§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what representations her Department has received regarding(a) leakage levels of technetium-99 into groundwater at Sellafield and (b) the point source origin of such leakage; [69633]
(2) what representations her Department has received regarding the effect on the food chain of technetium-99 leakage into groundwater. [69634]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 17 July 2002]: My Department has not received any representations on these issues.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessement she has made of the possible environmental policy gains that would arise from the implementation of the draft EU Directive on environmental liability. [70834]
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§ Margaret BeckettThe extended partial Regulatory Impact Assessment, submitted to Parliament (COM (02) 17) considers the potential gains that would arise from implementation of the draft Directive. It concludes that much of the environmental damage covered within the scope of the proposed Directive is already subject to a number of domestic regimes.
However, the assessment does establish that there could potentially be positive environmental benefits, resulting in particular from the setting of higher standards of remediation that would require more extensive remediative action. Furthermore, the introduction of equivalent remediation, which would require restorative action to be carried out at an alternative site, and the concept of compensation for interim losses would go further than existing legislation.
Additional benefits could result from an increase in preventative action by those carrying out potentially damaging activities. Consequently, less environmental damage may occur.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library copies of responses to the Government's public consultation on the draft EU Directive on environmental liability. [70837]
§ Margaret BeckettThe public consultation on proposals for a Directive on environmental liability ended on 24 May 2002 and a study has been undertaken of all of the responses received. The responses helped to inform the UK position at the June Environment Council and the extended partial Regulatory Impact Assessment.
Copies of all responses to the Government's public consultation have been placed in the DEFRA library.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Council of Ministers next to debate the draft EU Directive on Environmental Liability [70842]
§ Margaret BeckettWe expect the Council to discuss the draft Directive on environmental liability in October. The indications are that if this occurs, discussion will centre on a progress report.