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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 17 March 2006
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Avian Influenza
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on whether poultry kept in a control area as pets or for a hobby and which have been vaccinated against H5N1 avian influenza should be culled. [55413]
Mr. Bradshaw: No birds in the UK have been vaccinated against avian influenza. Although vaccination offers potential disease control benefits, at the current level of risk, available vaccines are too limited to provide a fully effective or efficient solution.
In the event of an avian influenza outbreak, we would control the disease by culling all birds on any infected premises and dangerous contacts. Depending on veterinary risk assessment advice, additional strategies could include a cull of flocks in the immediate area to prevent the spread of disease. These arrangements are described in Defra's published Animal Disease Contingency Plan.
Bovine TB
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the wild mammal species where mycobacterium bovis has been found in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement. [57607]
Mr. Bradshaw: The main wildlife reservoir of bovine tuberculosis in the UK is in badgers. Wild deer are the other significant wildlife reservoir though experts believe they generally present less of a disease risk to cattle than badgers do.
The status of Mycobacterium bovis infection in British wild mammals: a review" contains detailed information on the prevalence mycobacterium bovis in wild mammals. A copy of this has been deposited in the House Library.
Further information can be found in the Central Science Laboratory report: the risk to cattle from wildlife species other than badgers in areas of high herd breakdown risk. This is available on the Defra website at: http://www2.defra.gov.uk/research/project_data/More.asp?I=SE3010&M=KWS&V=se3010&SCOPE=
Cetacean By-catch
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of (a) cetacean strandings and (b) cetacean by-catch (i) inside and (ii) outside the 12 mile zone following the 12 mile fair trawl prohibition. [28004]
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Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 11 November 2005]: We have recently published on the Defra website a report on Defra-funded research conducted by the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) on by-catch observations and mitigation work in the UK bass pair trawl fishery. A copy of this report will also be placed in the Library of the House. Since the introduction of the 12 mile pair trawl prohibition, no pair trawl activity has taken place within-12 miles. As the SMRU report outlines, common dolphin by-catch in this fishery has reduced from 429 animals in the 2003–04 season to 139 in the 2004–05 season.
In addition, we have in place observer schemes to monitor by-catch in other fisheries which may be responsible for by-catch both inside and outside 12 miles. The first report from this work also being conducted on our behalf by SMRU is due in spring 2006.
Strandings data is obtained under the Defra-funded Cetacean and Turtle Strandings Scheme, carried out by the Natural History Museum in partnership with the Institute of Zoology and Scottish Agricultural College. Cetacean strandings have shown a steep decline this year in the area covered by the 12 mile pair trawl prohibition. Between 1 January and 18 July 2005, there were 68 common dolphin strandings in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset compared with 178 for the same period in 2004.
Dangerous Dogs Act
Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to review the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991; and if she will make a statement. [59108]
Mr. Bradshaw: There are no plans to review the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
Illegal Meat Imports
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will estimate the total amount in tonnes of illegal meat imports that have entered the EU from countries with (a) foot and mouth disease and (b) avian influenza in each year since 1997; [58618]
(2) if she will estimate the total amount in tonnes of illegal meat imports that have entered (a) the UK and (b) the EU in each year since 1997; [58619]
(3) what estimate she has made of the total amount of illegal meat seized at each UK (a) seaport, (b) airport and (c) border crossing point between 1997 and 2003; [58664]
Mr. Bradshaw: The estimates requested have not been made. However, since April 2001, seizures of illegal meat imported into the UK have been recorded and are shown in the following table:
| Period | Seizures in kilograms |
|---|---|
| 1 April 2001–31 March 2002 | 18,955 |
| 1 April 2002–31 March 2003 | 31,301 |
| 1 April 2003–31 March 2004 | 72,734 |
| 1 April 2004–31 March 2005 | 78,664 |
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We do not have figures on the amount of illegal meat imports entering the EU.
Landfill (Hazardous Waste)
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hazardous waste landfill sites are available for use in each region of England. [58408]
Mr. Bradshaw: The following table shows the number of permitted hazardous landfill sites and separate cells for stable, non-reactive hazardous waste available for use in each of the seven English regions of the Environment Agency.
Region | Hazardous landfill sites | Stable non-reactive hazardous waste cells |
|---|---|---|
| Anglian | 2 | 2 |
| Midlands | 2 | 6 |
| North East | 3 | 4 |
| North West | 3 | 3 |
| South West | 1 | 3 |
| Southern | 1 | 1 |
| Thames | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 13 | 20 |
Nappies
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken since 1997 to promote the use of reusable nappies amost new parents. [56453]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Strategy Unit Report Waste Not Want Not" published in 2002 recommended that the Waste and Resources Programme (WRAP) should take forward a programme of work to increase awareness about re-usable nappies.
WRAP received funding for a period of three years from April 2003 to March 2006. The aim of the WRAP initiative was to provide support to schemes run by local authorities and re-usable nappy businesses. In addition it provides information about re-usable nappies to parents and health professionals.
Rats
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the rat population in England in each year since 1997. [57440]
Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 19 November 2003, Official Report, column 906W.
The only recent objective national survey of rat presence is within the English House Condition Survey (EHCS). The 2001 survey revealed that 0.3 per cent. of properties had rats indoors and 2.9 per cent. had rats present outside.
A copy of the report can be found at the following weblink: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/reports/English-house-survey-rodent-report. pdf.
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Recycling (Herefordshire)
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether Herefordshire council has achieved its target of reducing the amount of waste produced per person, per year to 2000–01 levels. [56724]
Mr. Bradshaw: The target referred to is locally set, part of the joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, 2004–34, and Defra cannot comment on this. However, results taken from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Audit Commission Best Value Performance Indicator 84 show that 538 kg of household waste was produced per person in 2000–01 for Herefordshire. The latest available corresponding results for 2004–05 show 528 kg of household waste was produced per person.
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