asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the forthcoming review of biofuels production by the Renewable Fuels Agency will include examination of greenhouse gas emissions directly and indirectly resulting from (a) the production and transport of seed; (b) the agricultural processes in growing and harvesting crops, including use of fertilisers; (c) the transport and processing of crops to produce fuel; and (d) the subsequent production and distribution of fuel; and [HL3077]

Whether the forthcoming review of biofuels production by the Renewable Fuels Agency will examine the impact of biofuel production on both the price and supply of food and animal feed. [HL3078]

The terms of reference of the Renewable Fuels Agency's review into the indirect effects of biofuels production were published on 13 March 2008 on the websites of the Department for Transport and the Renewable Fuels Agency. The terms of reference can be found at www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/rtfo/biofuelsreviewtor.

To give more detail on the scope of the review, the Renewable Fuels Agency recently published a progress bulletin. This sets out in some detail the six key questions that the review will address and also describes the individual studies that are being undertaken to help address those questions. The progress bulletin can be found on the Renewable Fuel Agency's website at www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/reportsand publications/reviewoftheindirecteffectsofbiofuels.cfm.