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HFCs
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of plant and equipment installed in her Department's offices in the last 12 months contains HFCs. [15519]
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Margaret Beckett [holding answer 16 November 2001]: No central record is kept of plant and equipment installed in the Department. The Department is, though, well aware that in October 2000 regulations came into force which confirmed the total ban on the use of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and introduced a ban on HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) in new equipment from 1 January 2001. Substitute refrigerants have therefore been introduced whose benefits include reduced ozone depletion potential, toxicity, flammability and global warming potential. These substitute refrigerants include approved HFCs. The Department therefore endorses the use of the Office of Government Commerce Buying Solutions since they supply HFC based equipment. Our facilities managers and design consults are well aware of the regulations and specify new equipment accordingly.
BSE
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) on what date her Department became aware that meat from the offspring of a cow with BSE had entered the human food chain; [28688]
- (2) on what date her Department informed the Food Standards Agency that meat from the offspring of a cow with BSE had entered the human food chain. [28687]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 18 January 2002]: The Animal Health Office discovered that an offspring had been moved while under restrictions on 3 January. After further investigation, a detailed written report outlining the circumstances of the case was received in London on 8 January. The Food Standards Agency was informed on 10 January.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she made of using postal services to obtain the passports of the offspring of cattle with BSE during the foot and mouth epidemic. [28690]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 18 January 2002]: There was no practical alternative to using postal services in circumstances where it was desirable to minimise visits both on to and off farms.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many cases comprise the backlog in the seizure of animal passports in relation to BSE controls; and if she will make a statement; [28684]
- (2) what response she has made to the Food Standards Agency's request for her Department to clear the backlog in the seizure of animal passports in relation to BSE controls. [28685]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 18 January 2002]: Animal Health Offices have been asked to seize all outstanding passports for offspring animals under BSE restrictions and to report on progress early in the week beginning 21 January. Animal Health Offices have also been instructed to prioritise offspring cull work.
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Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what means her Department became aware that meat from the offspring of a cow with BSE had entered the human food chain. [28686]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 18 January 2002]: The Animal Health Office contacted the offspring's owner in order to arrange for it to be slaughtered. The farmer informed the Animal Health Office that the animal had been moved. Further investigation revealed that the animal had been slaughtered for human consumption.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to confiscate animal passports of cattle which are the offspring of animals with BSE and are awaiting slaughter. [28185]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 17 January 2002]: There are no changes to our policy that the passports of all offspring born after 1 August 1996 to suspected BSE cases should be removed. Checks are being made to ensure that this has happened in all cases. This does not alter the owner's responsibility to comply with restriction notices served on them.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many offspring of BSE-infected cattle were awaiting slaughter in January 2001; and what is the present number. [28186]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 17 January 2002]: 134 offspring of BSE-infected cattle were awaiting slaughter in Great Britain on 14 January 2001. As at 14 January 2002, there were 478 offspring awaiting slaughter.
Energy Efficiency
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to extend the loan action scheme to England. [29375]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 22 January 2002]: I assume the hon. Gentleman is referring to the loan action scheme to improve energy efficiency in small and medium enterprises run by the Energy Saving Trust in Scotland, or the similar scheme which the Trust operates in Northern Ireland. The introduction of a similar scheme in England would be a matter for consideration by the Energy Saving Trust and the recently formed Carbon Trust, in the preparation of their business plans.
Flood Defences (Lewes)
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications for flood defence provision in Lewes resulting from the decision on the contribution of East Sussex County Council to the flood levy for 2002–03. [27539]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 16 January 2002]: I understand that the Sussex Local Flood Defence Committee is meeting again on 25 January to discuss the 2002–03 levy and its implications for the Environment Agency's plans for flood management. I await the agency's assessment of any implications for flood defence provision in Lewes.
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Animal Experiments
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to seek changes to EU legislation in respect of the mandatory testing of chemicals on animals. [28633]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 22 January 2002]: In line with Government policy on experiments on live animals, the policy of the Department is to seek reduction in such experimentation wherever possible, consistent with the protection of human health and the environment. We take the view that, while a complete ban is not yet achievable, much more should be done to reduce the numbers of animals used in determining the environmental fate and effects of chemicals.
We are aware of the concern that has been raised that the EU Review of Chemicals legislation might lead to a large increase in the number of animals used in tests. We sympathise with these concerns, and have made it clear to the Commission of the European Communities and to other member states that a key objective of this review must be to keep the need for animal experimentation to an absolute minimum. This should include:
- requiring companies to share information about chemicals
prioritising chemicals for testing
finding and validating test methods which do not require the use of animals.
Lost/Stolen Property
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list those items valued at more than £50 which have been stolen or lost from her Department in each of the last four years. [27998]
Mr. Morley: The Department records show that the following items have been stolen or lost in the last four years. Data from 8 June 2001 relate to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs while previous information covers Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
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