House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 9 Feb 2006 (pt 7)

9 Feb 2006 : Column 1358W—continued

Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what time period elapsed between the publication of each Report by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and the publication of the official response by the Government; and what the time scale is for publishing outstanding responses. [48457]

Mr. Morley: The Government aims to respond to reports of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) within one year of their publication. Government needs to consider fully the reports and their recommendations before responding, so response timings depend on the complexity of the reports and the need to take account of the development of policy and proposals for new legislation.

There are two reports currently awaiting Government response:

1. 25th Report: Turning the Tide—Addressing the Impact of Fisheries on the Marine Environment", launched in December 2004. The Government response will be published after the publication of the draft Marine Bill this year in order to reflect the new proposals under the Bill.

2. Special report Crop Spraying and the Health of Residents and Bystanders", launched in September 2005. Government expects to publish its response to this report by the summer.

Previous responses were issued as follows:

Report Date published by RCEP Date of Government response

Main Reports (Command Papers)

1st Report February 1971 March 1975⁽²⁾

2nd Report: Three Issues in Industrial Pollution March 1972 March 1975⁽²⁾

3rd Report: Pollution in some September March 1975⁽²⁾

British Estuaries and Coastal Waters 1972 —

4tn Report: Pollution Control: Progress and Problems December 1974 March 1975⁽²⁾

5th Report: Air Pollution Control: an Integrated Approach January 1976 December 1982

6th Report: Nuclear Power and the Environment September 1976 May 1977

7th Report: Agriculture and Pollution September 1979 December 1983

8th Report: Oil Pollution of the Sea October 1981 December 1983

9th Report: Lead in the Environment April 1983 July 1983

10th Report: Tackling Pollution-Experience and Prospects February 1984 December 1984

11th Report: Managing Waste: The Duty of Care December 1985 September 1986

12th Report: Best Practicable Environmental Option February 1988 December 1992

13th Report: The Release of Genetically Engineered Organisms to the Environment July 1989 June 1993

14th Report: GENHAZ-A System for the Critical Appraisal of Proposals to Release Genetically Modified Organisms into the Environment June 1991 December 1994

15th Report: Emissions from Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicles September 1991 December 1992

16th Report: Freshwater Quality June 1992 February 1995

17th Report: Incineration of Waste May 1993 July 1994

18th Report: Transport and the Environment October 1994 1996 Green Paper Transport: The Way Forward" addressed issues raised

19th Report: Sustainable Use of Soil February 1996 January 1997

20th Report: Transport and the Environment-Developments since 1994 September 1997 October 1998

21st Report: Setting Environmental Standards October 1998 July 2000

22nd Report: Energy-The Changing Climate June 2000 February 2003

23rd Report: Environmental Planning, England March 2002 July 2003

24th Report: Chemicals in Products-Safeguarding the Environment and Human Health June 2003 August 2004

Special Reports

Special Report: The Environmental Effects of Civil Aircraft in Flight November 2002 No official response but recommendations were incorporated in The Future of Air Transport" White Paper published in December 2003

Special Report: Biomass as a Renewable Energy Source May 2004 October 2004

⁽²⁾ Part of the consolidated response to the first four reports.

9 Feb 2006 : Column 1359W

Report	Date published by RCEP	Date of Government response
Main Reports (Command Papers)
1st Report	February 1971	March 1975⁽²⁾
2nd Report: Three Issues in Industrial Pollution	March 1972	March 1975⁽²⁾
3rd Report: Pollution in some	September	March 1975⁽²⁾
British Estuaries and Coastal Waters	1972	—
4tn Report: Pollution Control: Progress and Problems	December 1974	March 1975⁽²⁾
5th Report: Air Pollution Control: an Integrated Approach	January 1976	December 1982
6th Report: Nuclear Power and the Environment	September 1976	May 1977
7th Report: Agriculture and Pollution	September 1979	December 1983
8th Report: Oil Pollution of the Sea	October 1981	December 1983
9th Report: Lead in the Environment	April 1983	July 1983
10th Report: Tackling Pollution-Experience and Prospects	February 1984	December 1984
11th Report: Managing Waste: The Duty of Care	December 1985	September 1986
12th Report: Best Practicable Environmental Option	February 1988	December 1992
13th Report: The Release of Genetically Engineered Organisms to the Environment	July 1989	June 1993
14th Report: GENHAZ-A System for the Critical Appraisal of Proposals to Release Genetically Modified Organisms into the Environment	June 1991	December 1994
15th Report: Emissions from Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicles	September 1991	December 1992
16th Report: Freshwater Quality	June 1992	February 1995
17th Report: Incineration of Waste	May 1993	July 1994
18th Report: Transport and the Environment	October 1994	1996 Green Paper Transport: The Way Forward" addressed issues raised
19th Report: Sustainable Use of Soil	February 1996	January 1997
20th Report: Transport and the Environment-Developments since 1994	September 1997	October 1998
21st Report: Setting Environmental Standards	October 1998	July 2000
22nd Report: Energy-The Changing Climate	June 2000	February 2003
23rd Report: Environmental Planning, England	March 2002	July 2003
24th Report: Chemicals in Products-Safeguarding the Environment and Human Health	June 2003	August 2004

Special Reports
Special Report: The Environmental Effects of Civil Aircraft in Flight	November 2002	No official response but recommendations were incorporated in The Future of Air Transport" White Paper published in December 2003
Special Report: Biomass as a Renewable Energy Source	May 2004	October 2004

Special Protection Area Status

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role English Nature plays in the planning process for special protection area status; and if she will make a statement. [49814]

Jim Knight: As the statutory conservation advisor for England, one of English Nature's roles is to recommend sites to DEFRA that qualify as special protection areas (SPAs). Before making a recommendation, English Nature undertakes a scientific assessment of sites using the UK SPA selection guidelines (available at http://www.incc.gov.uk/page-1405). English Nature also carries out consultations with interested parties on behalf of the Department.

