§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to remove dioxin from the United Kingdom environment.
§ Mr. BaldryThe risks posed by the trace quantities of dioxins in the environment do not warrant any specific action to remove them. Dioxins in the environment tend to be absorbed onto soil particles and are gradually changed into other substances by the action of natural chemical, physical and biological processes. The Government's policy is to take action to reduce the levels of dioxins entering the environment from industrial and other sources. This will in due course result in lower levels of dioxins occurring in the environment.