HC Deb 26 March 2001 vol 365 cc431-2W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what has been the cost to date of introducing and operating the Quality Mark scheme in the pilot areas; [154854]

(2) how many builders and allied traders have (a) applied to join and (b) joined the Quality Mark scheme; [154856]

(3) what estimate his Department has made of the annual cost of operating the Quality Mark scheme nationally; [154855]

(4) what plans he has to extend the pilot Quality Mark scheme to the rest of the country. [154857]

Mr. Raynsford

In total the Department has paid out just over £700,000 to support the development of the Quality Mark scheme and its implementation in the two pilot areas of Birmingham and Somerset. Likely costs for running a national scheme will be identified as part of the review of the pilot.

Some 280 builders and allied traders are now pursuing the Quality Mark, and nine have already achieved it.

The Government will carry out a review of the pilot scheme towards the end of the year, following which a decision will be made about extending the scheme to the rest of the country.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 28 February 2001, Official Report, column 688W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Mr. Love).

Mr. Grieve

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment has been made of the quantity and effect of emissions into the air of dioxins resulting from the burning of coal slag, railway sleepers and the other materials being used for the incineration of animals culled for the purpose of eradicating foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement. [155435]

Mr. Meacher

My Department has asked the National Environmental Technology Centre of AEA Technology to calculate amounts of air pollutants, including dioxins, particles (as PM10) and nitrogen oxides, released from the burning of carcases and fuels on the pyres. At present, it is estimated that the amount of dioxins released from the burning on pyres to date is about 10–20g. This is equivalent to about 3–6 per cent. of the total annual emissions of dioxins in the UK. This is roughly equivalent to the amount released annually from domestic burning of coal and wood and is less than one third the amount released annually from accidental fires and other open burning sources. I will write to the hon. Member with more accurate figures as they become available.

Infected animals must be killed quickly to prevent the further spreading of the disease and their carcases have to be destroyed. Burning on farms, although not without its pollutant emissions, is the quickest and most appropriate method to dispose of the large number of carcases, at present. We are investigating other methods of disposal, such as rendering, landfill and burial on farms, where appropriate. We will also continue to assess the levels of emissions from the pyres, including dioxin levels.