| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Electricity Generation
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the electricity used by his Department is generated from renewable sources; and if he will make a statement. [111034]
Mr. Morley: My Department supports the Government's aim of obtaining 10 per cent. of the UK's electricity from renewable sources by 2010 and remains committed to playing its part in this.
The Department's Greening Operations Strategy, which was updated and re-published last June, has a key objective to encourage the supply of "green electricity" (electricity produced from renewable sources) where this provides value for money. We are therefore investigating the cost effectiveness and practicality of obtaining electricity from renewable sources.
We are also committed to schemes that combine heating with other energy efficiency benefits. At our Central Veterinary Laboratory we have a system whereby a waste heat boiler is linked to the main incinerator to provide a large proportion of the heating and hot water for the site. A Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant will also be on stream by the middle of this year to provide energy for new buildings on the Laboratory site. My Department is also connected to the Whitehall CHP system.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to implement the Farm Animal Welfare Council's 1992 recommendation that a maximum stocking density for broiler chickens should be controlled by regulation. [110770]
Mr. Morley:
The Government have made clear their wish to improve minimum standards for broiler welfare. But we wish to do so on a EU-wide basis since simply exposing the home market to lower welfare products produced elsewhere would bring little benefit to birds' welfare. We do however reflect the Farm Animal Welfare Council's recommendation in our broiler chicken welfare code and plan to maintain it in the revised version.
Mr. McWalter:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Minister of Agriculture in the Republic of Ireland concerning the aid package introduced there for pig farmers in the border regions; what reasons the Irish Minister gave for its introduction; and if he will make a statement. [111247]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 21 February 2000]: The Government in the Republic of Ireland have announced an aid scheme to help their pig producers in the border region and have linked the proposed payments to a fire at the Ballymoney pig processing plant. The UK Government have already paid state aid totalling £700,000
29 Feb 2000 : Column: 248W
to pig producers in Northern Ireland for the welfare problems resulting from this same fire. The Irish Government have submitted a formal state aid notification to the European Commission and await the Commission's response.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the contribution to GDP from farms in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire for the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [111073]
Ms Quin:
The agriculture industry in Shropshire contributed 5.5 per cent. to the county's GDP in 1996 and 0.04 per cent. to national GDP, as measured at factor cost. Data for Shrewsbury and Atcham are not available. Later figures are not yet available at regional level.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport under what circumstances the Millennium Dome is available for whole-day private hire; and what such deals have been done. [105244]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 17 January 2000]: NMEC is willing to consider any approaches it receives for such hire arrangements and will consider them in the context of its business and public accessibility objectives. To date, one such booking has been made: by the TUC for Monday 1 May.
Mr. Spring:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the total number of tickets sold for the dome to date; and how many have been provided for corporate use. [107275]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 31 January 2000]: As at 23 February, 718,961 people had visited the dome, including 18,907 whose bookings were made through the corporate hospitality facility.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is his latest estimate of receipts to the New Millennium Experience Company arising from (a) catering and (b) merchandising; and if he will make a statement. [109724]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 11 February 2000]: The New Millennium Experience Company undertakes regular reviews of its overall budget, like any other commercial company but with the added imperative of achieving its estimated income within only 12 months of operation. New forecasts are made, and changes are implemented on the basis of actual financial achievements as the year moves forward. The reviews are discussed in full, and changes agreed with the Millennium Commission. The latest review is currently being finalised and is the subject of ongoing discussion with the Commission. At this stage, the provisional estimate of income from the two categories in question is: catering (excluding hospitality)--£6 million net; merchandise--£20 million net.
29 Feb 2000 : Column: 249W
Mr. Sarwar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to encourage more school children from Scotland to visit the Millennium Experience at Greenwich. [111091]
Janet Anderson:
NMEC is providing up to one million free school tickets under the Education Tour scheme. All schools in the UK can apply for these tickets. The tickets are allocated over a series of four ballots and schools can apply for up to 100 pupil tickets each. NMEC, through the Education and Learning Experience Managers in its 12 offices countrywide (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the North-East, Yorkshire and Humberside, the North-West, the East Midlands, the West Midlands, the East, the South-East, the South-West and London), and through the regional media will continue to ensure that all schools are fully aware of the free ticket scheme and of the education visit arrangements. NMEC has also worked hard to negotiate deals with travel providers and operators which represent good value for money for visitors to the Dome. NMEC has informed schools about these providers and operators in their area.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many free tickets to the dome have been issued to VIP visitors. [109721]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 11 February 2000]: The policy of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is that where there is a benefit to the business, guests (whether VIPs or not) invited to the dome can attend on a non-paying basis. This policy also applies where there is a relevance to the NMEC's public accountability remit--Millennium Commissioners and certain of their staff are allowed free access to enable them to satisfy themselves that the project is meeting the conditions of the national lottery grant; and parliamentary representatives, including Ministers and Select Committee members, would also not pay in recognition of the company's responsibilities to Parliament. Additionally, because the dome has such a high profile as the centrepiece of the UK's Millennium celebrations, many VIPs whether on official or State visits, often request that the dome be included on their itinerary. Over 390 such individuals have attended from 14 countries to date. In most cases the host body of the visiting group reimburses NMEC.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he plans to encourage the new Millennium Experience Company to make reductions in ticket prices for entry to the millennium dome. [109911]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 11 February 2000]: The ticket pricing structure is a matter for the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) which, under the terms of its lottery grant from the Millennium Commission, must consult and obtain the agreement of the Commission to any in-year changes in ticket pricing. NMEC has no plans to change the overall ticket price structure but is currently looking at ways in which it can increase value for money for visitors to the dome.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff are employed at the Millennium Dome; and how many are nationals of (a) the UK, (b) other EU member states and (c) other countries. [109720]
29 Feb 2000 : Column: 250W
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 11 February 2000]: The information is not available in the form requested. Of the 2,077 employees of the New Millennium Experience Company, 31 are from non-EU countries and the remainder are from EU member states.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the range of ethnic minority food options available for public purchase at outlets at the Millennium Dome; and what representations have been received from the public in respect of the variety and cost of food at the dome. [110665]
Janet Anderson:
There are more than 50 separate catering outlets at the dome, providing a wide range of food and drink options at high street prices. As well as high-quality British cuisine and a range of fast food and snack options, visitors to the dome can enjoy food from across the world, including Afro-Caribbean, Asian, Chinese, Thai and Kosher catering. Anecdotal feedback indicates that the wide variety of food on offer and the prices are being well received by the majority of visitors.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |