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Nappies

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) ministerial colleagues within the Department of Health and (b) management within the NHS in respect of the use of (i) disposable and (ii) reusable nappies within hospitals. [186177]

Mr. Morley: The use of disposable nappies in the NHS is well established. We want to ensure that parents who are interested in re-usable nappies are provided with information about that option alongside information on disposables. As such, I attended a meeting with my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Public Health (Melanie Johnson), in July last year and the Women's Environmental Network (WEN). I have also written to her with a view to meeting again to discuss the case for a strong lead from hospitals and health trusts on the issue of re-usable nappies.

I have had no discussions with NHS management.

Fisheries

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to modify the days at sea restrictions in the Western Channel sole fishery to enable fishermen to exploit non-Total Allowable Catch species. [184716]

 
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Mr. Bradshaw: There are no days at sea restrictions in the western Channel.

Official Engagements

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 15 July 2004, Official Report, column 1300W, on official engagements, if she will give a daily breakdown of her diary for the period in question, giving dates and times of each meeting. [185977]

Margaret Beckett [holding answer 22 July 2004]: I have nothing to add to my answer to the hon. Member of 15 July, Official Report, Column 1300W.

Older Cattle

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to implement the Food Standards Agency recommendation that older cattle may now enter the food chain. [184233]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Government are still considering Food Standards Agency (FSA) advice. No decision has been made as yet.

Over-30 Month Scheme

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she has to amend the over-30 month scheme; and if she will make a statement. [185147]

Mr. Bradshaw: The over-30 month scheme is kept under review. It may be amended in line with any change to the over-30 month (OTM) rule. The Government are still considering advice from the Food Standards Agency on the OTM rule. No decision has been made as yet.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford on 27 May 2004, ref 177397. [183834]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 13 July 2004]: I replied to the hon. Member on 15 July 2004, Official Report, column 1294W.

Polish/UK Fishing Fleets

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what European community funds have been allocated to (a) Poland and (b) the UK in the same period for the modernisation, restructuring and decommissioning of the fishing fleet; and when such funds were first made available. [184710]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Polish plan for allocating the Community financial provision under the EU FIFO fisheries structural fund envisages about 16.3 million euros being spent on modernisation of existing vessels, and about 80.1 million euros on decommissioning vessels. This covers the period from Poland's accession to the EU in May 2004 to the end of 2006.
 
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The Fisheries Departments in the UK are currently reviewing what expenditure should be allocated to modernising, restructuring and decommissioning vessels for the equivalent period, and equivalent figures to the Polish plans are not available.

The current programme under the FIFO scheme began in 2000.

Post-consumer Paper Waste

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what strategy is in place to increase the collection of post-consumer paper waste for recycling in the UK over the next five years; what specific targets have been set; and what measures are in place to ensure that these targets are met. [184950]

Mr. Morley: The Government have introduced a number of measures to increase the recycling of paper. For example, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is developing markets for waste paper as one of it's priority materials, and has been allocated £30 million over three years to increase awareness of waste issues, and particularly recycling, amongst householders. The Government have also set statutory weight-based recycling targets, for every local authority. Measures taken to help authorities meet their targets include a Performance Reward Grant (PRG). This will be funded by £45 million in 2005–06, rising to £90 million in subsequent years; and will replace the Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund that has been contributing to improving local authorities performance over the past three years.

Regulations implementing the Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste (2004/12/EC) have set targets for recycling paper packaging waste, peaking at 70 per cent. in 2008. Voluntary agreements are in place with the Newspaper Publishers Association and the Direct Marketing Association (DMA). These will increase the recycled content of newsprint to 70 per cent. in 2006 and of DMA literature to 70 per cent. in 2013. Targets set so far have been exceeded. Government are negotiating a similar agreement with the Periodical Publishers Association, to increase the recycling of post consumer magazines. In addition, under the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003, local authorities will have to collect at least two recyclable materials separate from other household waste by 2010.

Purfleet Industrial Estate

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Environment Agency last inspected the potential for the flooding of the Purfleet Industrial Estate, Essex consequent on the surface water flow from the A13 road; and if she will make a statement. [185802]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 22 July 2004]: Surface water flooding through run off from roads is the responsibility of the relevant highways authority.

I understand however that the highways authority consulted the National Rivers Authority (the Environment Agency's predecessor) over proposed surface water discharges from the A13 improvements during the early 1990s. Consultation at that time would
 
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have involved both specific and general technical assessments of existing surface water drainage capacities within the surrounding area. One of the options considered would have been attenuation of increased flow from the A13 improvement works.

Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee. [186051]

Mr. Morley: I provided a written statement on the future of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee to this House on 22 March 2004. There is nothing to be added to this.

Ragwort

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has issued written advice to (a) local authorities and (b) the Highways Agency setting out their responsibilities under the Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort; and if she will make a statement. [186074]

Alun Michael: I launched the Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort at the Royal Show on 4 July. The code provides comprehensive guidance for all those with land management responsibility, including the Highways Agency and local authorities, on how to develop a strategic approach to ragwort control where there is a risk to animal welfare. It sets out clearly the responsibilities of horse and livestock owners, as well as those of land managers. The code provides advice on how to assess the risk posed by ragwort to horses and other grazing animals, the different control methods available, environmental factors, and health and safety issues.

A copy of the code has been sent to the Highways Agency and to all local authorities. I have urged all landowners and land managers to work with horse and animal owners to implement the recommendations of the code which have legal underpinning in enforcement proceedings under the Weeds Act 1959. A representative of the Highways Agency was involved last year when I launched an earlier draft of the code at Hickstead as a voluntary code, prior to completion of the legislation and spoke in support of the code.

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