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Sheep and Goats
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) the National Farmers Union and (b) others about the National Farmers Union's proposals for individual identification of sheep and goats; and if he will make a statement. [13952]
Mr. Morley: The NFU has not put forward proposals for compulsory individual identification of sheep and goats.
My officials have had initial discussions with industry representatives, which included NFU, about the future identification requirements for sheep and goats. Individual identification was one of the options discussed and we are now considering the views expressed by industry before a final decision is taken.
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Agriculture Revenue
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the income of the United Kingdom Agriculture industry was that derived from (a) EU common agricultural policy funds, including intervention sales, (b) UK funds and product sales, and (c) other sources, expressed in (i) cash and (ii) percentage terms, in the last 12 months. [12881]
Mr. Morley: Estimates of the revenue to the agricultural industry broken down by source for the calendar year 2000 are given in the table.
| £ million | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| Total revenue(24) | 15,587 | 100 |
| of which: | ||
| CAP support—EU funded(25) | 2,432 | 16 |
| UK Exchequer funding(26) | 144 | 1 |
| Product sales(27) | 11,613 | 75 |
| Taxes | -103 | -1 |
| Other sources(28) | 1,501 | 10 |
(24) Gross output at basic prices plus other subsidies less taxes on production
(25) Excludes indirect market support such as intervention purchases but includes payments for over-30-month scheme
(26) Includes CAP support measures funded by UK Exchequer
(27) Includes the effects of indirect market support which cost £497 million in 2000–01
(28) Includes transactions between farms and revenue from non- agricultural activities on the farm
Entrust
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when and how often Entrust provides financial reports to HM Customs and Excise. [13876]
Mr. Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
Customs has direct online access to Entrust's accounting database which contains detailed reports from environmental bodies. In addition Entrust provides Customs with its annual audited company accounts and an annual report containing statistical information about the landfill tax credit scheme.
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the future role of Entrust, as a result of the proposed reform of the landfill tax credit scheme. [13875]
Mr. Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
As stated in Budget 2001, we are attracted to replacing all or part of the landfill tax credit scheme with a public spending programme to direct resources towards Government priorities on sustainable waste management. The Government, together with the devolved Administrations, are developing options for a spending programme for consideration as part of the spending review 2002. Maintaining the current scheme, potentially with minor modifications, will also be reviewed. The Government will consult with interested parties on the future of the scheme and the transition to any replacement. The role of Entrust will be determined by the outcome of this consultation.
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Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are taken by Entrust to conduct audits into applications for grants for environmental projects as part of the landfill tax credit scheme; and if she will make a statement. [13877]
Mr. Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
Entrust is responsible for enroling environmental bodies and checking that they meet qualifying criteria. It monitors the spending of these bodies through a risk based audit programme and notifies Customs where money has not been properly spent.
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what remuneration packages are available to executives of Entrust; and if she will make a statement. [13878]
Mr. Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
As a private sector company, details of the salaries and benefits of its employees are a matter for Entrust.
Zoo Animals
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on (a) the conditions in which zoo animals are kept and (b) the consequences for the safety of their keepers. [13816]
Mr. Morley: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice provide comprehensive guidance on best practice for keeping animals in zoos (this document can be obtained from DEFRAs website at www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/gwd/zooprac/ index.htm). They set out the basic principles that zoos need to observe to secure the proper care and well-being of the animals in their care, and they form the basis on which zoo inspections are carried out on behalf of local authorities under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.
The health and safety of zoo employees is provided for by a separate inspection process under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive. Although the inspection regimes are quite separate, the local authorities often co-ordinate the inspections as benefits can arise from conducting them together.
Landfill Tax
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made in financial terms of abuse related to the landfill tax credit scheme. [13910]
Mr. Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
Because of on-going investigations no accurate financial assessment of abuse in the landfill tax credit scheme is currently available.
Flooding
Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance she is providing to the (a) London borough of Redbridge and (b) Environment Agency to protect properties at risk from flooding. [13976]
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Mr. Morley: DEFRA provides grant aid for flood defence capital works, and associated studies, which meet essential technical, economic and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score.
DEFRA has recently approved for grant aid two studies, the Seven Kings Water and Cran Brook Hydraulic Studies, being undertaken by the London borough of Redbridge. The estimated cost is £44,000 and the council has been awarded a grant rate of 45 per cent.
The Environment Agency has extended flood warning arrangements and are also undertaking studies and maintenance in the area, but have not sought DEFRA funding as yet.
Hunting
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to allow fox hunting to resume; and if she will make a statement. [12337]
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on when hunting will recommence in Wales following the foot and mouth outbreak. [12838]
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the veterinary risk of resuming hunting in Worcestershire; and if she will make a statement. [12678]
Alun Michael [holding answer 6 November 2001]: The veterinary risk assessment raises a number of complex issues regarding the future of foot and mouth disease related restrictions on hunting and such matters involve a careful balance of risks. It will be published as soon as Ministers and DEFRA officials have completed their consideration of the document. An announcement on the future of foot and mouth disease controls on hunting will be made as soon as possible.
Radioactive Waste
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of
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the total UK volume of radioactive wastes has been produced by the nuclear power sector in the last five years. [13289]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 8 November 2001]: Approximately 93 per cent. of the total volume of radioactive wastes produced in the last five years has arisen from the nuclear power sector and its associated research and development activities.
Movement of Livestock Scheme
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at what dates and times the autumn movement of livestock scheme website has been unavailable; and if she will make a statement on the impact on applicants of the unavailability of that website. [12543]
Mr. Morley: Information on the livestock movement scheme is held on the DEFRA website http://www.defra.gov.uk. This site has been continuously available since the scheme was introduced.
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