Written question asked by Peter Duncan (Conservative) on Wednesday, 18 December 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 February 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Monday, 24 February 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what risk assessment was conducted before anti-rabies testing at Dundrennan Range; and what further assessment has since been made of the risks to (a) local people, (b) pets, and (c) other livestock arising from the testing. - Including figure.

Answer: Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what risk assessment was conducted before anti-rabies testing at Dundrennan Range; and what further assessment has since been made of the risks to (a) local people, (b) pets, and (c) other livestock arising from the testing. [88642] Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply. The field trial was authorised by the ACP (Advisory Committee on Pesticides) who performed an independent evaluation of the risks of the trial, and stipulated certain conditions to further reduce such risks. The Central Science Laboratory's (CSL) own risk assessment was that the risks to local people, pets and other livestock was extremely low. No poisoning incidents have occurred as a result of the trial, and the overall level of pesticide used at Dundrennan was between 10,000 and one million times less (per square kilometre) than the level used during certain agricultural practices.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 88642; 400 c131W;400 c130W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Health hazards Disease control Livestock Pesticides Pets Rabies Testing Kirkcudbright Training Area
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk