§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what radiation and other checks are carried out on the produce of the tenant farms next to, and in the vicinity of the Sellafield nuclear power plant; and to what extent the final destination of the produce is monitored.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food operates a programme of regular routine monitoring around all of the major licensed nuclear sites in England and Wales. As part of this terrestrial radioactivity monitoring programme, milk, crop and animal samples are regularly taken from the vicinity of the Sellafield site. Monitoring of individual dietary intakes is undertaken both locally and in other parts of the country to confirm that no dietary pathways are being overlooked.
In addition to the Ministry's monitoring programme, checks are also undertaken by the National Radiological Protection Board, the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and by British Nuclear Fuels plc, the plant operators.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) why the European Economic Community Commission has introduced restrictions on the import of apples; whether he was consulted on these restrictions; and what assessment he has made of the implications of these restrictions for the general agreement on tariffs and trade;
(2) what estimate he has made of the impact on apple prices and consumer choice of the restrictions placed by the European Economic Community Commission on further imports;
(3) if the European Economic Community will offer compensation to the owners of apples which were in transit to Europe on the day the European Economic Community imposed restrictions on imports; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 16 May 1988]: The EC Commission has acted under article 29(2) of regulation 1035/72 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables which allows it to act on its own initiative if it considers that imports from third 398W countries cause or threaten to cause serious disturbance on the Community market. The Commission is not obliged to consult member states on such matters and did not do so, on the ground that urgent action was necessary. The compatibility of these restrictions with the GATT will be investigated within the framework of that organisation by a GATT panel and I would not wish to speculate on the outcome. Our view is that the overall impact of these restrictions on apple prices and consumer choice will be limited. Even with these restrictions, imports from third countries are likely to be at the same or somewhat higher levels this year than last. However, I am concerned that member states did not have an opportunity to weigh possible effects on trade and markets in advance of the decision, and our views on this have been made clear in the Community. I appreciate the problems faced by the traders who bought apples in good faith but have not been able to obtain licences as a result of the ban, and representations have been made to the Commission on this specific point. However, I do not think that this is an appropriate case for compensation from United Kingdom funds.