§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of(a) farms, (b) sheep and (c) acres currently subject to post-Chernobyl restrictions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 27 November 1989 at column136.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the number of sheep sampled for radioactivity in each county in England for(a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988, (d) 1989 and (e) to date in 1990; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will list the total number of sheep sampled for radioactivity in England for (a)1986, (b)1987, (c)1988, (d)1989 and (e)to date in 1990 including the number of sheep with levels of radioactivity (i) over 4,000 bq/kg, (ii) 3,000 to 3,999 bq, (iii) 2,000 to 2,999, (iv) 1,000 to 1,999, (v) 500 to 999 and (vi) below 499; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe results of my Department's radioactivity monitoring in sheep, including live monitoring in Cumbria under the "mark and release" scheme, spatial surveys of sheep in and around the restricted area, slaughterhouse monitoring and laboratory analysis of tissues from sheep carcasses, are published regularly and copies placed in the Library of the House.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many sheep have been monitored for radioactivity in slaughterhouses in each county in England in each year since 1986; how many were found to be above the 1,000 bq/kg limit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerSince the introduction of our programme of slaughterhouse monitoring in February 1989, the following numbers of sheep carcasses have been monitored:
Cumbria Lancashire Total 1989 5,405 5,101 10,506 11990 1,637 1,758 3,395 1To 31 March. None have been found above the 1,000 bq/kg limit. This programme supplements the continuing live 154W monitoring mark and release scheme for all sheep moved out of the restricted areas. We continue to monitor to make sure that no consumer need have any concern whatsoever.