asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to make an announcement about food irradiation in the United Kingdom.

In April 1986 the Government published the report of the Advisory Committee on Irradiated and Novel Foods (ACINF) on the safety and wholesomeness of irradiated foods and sought comments on it. Some 6,000 letters have been received from members of the public, interested organisations and Members of Parliament. In the light of these, further advice was sought from the ACINF which reaffirmed its earlier advice that, under the conditions prescribed, irradiated food is safe and wholesome. Having carefully considered the arguments, Ministers for Health and Agriculture have accepted this advice. Copies of ACIN F's further advice to Ministers have been placed in the Library and it is our intention to make copies publicly available.The committee drew attention to certain practical issues relating to the monitoring and control of irradiated foods and enforcement. The Government have therefore decided to maintain the present general prohibition on irradiated foods until they are satisfied that effective regulatory controls can be drawn up for the irradiation of specific foods in order to bring about good industrial and marketing practices and ensure informed consumer choice. Such controls should include assurances on the quality of the particular foods to be irradiated, requirements as to the maintenance of documentary records, the licensing of premises and inspection of operations. The availability of detection tests will be one of the factors to be taken into consideration and there would also be statutory provision for the labelling of irradiated foods and food ingredients.My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture will now arrange for further work to be carried out to examine the scope and format of any controls. Consultation under the food Acts will not be initiated until Ministers are satisfied that there is adequate provision to ensure the prevention of abuse and the protection of consumer choice. At the same time, working with our European partners we will endeavour to achieve a common approach to the irradiation of food throughout the European Community.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What actions are being taken by the DHSS to consult appropriate United Kingdom bodies who are interested in (a) the draft directive on homoeopathic products and (b) the review of controls on herbal medicine, and what procedures have been laid down for consultation by the DHSS with these bodies when EC policy is being formulated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Through what channels the DHSS are taking steps to protect the interests of patients who choose to use natural medicines (herbal. homoeopathic, biochemic and anthroposophic) during the formulation of the legislative changes required by the EC for full harmonisation in 1992.

The Commission of the European Community has not yet met a commitment to submit to the Council of Ministers a proposal for a directive on homoeopathic products. The text of a draft directive submitted to the Council as a basis for discussion would be communicated to UK interests and laid before Parliament in the normal way. Present European Community pharmaceutical directives apply to proprietary herbal medicines and the appropriate expert group in the European Community is considering guidelines—not having the force of a directive—for the quality of herbal remedies. This has reached the stage of consultation with national authorities and offices of the department have been in contact with UK herbal interests.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many licences have been issued by the Red Deer Commission authorising people to shoot deer at night in the last three months; whether each of the licences issued permits the shooting of roe deer; if not, how many have been issued for the killing of roe deer at night; and whether any permits have been issued to shoot deer at night in England and Wales.

During the last three months the Red Deer Commission has issued 28 licences authorising the shooting of deer in Scotland at night, of which 13 have permitted the shooting of roe deer. In the same period no permits to shoot deer at night have been issued in England and Wales.