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Japanese Knotweed

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what public
 
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protection guidance her Department has offered local authorities with regard to the use of Tordon 22k to combat Japanese knotweed. [188467]

Mr. Bradshaw: Japanese knotweed (Fallopia Japonica) is a large and vigorous weed, which is considered a troublesome pest in many parts of the country.

Tordon 22k is highly effective against Japanese knotweed when applied in line with directions for use on the label. Tordon 22k contains the active substance picloram and is fully approved for use on land not intended for cropping, nor is it appropriate for use in or near water, or near trees. There are no specific consents required to use this product but any user must follow all of the conditions of use and directions for use on the product label. This product is for professional use only as an agricultural/horticultural/industrial herbicide. Conditions relating to its sale, supply, storage and use are covered under Schedules 2 and 3 to the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986.

The Department has not issued specific guidance to local authorities on the use of Tordon 22k, however, the Pesticides Safety Directorate do publish general advice on the use of pesticides. The use of Tordon 22k is recommended in the Environment Agency's Code of Practice for the management of Japanese knotweed on development sites. The Code of Practice is available from www.environment-agency.gov.uk and is currently being revised. English Nature, the Government's statutory nature conservation advisers, refer to Tordon 22k in their herbicide handbook "Guidance on the use of herbicides in nature conservation sites" (available from www.english-nature.org.uk).

Lions

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will support the proposal to upgrade the African lion to Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species at the next Conference of the Parties. [186274]

Mr. Morley: There are very strict biological criteria that have to be met before a species can be listed on Appendix I of CITES and we also have to be satisfied that a trade ban is the most appropriate method for addressing this problem. Doubts have been expressed as to whether the proposal satisfies these very strict criteria and most of the range states are opposed to an Appendix I listing. The UK, recognising that some lion populations have declined, in common with the other ED member states, is currently keeping an open position and would like to explore the scope for an agreed solution with the range states before coming to a final decision on this matter.

Marine Planning

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made in bringing to a conclusion (a) the review of marine nature conservation, (b) the marine fisheries and environment enforcement review, (c) the review of
 
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coastal and marine consent and (d) the development of the EU marine strategy; and if she will make a statement. [188447]

Mr. Morley: The Review of Marine Nature Conservation Working Group published its report to Government on 26 July. The report detailed its investigations and made recommendations for improving protection for marine habitats, species and ecosystems in the UK maritime area. The Government are considering the Working Group's report and hopes to respond to its recommendations by the end of the year.

Defra published the Review of Marine Fisheries and Environment Enforcement on 8 July. The Review makes a number of recommendations on organisational options for inshore enforcement bodies, the promotion and licensing of sea angling and charging inshore commercial and recreational fishermen. Interested parties have until 29 September to comment. The Government will consider the Review in the light of these comments with a view to responding before the end of the year.

The Government are still considering the options for possible longer-term reform to modernise and rationalise the current complex coastal and marine consenting regime, following the work by my noble Friend the Lord Rooker on the consents review.

The draft EU Marine Thematic Strategy is being prepared by the European Commission. The UK has played an active role in the working groups, and will be participating in a stakeholder conference in November at which a first draft of the Strategy is due to be discussed. The Commission plan to submit the strategy to the European Council and Parliament by May 2005.

Organic Egg Production

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the implications for competition between UK and other EU producers of the removal of the derogation on flock size and stocking density on pre-1999 organic egg producers; [186580]

(2) what representations she has received concerning the decision to remove the derogation on flock size and stocking density for organic egg producers in production in 1999; and if she will make a statement. [186581]

Mr. Bradshaw: In July we wrote to the industry seeking their views on the expiry of the derogation. 21 responses were received from a variety of industry representatives, including the National Farmers Union, individual producers, producers associations, organic certification bodies and multiple retailers.

After careful consideration of all the representations received and taking account of the interests of the organic poultry sector as a whole, I have decided that organic poultry producers should be allowed to continue to benefit from this derogation, which permits stocking densities and flock sizes higher than normally permitted in respect of livestock producing holdings with existing buildings constructed before 24 August
 
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1999, until 31 December 2010. This will put UK producers on an even footing with those in the rest of the European Union.

Over-30-month Scheme

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to abolish the over-30-month scheme. [188500]

Mr. Bradshaw: The future of the over-30-month Scheme is linked to any change to the over thirty months (OTM) rule. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advised on 6 July that a move to replace the OTM rule by BSE testing of cattle born after 1 August 1996 continues to be justified on the grounds of the food-borne risk to consumers and proportionality. The Government are still considering the FSA advice. No decision has been made as yet.

Peat Bogs

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will propose Bolton Fell and Solway Moss peat bogs for Special Area of Conservation protection; and if she will make a statement. [188440]

Mr. Bradshaw: Bolton Fell and Solway Moss are being considered for designation as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). Consultations on these two sites are ongoing in the light of scientific objections raised about their candidature. Once this process has been concluded, and if the sites meet the selection criteria for SAC protection, they will be designated.

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list peat bog sites broken down by (a) area and (b) protected status. [188441]

Mr. Bradshaw: There is no comprehensive list of all peat bogs in the UK. A list of Protected bogs according to country and their designation status has been placed in the Library of the House. National designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in Northern Ireland underpins international designation as a candidate Special Area of Conservation. This underpinning means that there are overlaps between Sites of Special Scientific Interest and candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSACs). Where the information is available this is shown on the list that has been placed in the Library of the House. Some cSACs may cover peat bog, but may be designated because of another natural feature of importance.

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's strategy for protecting peat bogs. [188442]

Mr. Bradshaw: Both blanket bog and lowland raised bog are priority habitats under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The Action Plans are published and are posted on the UKBAP website: www.ukbap.org.uk. Statutory site designation plays an important part in the conservation of both these types of bog. Notification as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) in Northern Ireland,
 
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provides protection for over 400 peat bogs, with many of the most important areas managed by statutory conservation agencies through agreements with site owners. Where appropriate, the designation process can include compulsory purchase of the land. The UK has proposed 106 active and degraded raised bogs as candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSACs) under the Habitats Directive, and 107 blanket bog sites as cSACs. In addition to this site designation, the UK is also encouraging the development of non-peat alternatives as growing media and promoting the use of alternatives. Our aim is for a minimum of 40 per cent. of total market requirements to be peat free by 2005 and 90 per cent. by 2010.

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what area of peat bogs has been lost to commercial peat extraction in each year since 1997. [188443]

Mr. Bradshaw: Peat extraction is measured in cubic metres. The following figures shows peat extraction every year since 1997 and are derived from the British Geological Survey's Minerals Yearbook and the Office of National Statistics:

	Peat extraction (thousand cubic metres)
1997	1,619
1998	1,076
1999	1,653
2000	1,626
2001	1,814
2002	973
2003	2,008

There is currently planning consent for extraction from 3,990.6 ha of raised peat bog in England, of which 72 ha is lapsed. The existence of planning consent does not mean that all or part of the area is necessarily cut. For example, a recent agreement with Scotts Company (UK) Ltd. in 2001 has meant that 1,886 ha of peatland has come out of peat extraction, although planning consent still remains on part of it.

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