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Next Steps Agencies
Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the next steps agencies which have regional administrative structures. [11363]
Dr. David Clark:
The next steps agencies which have regional administrative structures are listed:
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Forensic Science Service
Mr. Stephen Twigg:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans his Department has to extend benefits currently enjoyed by spouses of members of the principal civil service pension scheme to partners of members who are the same sex or a common law spouse.[11829]
Dr. David Clark:
Any extension of benefits would have a cost and could be made only if there is a willingness on the part of scheme members to meet the cost in full.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) on how many occasions a civil servant who has reported alleged wrongdoing under the civil service code has reported the matter in writing to the Civil Service Commission; [11814]
Dr. David Clark:
Where a civil servant believes that he or she is being required to act in a way which would be in breach of the Civil Service Code, he or she should report the matter internally in accordance with departmental procedures. If the civil servant involved believes that the response is not a reasonable one, he or she may report the matter in writing to the civil service commissioners.
Two appeals falling within the terms of the civil service code have been investigated by the civil service commissioners and upheld. Details are provided in the commissioners' annual report for 1996-97. A third approach is still the subject of internal departmental procedures. A fourth was resolved within the Department before it became clear whether it fell within the terms of the code.
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Information on the number of cases raised under the code, and settled internally within Departments without reference to the commissioners, is not held centrally.
Mr. Green:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates his Department has made of the number of over-30-months scheme cattle in Kent requiring incineration over the next three years. [10355]
Mr. Rooker:
A designated abattoir in Kent has been awarded a contract to deal with those animals coming forward for slaughter under the scheme in Kent and the neighbouring counties, notably Sussex and part of Hampshire. It is estimated that 25,000 animals over 30 months of age from these counties will be slaughtered in Kent each year. It is not possible to give an estimate of the numbers which will be incinerated over the next three years because the majority of animals being slaughtered under the scheme at the present time are being rendered prior to disposal. However, a carcase incineration facility may be established adjacent to the over-30-months scheme abattoir in Kent which will offer significant efficiencies.
Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average weight of cattle slaughtered under the over-30-months cattle slaughter scheme; and what proportion of the cattle slaughtered under the scheme exceeded that average weight. [10159]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 28 July 1997]: The average weight of cattle slaughtered under the over-30-months slaughter scheme is 595 kg.
Sixty-three per cent. of cattle presented under the scheme weighed more than 595 kg.
Dr. Lewis:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle weighing (a) between 560 kg and 609 kg, (b) between 610 kg and 659 kg, (c) between 660 kg and 709 kg, (d) between 710 kg and 759 kg and (e) over 760 kg live weight have been slaughtered under the over-30-months cattle slaughter scheme during 1997. [10160]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 28 July 1997]: The information requested is as follows:
Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency
Central Office of Information
Coastguard
Court Service
Defence Dental Agency
Defence Estate Organisation
Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency
Defence Secondary Care Agency
Defence Vetting Agency
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Driving Standards Agency
Employment Service
Employment Tribunals Service
Farming and Rural Conservation Agency
Highways Agency
HM Land Registry
HM Prison Service
Insolvency Service
Marine Safety Agency
Meat Hygiene Service
Medical Supplies Agency
Medicines Control Agency
Ministry of Defence Police
NHS Estates
Ordnance Survey
Property Advisers to the Civil Estate
Radiocommunications Agency
Social Security Benefits Agency
Social Security Child Support Agency
Social Security Contributions Agency
Specialist Procurement Services
The Buying Agency
United Kingdom Passport Agency
Valuation Office
Veterinary Laboratories Agency
(2) on how many occasions since the introduction of the civil service code a civil servant has reported alleged wrongdoing. [11813]
| Live weight (kg) | Number of cattle presented liveweight | Number of cattle presented deadweight |
|---|---|---|
| 560-609 | 29,500 | 48,135 |
| 610-659 | 22,809 | 39,849 |
| 660-709 | 12,929 | 29,699 |
| 710-750 | 5,813 | 19,827 |
| Over 760 | 4,744 | 27,120 |
Beaufort's Dyke
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy (Dr. Moonie) of 1 July, Official Report, columns 158-59, what radioactive waste has been dumped in the Rockall or Rockall trough areas, other than
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that already reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency and listed in IAEA-TEC Doc. 558, March 1991.[11357]
Mr. Rooker:
I am not aware of any dumping of radioactive waste in those areas other than those reported in the IAEA document and carried out in 1951 and 1953. The search of archive records referred to in my reply of 1 July was in relation to areas not previously recognised as sites for the disposal of radioactive waste.
Mr Clifton-Brown:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when he expects to publish the remit of a food standards agency; [11325]
Mr. Rooker:
The Government will publish a White Paper in the autumn setting out their detailed proposals for a food standards agency in the light of pubic consultation on Professor Philip James's report.
Mr. Clifton-Brown:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the Meat Hygiene Service to be incorporated into a new food standards agency. [11324]
Mr. Rooker:
The Government are considering all aspects of the structure and remit of the proposed agency, including the question of meat hygiene enforcement, in the light of consultation on Professor James's report. It will publish detailed proposals in a White Paper in the autumn.
Mr. Tipping:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many payments were made under the arable area payments scheme in 1996 of (a) £0 to £1,000, (b) 1,000 to £5,000, (c) £5,000 to £10,000, (d) £10,000 to £15,000, (e) £15,000 to £20,000, (f) £20,000 to £25,000, (g) £25,000 to £30,000, (h) £30,000 to £40,000, (i) £40,000 to £50,000, (j) £50,000 to £75,000, (k) £75,000 to £100,000, (l) £100,000 to £200,000, (m) £200,000 to £500,000, (n) £500,000 to £1 million, (o) £1 million to £1.5 million and (p) £1.5 million to £2 million. [11314]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 30 July 1997]: The following table sets out the payments made to each claimant by the Ministry under the 1996 arable area payments scheme in the bands requested.
(2) what will be the composition of the membership of the proposed food standards agency. [11326]
In addition, one claimant received payments totalling over £2 million.
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Mr. Tipping: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many payments of £1 million or more were made under the arable area payments scheme in 1996. [6300]
Mr. Rooker [pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1997, c. 158]: Six.
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