Sky Lanterns

Environment Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered am ar 17 Gorffennaf 2013.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Helen Jones Helen Jones Shadow Minister (Communities and Local Government)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to record injuries to livestock caused by the residue of Chinese lanterns; and how many reports of such injuries have been recorded in each local authority area in Cheshire in each of the last three years.

Photo of David Heath David Heath The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Department does not routinely record specific injuries to livestock nor do we receive regular reports on such injuries from local authorities. Recognising the serious concerns that people have about the possible impacts of sky lanterns, we have encouraged the farming industry to gather evidence. In order to further improve the evidence-base DEFRA and the Welsh Government commissioned an independent report on sky lanterns. Published in May 2013, this report brings together and evaluates the available evidence, including evidence presented by the farming sector and through stakeholder surveys. While farmers have lost livestock due to ingested wire from sky lanterns, the evidence from this independent report suggests that any widespread risk of injury and death to livestock is low.

The independent report is available from the following link:

http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu& Module=More&Location=None&ProjectID=18402&From Search=Y&Publisher=1&SearchText=lanterns&SortString=Project Code&SortOrder=Asc&Paging=10#Description

Does this answer the above question?

Yes0 people think so

No0 people think not

Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.