§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the effect on the environment of dioxin veltase associated with the disposal of carcases during the foot and mouth outbreak. [7868]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 15 October 2001]: Dioxins have been measured in the air and the environment around some of the pyres used to dispose of carcases during the foot and mouth outbreak. All this monitoring data will be reported on the Department of Health website.
Analysis of the air measurements and modelling by the Environment Agency suggest that earlier estimates of dioxin emissions were likely to have been overestimates and to have erred on the precautionary side.
Levels of dioxins measured in soil, herbage and food were mostly similar to levels at control farms not affected by pyres. Some chemical analysis of ash from pyres has been performed. Levels of dioxins were within the range found in urban soils.
The Food Standards Agency considers that the available results show that the pyres have posed no additional risk to health through the food supply.
§ Dr. Richard TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to give financial assistance to the Youth Hostel Association to offset the impact of foot and mouth disease. [11186]
§ Alun MichaelWe are well aware of the impact that foot and mouth disease and the measures to control it have had on the Youth Hostel Association's finances. I and the Minister with responsibility for tourism, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, have met representatives of the YHA to discuss their difficulties and possible sources of help. We have recently announced a change to the guidelines for the Business Recovery Fund to clarify that individual hostels, if their applications meet the Fund criteria, may apply for assistance in their own right. In the light of the recommendations of the rural task force which I chair, published on 18 October, we are considering what further help might be made available.