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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 25 April 2006

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Accidents (Animals)

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce legislation to make it a defence in law for owners whose horses and other animals are involved in accidents to show that they have taken reasonable steps to avoid such accidents; and if she will make a statement. [63776]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 18 April 2006]: The Animals Act 1971 currently has the effect of placing strict liability on the owner of animals that cause harm whatever the circumstances. This appears to be inconsistent with current liability law in other areas which allows for a general defence of reasonable care. The Government have acknowledged that there may be a case for an amendment to the Animals Act and expects to launch a consultation shortly on this matter.

Air Quality

Ms Diana R. Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of air quality standards in Hull, North constituency. [64097]

Mr. Bradshaw: Local authorities have a duty under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 to review and assess the current, and likely future, air quality in their areas. Where local authorities consider that one or more of the nationally prescribed air quality objectives for each of the seven pollutants is unlikely to be met by the relevant deadline, they must declare an air quality management area (AQMA), covering the area where the problem is expected. These local authorities must then take action, along with other agencies and organisations, to work towards meeting the air quality objectives.

Kingston-upon-Hull city council submitted their last Updating and Screening Assessment (USA) in July 2003. The authority subsequently carried out a Detailed Assessment in respect of nitrogen dioxide, particles (PM10), and sulphur dioxide, which was submitted to my Department in May 2004. In light of the conclusions of the Detailed Assessment, Kingston declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in respect of nitrogen dioxide, in August 2005. Kingston is currently developing their air quality action plan, which will set out measures to work towards meeting the air quality objective. They have included measures within Hull city council's local transport plan, which should improve the capacity to deliver cleaner air within the AQMA.

The next round of review and assessments has now started and local authorities are asked to submit a new Updating and Screening Assessment by end of April
 
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2006, which will be considered by my officials. My Department will be assessing Kingston-upon-Hull's report as part of this exercise.

Animal Welfare

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) allegations have been reported, (b) investigations taken place and (c) prosecutions pursued under (i) the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, (ii) the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, (iii) the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, (iv) the Pet Animals Act 1951, (v) the Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 and (vi) the Deer Act 1991 in each year since 1996. [64284]

Mr. Bradshaw: Since 1996, no allegations have been reported, investigations conducted or prosecutions pursued by Defra under these pieces of legislation. The enforcement responsibility for these areas lies primarily with the police and local authorities.

Avian Influenza

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the (a) the potential for an outbreak of the H5N1 virus in the UK and (b) the potential impact of an outbreak on (i) the poultry industry and (ii) domestic poultry keepers. [63841]

Mr. Bradshaw: H5N1 avian influenza was confirmed in a sample from the partially decomposed body of a Whooper swan found on the causeway at Cellardyke, Fife, Scotland. The swan is the first case of H5N1 detected in a wild bird in the UK and our current hypothesis is that it originated outside Great Britain. Ongoing intensified surveillance across the UK has not identified any other positive live or dead wild bird. There is also no evidence that the virus is present in domestic poultry.

Poultry keepers within a 2,500 sq km wild bird risk area around the area where the swan was found have been required to house their birds. All bird keepers throughout the UK are encouraged to continue their efforts to maintain high levels of biosecurity and develop their plans to bring their birds indoors should that become necessary.

The implications of the Whooper swan finding have been discussed with ornithologists and a revised veterinary risk assessment has been published. It concludes that the current measures put in place throughout Scotland are adequate and proportionate at present. The situation will continue to be reviewed.

We are monitoring the market impact of avian flu closely. The European market is currently volatile, and the knock-on effects of significant downturns in some member states (notably Italy and France) are being felt domestically in terms of lower prices. So far, however, consumption of poultry products has not been significantly affected in the UK.

Cattle Exports

Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what
 
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publicity her Department has undertaken to notify farmers of the regulations with which they must comply in order to export cattle; [63089]

(2) what discussions she has had with farming groups on the facilitation of the export of cattle to the EU once the ban is lifted; [63090]

(3) whether farmers will need a licence to export cattle to the EU; [63091]

(4) if she will make a statement on the regulations with which cattle farmers must comply in order to export cattle to the EU; [63092]

(5) what diseases cattle will need to be tested for prior to export to the EU. [63093]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 18 April 2006]: On 8 March 2006, the EU's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health unanimously approved a Commission proposal to allow the UK to export:

Such exports may take place on the same basis as other member states and will be subject to strict health and welfare requirements. We expect the EU Regulation to enter into force on 2 May and exports to be able to resume from 3 May.

In preparation for the lifting of the ban, Defra officials have held numerous meetings with key stakeholders from industry and animal welfare organisations to discuss the health and welfare requirements for exports. Defra has circulated to industry draft guidance on procedures for completing the necessary export health certification and route plans. The finalised versions of this guidance will be published shortly on Defra's website at <http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trde/default.htm>

Requirements for export include testing for bovine tuberculosis in Great Britain when applicable, and when exporting to certain countries, for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis. Cattle from Northern Ireland must also be tested for brucellosis. In addition, cattle intended for export must be identified in accordance with EU law, with an official tag in each ear and a valid cattle passport.

All exports must comply with the conditions laid down in EU and domestic legislation relating to animal and animal products exports, the welfare of animals during transport, BSE and cattle identification.

Chewing Gum

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to tackle chewing gum-related antisocial behaviour; and if she will make a statement. [63362]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 specifically addresses this type of antisocial behaviour. Chewing gum is clearly defined as litter under the Act, and all local authorities have the power to fine people caught dropping gum.
 
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The Chewing Gum Action Group—which brings together chewing gum manufacturers, the Local Government Association, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, ENCAMS (who run the 'Keep Britain Tidy' campaign), Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the Improvement and Development Agency and Defra—recently announced funding for 15 local authorities across England to support campaigns aimed at helping them deal with the problem of gum litter.

The campaigns will use a mixture of advertising, alternative disposal and enforcement measures to reduce gum litter in these areas.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what representations she has received from private business regarding chewing gum-related antisocial behaviour; [63363]

(2) what representations she has received regarding chewing gum-related crime; and if she will make a statement. [63364]

Mr. Bradshaw: Private industry is represented on the Chewing Gum Action Group. The Department has also received a number of representations from private businesses regarding the production and marketing of chewing gum disposal solutions.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much less chewing gum there was on relevant streets at the end of the Chewing Gum Action Group campaign pilot period. [63996]

Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25 January 2006, Official Report, column 211OW.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much private funding the Chewing Gum Action Group campaign pilots received; and how much is estimated to be available in the future. [63997]

Mr. Bradshaw: The chewing gum pilot campaigns received £378,873 of private funding. An additional £600,000 of private funding will be available to help support 15 further campaigns, beginning in May.


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