To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information his Department compiles on chemical or nuclear contamination incidents where there were potential food safety implications; if this information is available to the public; and if he will make a statement. [40798]

The Department compiles annual reports on all such incidents and the Department's response to them. These reports are available to inquirers, free of charge. The latest report by the Ministry's Food Safety Incident Response Team, entitled "Food Protection 1997" has been placed in the Library of the House. It contains details of 230 incidents dealt with in 1997.