HC Deb 20 April 1989 vol 151 cc280-1W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate how long restrictions will have to remain in force on farms affected by fallout from Chernobyl.

Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate how long restrictions will have to remain in force on farms affected by fallout from Chernobyl.

Mr. Ryder

We shall lift restrictions as soon as it is possible to do so without compromising food safety. The broad downward trend in radioactivity levels within the Cumbria restricted area in 1988 compared with 1987 was encouraging. However, whilst there are sheep above the 1,000 bq/kg limit, restrictions will have to remain in force. We shall be reassessing the situation in the light of the 1989 monitoring results to see whether there is scope for reducing the area subject to restrictions later this year.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of farms, number of sheep and number of acres subject to post-Chernobyl restrictions as at February; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Donald Thompson

About 116,000 acres with some 80,000 sheep on about 150 holdings were subject to post-Chernobyl restrictions in February 1989.