Seed Imports

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many lots of

9 Feb 2006 : Column 1360W

seeds for (a) maize and sweetcorn, (b) winter oilseed rape, (c) spring oilseed rape, (d) sugar beet, (e) fodder beet, (f) beetroot and (g) winter brassicas were imported into the UK in each of the last six years; and what the (i) weight and (ii) country of origin of the seeds was in each year. [46866]

Mr. Bradshaw: Imports of seeds for sowing by country of despatch from 1999 to November 2005 are provided in the attached table.

Note that oilseed rape seeds are not separated into winter and spring varieties. Also imports of fodder beet seed are not separated from salad beet seed. Information is only available on the quantity of seeds imported rather than the number of individual consignments.

These statistics reflect levels of trade as recorded by traders. It is possible that some imports for consumption or processing have been inadvertently recorded as seed for sowing. They therefore need to be treated with a degree of caution.
UK imports of Seeds for 1999 to November 2005

Tonnes

Description Countries 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 January to November 2005

Maize Seed Irish Republic 692 26 36 14,923 19,822 14,064 12,447

France 1,676 1,607 5,521 3,899 3,120 2,587 5,788

Netherlands 1,480 248 1,634 1,306 1,883 1,454 1,817

Germany 1,967 1,156 1,020 2,315 1,270 868 731

Chile — — — 109 130 — 12

Spain — — — 107 — — —

Italy — — — — — 89 —

Others 14 18 10 14 44 43 85

Oil Seeds Germany 152 133 217 121,296 2,931 382 352

France 103 147 212 49,652 15,397 19,598 3,562

Australia — — 0 61,550 — 1 —

Denmark 102 11 13,179 20 22 0

Irish Republic 1 1 2,898 2,170 3,637 2,839

Poland — — — 2,291 1 — —

Netherlands 1 3 6 163 298 11 2

Others 0 45 73 503 21 30 261

Sugar Beet Seed Italy — — 38 — 127 243 311

Germany 134 101 119 168 67 10 8

France 222 176 32 9 18 59 65

Belgium 24 30 21 9 3 14 4

Others 15 22 0 23 3 26 11

Beet other than Sugar Beet Netherlands 4,584 5,567 6,648 2,480 0 0 0

Belgium 6,714 — 1,831 — — — —

Germany 3,882 — — — 2,224 120 70

France 35 2,862 1,265 17 33 3 3

Denmark 830 1 0 0 0 — —

Others 3 17 4 0 2 1 0

Salad beet seed and fodder beet root seed Netherlands ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— 90 34 24

U.S.A. ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— 2 1 34

Australia ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— — — 3

Brassicas Seed New Zealand 0 — 20 13 36 57 85

U.S.A. 0 — 0 45 27 25 0

Others 3 1 1 2 2 2 0

Grand Total 22,633 12,172 18,713 276,970 49,741 43,385 28,515

⁽³⁾ This was not recorded as a separate item until 2003
Data prepared by Trade statistics, Food Chain Analysis 3, DEFRA
2005 data is subject to amendments
Source:
H M Revenue and Customs

9 Feb 2006 : Column 1361W

Tonnes
Description	Countries	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	January to November 2005
Maize Seed	Irish Republic	692	26	36	14,923	19,822	14,064	12,447
	France	1,676	1,607	5,521	3,899	3,120	2,587	5,788
	Netherlands	1,480	248	1,634	1,306	1,883	1,454	1,817
	Germany	1,967	1,156	1,020	2,315	1,270	868	731
	Chile	—	—	—	109	130	—	12
	Spain	—	—	—	107	—	—	—
	Italy	—	—	—	—	—	89	—
	Others	14	18	10	14	44	43	85

Oil Seeds	Germany	152	133	217	121,296	2,931	382	352
	France	103	147	212	49,652	15,397	19,598	3,562
	Australia	—	—	0	61,550	—	1	—
	Denmark	102	11		13,179	20	22	0
	Irish Republic		1	1	2,898	2,170	3,637	2,839
	Poland	—	—	—	2,291	1	—	—
	Netherlands	1	3	6	163	298	11	2
	Others	0	45	73	503	21	30	261

Sugar Beet Seed	Italy	—	—	38	—	127	243	311
	Germany	134	101	119	168	67	10	8
	France	222	176	32	9	18	59	65
	Belgium	24	30	21	9	3	14	4
	Others	15	22	0	23	3	26	11

Beet other than Sugar Beet	Netherlands	4,584	5,567	6,648	2,480	0	0	0
	Belgium	6,714	—	1,831	—	—	—	—
	Germany	3,882	—	—	—	2,224	120	70
	France	35	2,862	1,265	17	33	3	3
	Denmark	830	1	0	0	0	—	—
	Others	3	17	4	0	2	1	0

Salad beet seed and fodder beet root seed	Netherlands	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	90	34	24
	U.S.A.	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	2	1	34
	Australia	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	—	—	3

Brassicas Seed	New Zealand	0	—	20	13	36	57	85
	U.S.A.	0	—	0	45	27	25	0
	Others	3	1	1	2	2	2	0
Grand Total		22,633	12,172	18,713	276,970	49,741	43,385	28,515

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