To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many areas of what size in Northern Ireland are still under food protection emergency prohibitions as a consequence of the Chernobyl incident; how many breeding sheep are still grazing on each such area; by how much radioactivity has decreased in each such area by reference to (a) sheepmeat, (b) vegetation and (c) soil/peat; and when he now expects all restrictions on sheep to be removed.

[holding answer 3 July 1990]: Testing of marketable lamb at slaughterhouses throughout Northern Ireland continues to show that lamb is safe. Restrictions on movement and slaughter of sheep in Northern Ireland apply in the following areas:

	Glenshane County Londonderry	Belraugh County Londonderry	Glenwherry County Antrim
Acreage	10,744	2,247	8,620
Estimated number of breeding sheep	11,300	3,000	7,000

Monitoring of radioactivity levels in survey flocks has demonstrated no significant fall in radioactivity levels.The available research data from sampling of vegetation and soil/peat do not allow firm conclusions to be reached.It is not possible to predict how long restrictions will need to stay in force. They will be lifted as soon as it is possible to do so without compromising the safety of the food chain.