To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the protection of offshore natural features. [109619]
The Government is committed to a range of initiatives aimed at protecting the marine environment as outlined in our first Marine Stewardship Report "Safeguarding Our Seas: A Strategy for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of our Marine Environment". This includes extending the protection afforded by the Habitats and Birds Directives to offshore areas to protect important natural habitats and species. We aim to consult on draft regulations this summer. We are also looking at ways to improve the
| Title | Funding Body | Contractor contact | Contractor | Remarks | Start date | End date | Status |
| Genetic variation in susceptibility to chronic effects of organophosphate exposure | HSE | Dr. Nicola Cherry | Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester | Letter published in Lancet (2002 March, v159). Available at VMD website at http://www.vmd.gov.uk/via > Research & Development > Current Projects Final report imminent | January 1999 | March 2002 | Completed |
| Survey of health complaints among sheep–dippers | Defra Science Directorate | Dr. Tony Fletcher | London School of Hygeine and Tropical Medicine | January 2001 | December 2002 | Completed | |
| Dose effect profiles for OP sheep dip on brain electrical activity and cognitive performance | Defra Science Directorate | Dr. Leah Scott | DSTL, Porton Down | Available at VMD website at http://www.vmd.gov.uk/via > Research & Development > Current Projects | April 1998 | December 2002 | Completed—final report awaited |
| Prospective cohort study of sheep dip exposure and dipper's flu | HSE | Dr. Andrew Povey | Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester | Commencement of project negotiations delayed by FMD, then contractual reconciliation within contractor consortium | January 2003 | July 2005 | Work imminently starting |
protection available to marine species and habitats, including in the offshore area, through our Review of Marine Nature Conservation. We expect the Review to publish its recommendations early next year.