste, hazardous waste prosecutions are not themselves separately recorded.
Local authorities may additionally hold records of those incidents and prosecutions that they have taken but this is not held centrally.
There are no Agency recorded incidents or prosecutions relating to the illegal deposit of hazardous waste in Crosby in any of the last three years.
Those for Merseyside are set out in the following tables.
| Merseyside | Crosby | |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 12 | 0 |
| 2003 | 9 | 0 |
| 2004 | 4 | 0 |
18 Jun 2004 : Column 1124W
| Merseyside | Crosby | |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 15 | 0 |
| 2003 | 7 | 0 |
| 2004 | 2 | 0 |
Ministerial Speeches
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many speeches she made between 9 June 2003 and 1 February 2004; and where a copy of each speech can be obtained. [156147]
Margaret Beckett: I made 19 speeches during the eight month period from 9 June 2003 to 1 February 2004. Copies of my keynote speeches can be found on the Defra Website: http://defraweb/corporate/ministers/speeches/default.asp. x
Orchards
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with English Nature about biodiversity in English orchards. [177784]
Alun Michael: Officials have been in discussion with English Nature with a view to finding a way forward within the Single Payment Scheme for traditional grazed orchards (that are important in the biodiversity context) to remain eligible for CAP subsidy.
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the EU about a derogation for (a) some and (b) all English orchards allowing them to be included in the Single Farm Scheme. [177785]
Alun Michael: Orchards are not eligible land for the purposes of the Single Payment Scheme and there is no prospect of a general derogation from this rule for any member state. However, officials remain in discussion with the Commission over the status of traditional grazed orchards.
Radio Identifier Frequency Devices
Mr. Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to commission research into the environmental impact of the use of radio identifier frequency devices in retail goods. [178245]
Alun Michael: We are not aware of any particular environmental concerns relating to the use of radio frequency identification devices and currently have no plans to commission any research into their impact.
Sewerage
Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to bring forward proposals in response to the Review of Existing Private Sewers and Drains in England and Wales. [178954]
18 Jun 2004 : Column 1125W
Mr. Morley: The Department plans to publish a response to the consultation in the summer. This will summarise responses, give the Government's views and set out the issues that need to be addressed before a final decision can be made. A decision paper should be published early next year.
Waste Disposal
Mr. Anthony D. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the (a) recycling and (b) incineration of (i) oxo-biodegradable plastic and (ii) conventional plastic; [176907]
(2) what assessment she has made of the effect of oxo-biodegradable plastic in combating litter; [176908]
(3) what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on oxo-biodegradable plastics, with particular reference to the contribution they may make to a better environment; [176910]
(4) what assessment she has made of the effect on the environment of making short-life plastic products degradable. [176911]
Mr. Morley: The National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC) recently published a review of current knowledge on the environmental profiles of biodegradable polymers (BDPs). The main focus of the review is on BDPs made from renewable feedstocks such as starch, polylactic acid and cellulose and their environmental performance compared to conventional plastics. The summary report, "Biodegradable Polymers and Sustainability: Insights from Life Cycle Assessment", can be viewed on the NNFCC website at: www.nnfcc.co.uk
The Environment Agency will follow up this work with two Life Cycle Analysis research projects. The first will consider disposable plastic carrier bags from supermarkets and alternative product systems (e.g. paper and bioplastics) and the other will look at food packaging product systems. Oil-based biodegradable (oxo-biodegradable) plastics are included in the scope of the alternative materials. The results of the research will be reported March 2005.
HEALTH
Arm's Length Bodies
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the arm's length bodies for which his Department has responsibility, indicating in each case whether it is an (a) executive agency, (b) special health authority, (c) non departmental public body and (d) other body. [175313]
Ms Rosie Winterton: A list of the Department's arm's length bodies is shown in the tables.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
NHS Estates
NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency
Counter Fraud and Security Management Service
Dental Vocational Training Authority
Family Health Services Appeal Authority
Health Development Agency
Health Protection Agency
Mental Health Act Commission
NHS Appointments Commission
NHS Direct
NHS Information Authority
NHS Litigation Authority
NHS Logistics
NHS Pensions Agency
NHS Professionals
NHSU
National Blood Authority
National Clinical Assessment Authority
National Institute for Clinical Excellence
National Patient Safety Agency
National Treatment Agency
Prescription Pricing Authority
UK Transplant
Executive non-departmental public bodies
Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (The Healthcare Commission)
Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health
Commission for Social Care Inspection
General Social Care Council
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts
National Biological Standards Board (UK)
National Radiological Protection Board
Public Health Laboratory Service Board
Council for the Regulation of Health Care Professionals
Dental Practice Board
Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board
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