To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what environmental appraisal was made of the draft Food Standards Agency Bill; and what changes were made to the draft Bill as a result. [82854]

We did not consider that the provisions of the draft Bill establishing this new body with a range of enabling powers would themselves have significant implications for the environment. We do however envisage that the individual actions and decisions taken by the Agency in the exercise of its powers will, where relevant, be subject to environmental appraisal.