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Farming (Worcestershire)
Mr. Michael J. Foster: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 2000, Official Report, column 188W, if he will list the amounts received by each of the 10 largest recipients of CAP payments made to farms in Worcestershire for the calendar year 1998. [107513]
Ms Quin: The amounts received by the 10 largest recipients of CAP payments in Worcestershire for the calendar year 1998 were:
£295,311.52
£212,553.75
£209,935.30
£164,103.59
£135,969.63
£133,134.44
£125,069.15
£113,926.16
£113,579.34
£112,654.25.
Climate Change Levy
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the climate change levy on the horticulture sector; and if he will publish the results. [107236]
Mr. Nick Brown
[holding answer 27 January 2000]: It is not possible to say what the likely impact of the levy on the horticulture sector will be. That will depend on a number of factors including future energy consumption and what use the sector makes of electricity generated
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from 'new' renewable sources of energy or in 'good quality' combined heat and power plants. The use the sector makes of the proposed system of enhanced capital allowances for energy saving investments will also have an impact. The horticultural industry, in common with other industries, will also benefit from the lower overall rates of the levy announced by the Chancellor in his pre-Budget report statement.
Mr. Breed:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of written parliamentary questions to him received a response within (a) two weeks and (b) one month in the last year for which figures are available. [106988]
Mr. Morley:
In the 1999 calendar year, 1,117 parliamentary questions were tabled to my right hon. Friend the Minister for written answer. From the date of their initial appearance in the Order Paper, 72 per cent. received a response within two weeks and 15 per cent. received a response within one month.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle Tuberculosis will publish its second report. [109244]
Ms Quin:
I am pleased to tell the House that the second report by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle Tuberculosis is published today. The report sets out progress made so far on the wide-ranging research measures being taken to combat cattle TB as well as plans for work to be undertaken in the future. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress the Environment Agency has made in implementing its action plan in response to the independent report on the Easter 1998 floods. [109243]
Mr. Morley:
While there were no further specific actions timed for completion by the end of December 1999, the Environment Agency has nevertheless kept the Ministry informed of progress up to that date.
For flood forecasting, all of the Environment Agency's regions are working on delivering the first phase of their hydrometric monitoring network improvement programmes by April 2000.
The work relating to flood warning is progressing well. The National Flood Warning Centre is established and the necessary relationships with other national bodies are being actively developed.
Flood risk maps have been produced and were disseminated to local planning authorities and emergency planners in September 1999. The Agency is using the
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maps to identify high-risk properties on a consistent basis to aid targeting of direct warnings and public awareness material. Local authorities are using the maps for both development control and emergency planning purposes. The information in the maps will be made publicly available so that people can make informed decisions about flood risks.
The Agency has further improved liaison arrangements with local authorities and emergency services, at both local and national level to ensure effective response to flooding incidents.
A flood warning public awareness campaign commenced in October. Plans are being developed for revised flood warning codes to be introduced in September 2000, with appropriate publicity.
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Visual inspection of all flood defences continues against a deadline of April 2000. The Agency has set up meetings to resolve isolated problems where local authorities have not always been able to identify the location of defences on ordinary watercourses.
The Agency continues its work in implementing the recommendations in the independent report on its management and skills.