§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent research the Government have commissioned on dioxin levels in the environment. [123489]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 23 May 2000]The UK Government have sponsored substantial research programmes to assess and monitor the levels of dioxins in the environment. Dioxin levels in air have been monitored as part of the DETR Hazardous Air Pollutants Programme since 1991. Work is under way to measure levels in sewage sludge and a new UK soil survey is due to begin shortly. The Food Standards Agency, and formerly MAFF, regularly monitor dioxin levels in a wide range of foodstuffs which are also useful indicators of environmental concentrations. Results from all monitoring programmes are available on the internet.