Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Wednesday, 28 April 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 May 2004. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 May 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farms in England, comprising what land areas and in what locations, still have restrictions applied to them in respect of land use as a result of the residual radioactivity from the Chernobyl nuclear accident.- Including figures.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms in England, comprising what land areas and in what locations, still have restrictions applied to them in respect of land use as a result of the residual radioactivity from the Chernobyl nuclear accident. [169877] Miss Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply. There have been no restrictions on land use as a result of the Chernobyl accident. However, restrictions have been placed on the sale, movement and slaughter of sheep in areas affected by the Chernobyl accident, to prevent contaminated sheep meat from entering the food supply. The number of farms and area of land affected, as of 30 April 2004, are as follows: Number of farms--nine Land area (ha)--12,100 Location--West Cumbria.

Secondary information