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Marine Environment (Monitoring)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to determine the (a) levels of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine residues in UK aquatic environments and (b) impact on the environment. [27881]

Mr. Morley: The Environment Agency has published a briefing note on fluoxetine, and developed analytical methods for the detection of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine in river water. Investigational monitoring for these substances was undertaken in spring 2005 downstream of a small number of large sewage works in the North
 
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West and Midlands. For the great majority of samples fluoxetine and norfluoxetine levels were below the limit of detection.

Further investigational monitoring downstream of sewage works is presently under way at a wider range of rivers sites across England and Wales. No results are available yet.

The Environment Agency briefing note on fluoxetine is available at: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/fluoxetine__1068996.pdf.

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what research has been carried out (a) by and (b) on behalf of her Department to establish the background levels of (i) cocaine, (ii) LSD, (iii) cannabis and (iv) other recreational drugs in (A) the aquatic environment and (B) drinking water; [27883]

(2) what steps she is taking to assess the impact on the environment of recreational drug residues in UK aquatic environments. [27884]

Mr. Morley: Recreational drugs will be subject to substantial dilution in the aquatic environment, resulting in concentrations many times lower than the doses taken, and background levels which are not thought to present a threat to the aquatic environment. This is supported by the EU Poseidon" research report on endocrine disruptor and pharmaceutical residues, and the Environment Agency has not undertaken further research.

Ozone and carbon treatment installed at drinking water treatment works to remove traces of pesticides is also effective for a wide range of trace organic substances such that no significant quantities of recreational drugs will be detectable in tap water. No research has been commissioned or carried out by Defra.

Meat Imports

Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that imports of beef do not enter the United Kingdom from regions of Brazil which accept movements of beef from those regions where foot and mouth has been detected in cattle. [28800]

Mr. Bradshaw: Each consignment of imported meat must be accompanied by appropriate health certification. The certificate confirms the territory from which the animals originated. In addition the animal must have been subjected to ante- and post-mortem inspection and the meat must be deboned and matured. This process ensures that imported meat does not present a risk.

All meat imported into the EU from third countries must enter at designated Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) where it is subject to veterinary inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 20 per cent. of consignments undergo physical checks. These ensure import conditions are met and that the products remain in a satisfactory condition during transport.
 
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Nappies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of how many families use washable nappies; and how many tonnes of waste disposable nappies have accounted for in each year since 1997. [25454]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Environment Agency's Life Cycle Assessment estimated that 6 per cent. of households with babies in nappies used washable nappies to some extent and that 94 per cent. used disposable nappies only.

We do not collect information on the amount of disposable nappies used nor of the disposal route.

The Strategy Unit report Waste Not Want Not" estimated that in 2000–01 nappies comprised around 2 per cent. of household waste, equivalent to 350,000 tonnes.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate she has made of how many tonnes of disposable nappy waste have been saved through the use of washable nappies since 1997; [25455]

(2) what estimate she has made of how many tonnes of disposable nappy waste have been diverted from landfill since the Waste and Resources Action Programme Real Nappy Programme began in 2003. [27098]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Strategy Unit report Waste Not Want Not" estimated that in 2000–01 nappies comprised around 2 per cent. of household waste, equivalent to 350,000 tonnes in England.

The WRAP programme has the objective of diverting 35,000 tonnes of nappy waste from landfill over the period of the programme up to 2006.

WRAP reports annually on its overall progress in meeting targets, including work under the Real Nappy Programme.

It is scheduled to report on its achievements for the business plan period up to 2006 next year. At the outset of the programme 91 per cent. of expectant parents said they intended to use disposable nappies. Work done for the environment agency suggested the figure may be higher at 94 per cent. WRAP intends to survey parents again at the end of the programme and to establish the change in intended behaviour. An estimate of the diversion will be made and published by WRAP at that time taking account of the survey and other quantitative evidence.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government plan to continue funding the Waste and Resources Action Programme Real Nappy Programme when the current funding for the three years from 2003 expires. [27097]

Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 July 2005, Official Report, column 1156W.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government have commissioned the Environment Agency to carry out further work on the environmental impacts of modern reusable nappies. [27114]

 
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Mr. Bradshaw: The Environment Agency recognised, when it published its Life Cycle Analysis in May, that further work would be required to take account of changes in the market for reusable nappies and other developments since the survey work for the study was undertaken. The scope and timing of this further work is currently under discussion.

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many disposable nappies she estimates were (a) used and (b) disposed of by (i) landfill, (ii) incineration and (iii) other means in the last year for which figures are available. [27885]

Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 955W.

Pesticides

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are taken to monitor the impact of pesticides on those living in localities where spraying occurs. [25511]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 8 November 2005]: Anyone who feels their health may have been affected by pesticides, whether by a one-off or a longer term exposure, should report it to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Health and Safety Executive staff investigate complaints involving ill health arising as a result of a work activity. Once an investigation is complete details of investigated cases are sent for examination by the HSE's Pesticides Incident Appraisal Panel (PIAP). PIAP reviews all the reports and publishes its conclusions in an annual report which is reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. Following recommendations in the recent report by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) on Crop Spraying and the Health of Residents and Bystanders" the Government will be reviewing these arrangements.

Pet Cemeteries

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to reach a conclusion on the Environment Agency's recommendation on the treatment of pet cemeteries under the EU landfill directive. [26960]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Department is currently investigating the scope for taking an alternative approach to the regulation of pet cemeteries. My officials are working with their Environment Agency counterparts to assess the potential benefits of each alternative option identified.

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