§ Mr. DawsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress made in disposing of meat and bonemeal derived from the over thirty month scheme. [83781]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 11 May 1999]: Over 27,000 tonnes of MBM from OTMS animals has now been burned in the high temperature waste incinerator at Fawley.
The Intervention Board announced the first contract for the large scale incineration of MBM with energy recovery in October 1998. Burning under the contract is subject to the company, Fibrogen Ltd. obtaining the necessary planning and environmental consents in accordance with normal procedures. Following a detailed technical assessment of, and extensive consultation on, Fibrogen's application, the Environment Agency granted an authorisation to burn waste MBM under Section 6 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 on 26 April 1999. Fibrogen are considering whether to mount an appeal following the decision by North Lincolnshire Planning Committee on 12 March 1999 to refuse planning permission to change fuel from poultry litter to MBM, which has delayed tangible progress.
The Intervention Board has completed its evaluation of the costed proposals received for the balance of its OTMS MBM incineration requirement and contract negotiations are on-going. Details of the companies will be announced when contracts are signed. These companies will also need the necessary planning and environmental consents from the relevant authorities before the burning of MBM can commence.