§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present concentration of mercury in (a) fish in Liverpool bay and (b) eels in the Thames estuary; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe average level of mercury in fish taken from Liverpool bay, weighted in accordance with the pattern of consumption, was 0.23 mg/kg in 1985, the latest year for which figures are available. The level in eels in the Thames estuary in 1986 was 0.30 mg/kg.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to publish the baseline survey of metals in sea water on which his Department is currently engaged.
§ Mr. GummerThis survey is part of a baseline survey by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, which is expected to be completed and made available in 1988.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what resources are available to his Department in terms of finance and manpower to carry out the work of protecting the North sea from pollution arising from human sources.
§ Mr. GummerThe protection of the North sea from pollution forms part of the aquatic environment programme of my Ministry. The resources devoted to it are listed in the publication "Ministerial Information in MAFF 1986" a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Cohenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer of 20 November, Offical Report. column 348, if he will give the latest assessment (a) by Her Majesty's Government and (b) by other Governments of the scale of pollution in the North sea.
§ Mr. GummerI have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 20 November 1986 at col.348.
§ Mr. Cohenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer of 25 November, Official Report, column 182, if he will list all the licences issued under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 for the dumping or disposal by burning at sea of harzardous industrial chemicals and wastes.
§ Mr. GummerMore than 30 such licences have been issued. A public register of all licences issued under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 is maintained in my Ministry and may be inspected free of charge at any reasonable time.