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Farm Waste
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance he offers to farmers wishing to dispose of (a) farm plastics and (b) silage wrap. [4653]
Mr. Morley: General guidance is provided to farmers on the disposal of plastics in the MAFF/WOAD "Codes of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Air and Soil". More detailed guidance on the disposal of pesticide containers, packaging and other contaminated materials is provided in the MAFF/HSC statutory "Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Pesticides on Farms and Holdings". Copies of these documents have been placed in the Library of the House.
MAFF has recently invited bids for a project to develop and test a manual to help farmers minimise waste, including waste plastics arising on-farm.
Radioactive Contamination (English Channel)
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the potential contamination of the English Channel and the fish and mammals therein from the discharge of radioactive material into the sea from the Cap de la Hague nuclear power station. [4643]
Mr. Rooker: The Department carries out regular monitoring and assessment of the radioactive contamination of marine foodstuffs and environmental indicator materials within the English Channel.
The results are published annually in the Department's report "Radioactivity in Food and the Environment". The latest report, for 1995, shows that the contamination attributable to the discharges of radioactivity from the Cap de la Hague reprocessing plant are of negligible radiological significance.
Fallen Stock (Disposal)
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what guidance he has issued to farmers faced with costs arising from the disposal of fallen stock; [4655]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the level of incentives available to encourage farmers to dispose of fallen stock according to best practice; and if he will make a statement. [4656]
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Mr. Rooker: Farmers should dispose of all fallen stock in line with applicable legislation and codes of good practice. It is in their own interests to do so.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his policy in respect of the disposal of fallen stock by use of ditches and similar locations in the countryside; [4657]
- (2) what steps he is taking to discourage the disposal by farmers of fallen stock around the countryside. [4658]
Mr. Rooker: Fallen stock should be disposed of in a way that prevents the spread of disease and does not pollute water. It is an offence under the Animal By-Products Order 1992 (as amended) to leave carcases in ditches or similar locations around the countryside. It is also an offence under the Dogs Act 1906 knowingly to leave carcases unburied at places where dogs can gain access. However, burial is a permitted method of disposal of fallen stock provided that the carcase is buried at sufficient depth to place it beyond the reach of carnivorous animals. Guidance is provided to farmers in the MAFF Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water and burial must be in ground where contamination of water cannot occur.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Royal Ulster Constabulary
Mr. Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she plans to lay before the House the annual report for 1996 of the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. [5133]
Marjorie Mowlam: Copies of the Chief Constable's Annual Report 1996 have today been placed in the library. It is a general report on the carrying out by the RUC of their functions during 1996 which is submitted to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland and transmitted to me for laying before Parliament in accordance with Section 15 of the Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970.
Local Authority Services (Tendering)
Mr. Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has in relation to compulsory competitive tendering for District Council services in Northern Ireland. [5132]
Marjorie Mowlam: The existing legislation in Northern Ireland provides for the introduction of Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT) to certain specified District Council services over a period of time. All but two of these services have already been subjected to CCT; the two remaining services are the Management of Sports and Leisure Facilities and Construction and Maintenance. These were due to be exposed to competition by 1 April 1998. However, in view of the Government's manifesto commitment on CCT, and plans to introduce a "best value" regime, I have decided to extend the existing timetable to 1 November 1998.
This will allow time to take on board any proposals to modify the current CCT regime and to see how the proposals for a best value regime shape up in Great Britain. I am closely monitoring developments in this area
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in Great Britain with a view to extending the "best value" regime to District Council services in Northern Ireland as soon as practicable.
In the meantime, the existing CCT legislation will continue to govern District Council services. Consequently, in the case of those services which have already been the subject of CCT, Councils will be required to continue to produce annual reports and to meet the financial objectives specified under the legislation and the DOE(NI) will also continue to monitor Councils' performance until the existing contracts end.
Dr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Rate Collection Agency in 1997-98. [5243]
Marjorie Mowlam:
For 1997-98 the following performance targets have been set for RCA:
Collection and recovery of rates
1. To collect 97 per cent. of the gross domestic collectable rate, (excluding late assessments) by 31 March 1998.
2. To collect 98.55 per cent. of the gross non-domestic collectable rate (excluding late assessments) by 31 March 1998.
3. To achieve a reduction of 5 per cent. in the real value of the unit costs of collecting rates per hereditament over the two year period to 31 March 1998.
4. To generate refunds to 97 per cent. of ratepayers so entitled within 14 days of credits being identified.
Housing benefit administration
5. To process by 31 March 1998, 95 per cent. of applications for the incoming year received from housing benefit recipients before 15 March 1998.
6. To achieve a reduction of 5 per cent. in real value of unit costs of processing housing benefit cases over the two year period to 31 March 1998.
7. To assess 97 per cent. of housing benefit claims free of error.
Prison Service
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to change the manner of response to parliamentary questions concerning the Northern Ireland Prison Service. [5244]
Marjorie Mowlam:
In view of the special sensitivity of prisons matters, I have decided that all questions about the Northern Ireland Prison Service will be answered by a Northern Ireland Minister and not by the Chief Executive of the Service. This is no reflection on the Chief Executive nor does it have any implication for the Northern Ireland Prison Service as an agency. However, it recognises particular concerns that Ministers should answer personally on matters relating to imprisonment.
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Project Work
Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will announce the commencement date for Project Work work placement providers. [4803]
Mr. Andrew Smith: I am today refocusing Project Work to include proper training and effective subsidies to employers to take on the long-term unemployed. This will enable Project Work providers to agree the detail of their contracts, including start dates, with the Employment Service.
All Project Work pilots will in future include, as a standard feature, intensive help with basic skills for those who need it. I am also pleased to announce an increase in the amount of Workstart subsidy available in the Project Work pilot areas. This means that employers in these areas who take on someone out of work for over two years may receive £60 for a recruit aged 18 to 24 and £75 if aged between 25 and 50.
Enhancing the help given by Project Work pilots is an integral part of the Government's drive to tackle long term unemployment. It extends a helping hand to the jobless by introducing intensive literacy and numeracy support within Project Work to those who need it. The strengthened basic skills element will help equip long term unemployed people more effectively for jobs.
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