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24 Jun 2009 : Column 941W—continued
Genetically Modified Organisms: Crops
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the scientific advice commissioned by his Department on the cultivation of genetically-modified in maize and sweetcorn; and what consideration he has given to the implications for his policy on such cultivation of the provisions of the Environmental Liability Directive. [281971]
Dan Norris: We receive advice on applications for European Union (EU) approval to cultivate GM crops from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). Its advice on the safety of two types of GM maize for which EU decisions are due, known as Bt11 and 1507 respectively, is available on the DEFRA website at
ACRE and the European Food Safety Authority have both said that Bt11 and 1507 do not pose any greater risk for human health and the environment than conventional maize. It is therefore not expected that any issues should arise in relation to possible liability for environmental harm. Moreover, neither Bt11 nor 1507 maize are expected to be grown in the UK, because they are not suitable for our growing conditions and would not offer any benefit to our farmers.
Landfill
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance he has issued to the Environment Agency on the account to be taken of consequential environmental impacts that may occur beyond the perimeter of a site which is the subject of an application for a licence for landfill when considering whether or not to grant such a licence; and if he will make a statement. [281998]
Dan Norris
[holding answer 23 June 2009]: The principal objective of waste legislation is to ensure that waste is recovered or disposed of without endangering human
health or the environment. Any establishment or undertaking carrying out waste recovery or disposal in England and Wales is required to obtain a permit from the Environment Agency.
The Environment Agency is required to exercise its functions for the purpose of ensuring the principal objective is met and may not grant a permit where it considers there to be an unacceptable risk to the environment or human health. The Agency may only grant a permit where relevant planning permission is in place and may impose requirements in permits that relate to the preparation, operation, monitoring and control procedures as well as the closure and after-care of a landfill. The Environment Agency has a duty to take action to reduce any negative impacts that are a direct result of a permitted activity. The Environment Agency's criteria apply both inside and outside the site.
Oil: Waste Disposal
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations govern the combustion of (a) diesel and (b) used cooking oil that has been classified as being end-of-waste; and if he will make a statement. [281362]
Dan Norris: The relevant thresholds are given in schedule 1, part 2, of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 and are as follows:
Section 1.1 part A(1) (a) 50 MW.
(b) Used cooking oil that has been classified as non-waste
Section 1.1 part A(1) (a) 50 MW.
Section 1.1 part A(1) (b) 3-50 MW.
The relevant section will be dependent upon the specific type of material being burnt.
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department has issued on whether an end-of-waste product manufactured from used cooking oil requires a permit under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007, Schedule 1, Part 2, Section 1:1; and if he will make a statement. [281363]
Dan Norris: The question of whether any particular waste has been fully recovered and has ceased to be waste must be determined on the facts of the case and taking into account relevant case law on the definition of waste. The environment agency is responsible for the implementation of waste management controls in England and Wales. Schedule 1, part 2, section 1.1 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 applies to fuel manufactured from waste regardless of whether the waste from which it has been manufactured has been fully recovered and has ceased to be waste. DEFRA has not issued guidance specifically advising on the question of whether fuel manufactured from used cooking oil requires a permit under this provision.
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department plans to amend the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007, Schedule 1, Part 2, Section 1:1 in the light of the European Court of Justice ruling in the 2000 ARCO Chemie case; and if he will make a statement. [281364]
Dan Norris: The Arco Chemie case is discussed in the "Interpretative Communication on waste and by-products" published by the European Commission on 21 February 2007. DEFRA has no plans to amend the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 in the light of this judgment.
Recycling: Hampshire
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of waste arising in each local authority area in the ceremonial county of Hampshire was recycled in each of the last five years. [281371]
Dan Norris: The following table shows the percentage of municipal waste sent to be recycled, composted or reused by each authority in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in the financial years 2003-04 through to 2007-08.
Some data for 2004-05 are unavailable due to authorities not providing complete data returns.
| Percentage of municipal waste sent for recycling, composting or reuse | |||||
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
| Source: DEFRA municipal waste management survey and WasteDataFlow. | |||||
Recycling: Peterborough
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of waste arising in Peterborough local authority area was recycled in each of the last five years. [281665]
Dan Norris: The following table shows the percentage of municipal waste sent to be recycled, composted or reused in Peterborough city council in the financial years 2003-04 through to 2007-08.
| Peterborough city council | |
| Percentage of municipal waste sent for recycling, composting or reuse | |
| Source: DEFRA municipal waste management survey and WasteDataFlow | |
Renewable Energy: Waste
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on the renewable energy sector of the level of rated thermal input allowed by a Part 1A permit under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007; [276124]
(2) if he will increase the level of rated thermal input allowed by a Part 1A permit required under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007 for fuel manufactured from waste which has attained an end-of-waste certificate. [276677]
Dan Norris: I assume both these questions refer to a provision in Part A(1) of Section 1.1 of Annex I of the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2007. This provision refers to burning waste oil, recovered oil or any fuel manufactured from, or comprising, any other waste. If such material is burnt in an appliance with a rated thermal input of more than 3 megawatts, that activity will require a permit from the Environment Agency which embodies integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) requirements.
The 3 megawatt threshold was contained in predecessor Regulations dating back to the last decade. No assessment of its impact specifically on the renewable energy sector has been carried out. DEFRA has no plans to change the threshold.
School Milk
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many schools in each local authority area provided milk to children under the (a) EU School Milk Subsidy and (b) the national top-up scheme in the latest period for which figures are available. [277851]
Jim Fitzpatrick: We do not hold figures on the number of schools that provide milk as part of the EU School Milk Scheme.
However, there are currently 171 organisations claiming under the scheme in Great Britain:
155 local authorities;
six schools;
one parish council;
three town councils; and
six other organisations.
Veterinary Laboratories Agency: Consultants
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Veterinary Laboratories Agency spent on consultants in each of the last five years. [279541]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Veterinary Laboratories Agency has spent the following on consultants in each of the last five years:
| £ | |
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