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15 Nov 2004 : Column 1026W—continued
Incineration
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of an increase in waste incineration upon the environment. [195990]
Mr. Morley: In May 2004 Defra published a Review of the Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management which brings together the available evidence of the health and environmental effects of the main types of waste management facility.
The review concluded that incineration, along with landfill, is the waste disposal option with the greatest potential for environmental effects. Compared with other waste management technologies, it produces the largest emissions of oxides of nitrogen and hydrogen chloride per tonne of municipal solid waste. However the potential negative effects, such as dust, poor air quality and effects on flora/fauna, soils and water quality can be controlled under normal operating conditions.
The present generation of incinerators release much smaller amounts of dioxin that was the case five or 10 years ago and the report noted that less than 1 per cent. of emissions of oxides of nitrogen, which reduce air quality, come from municipal solid waste management, while 42 per cent. come from road traffic.
Incinerators are normally operated with energy recovery, resulting in the generation of electricity, which can reduce the need to generate electricity from other sources. Any increase in the overall environmental burden caused by emissions from new incinerators should be set against both the reduction in the requirement for electricity to be generated elsewhere and the reduction of emissions to air and groundwater from the waste being deposited in landfills.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the benefits of waste incinerators. [195991]
Mr. Morley: The principal benefits of incineration are reduction in the volume of waste landfilled, the generation of electricity or heat from combustion and the production of ash which can be recovered as a construction material.
The Review of the Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management enables comparison of the environmental effects of all waste management options
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including incineration and landfill. It also sets out the energy generated by incinerators and the reduction in the requirement for electricity to be generated elsewhere.
Industrial Fisheries
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to improve management of industrial fisheries within UK waters. [197209]
Mr. Bradshaw: Industrial fisheries are managed under the Common Fisheries Policy. In the light of recent scientific advice that Norway Pout and sandeels in the North Sea are outside safe limits, the UK will support measures to recover these stocks at the December Fisheries Council.
Landfill
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's policy is on the use of landfill sites for the disposal of waste. [195971]
Mr. Morley: The Government are committed to reducing the UK's reliance on landfill for the disposal of waste, in order to reduce its environmental impact and because landfilling is a missed opportunity to recover value from waste. This is part of the UK's commitment to more sustainable waste management in line with the objectives and policies set out in Waste Strategy 2000.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many new waste facilities she estimates will be required in the UK to fulfil the requirements of the EU landfill directive. [190377]
Mr. Morley: The Strategy Unit Report, "Waste not, Want not", quotes from the Ernst and Young Local Authority Waste Management Survey, 2001. It says that "Ernst and Young have estimated that additional investment of £600–700 million per annum over the next 10 years will be required to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill, sufficient to meet the Article 5 targets of the EU landfill directive."
The exact number of facilities will depend on the size and mix of facilities chosen by each local authority.
Estimates on available capacity of existing hazardous waste treatment infrastructure were prepared for the Hazardous Waste Forum in September 2003 and posted on the forum's website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/hazforum/031021/enviros.pdf
The forum continues to keep this information under review as it becomes aware of changes to waste industry plans.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many new waste disposal facilities will be required in the UK by 2010 to fulfil the requirements of the EU landfill directive. [197683]
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Mr. Morley: The Strategy Unit Report, "Waste not, Want not", quotes from the Ernst and Young Local Authority Waste Management Survey, 2001. It says that
"Ernst and Young have estimated that additional investment of £600–700 million per annum over the next 10 years will be required to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill, sufficient to meet the Article 5 targets of the EU landfill directive."
The exact number of facilities will depend on the size and mix of facilities chosen by each local authority.
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the landfill sites in the Greater London area that are able to accept hazardous waste. [197128]
Mr. Morley: There are no landfill sites in the Greater London area that are licensed/permitted to accept hazardous waste. The names and locations of all hazardous waste landfills are available on the Environment Agency website (www.environment-agency.gov.uk).
LFA Support Scheme
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been paid out under the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme in each county in England in 2003–04; and if she will make a statement. [196198]
Alun Michael: The figures for payments under the Hill Farm Allowance in 2004, by counties in England, are listed in the following table:
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Livestock Auction Markets
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which livestock auction markets (a) operated in 1997, (b) operated before the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 and (c) operate now. [196687]
Mr. Bradshaw: The list of livestock auction markets operating in 1997 is not readily available. However, based on information provided by the Livestock Auctioneers Association the lists of livestock auction markets for England and Wales which operate currently and the closures between 1997 and 2001 and those closed since 2001 are as follows:
Livestock Auctioneers Association, 5 November 2004
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