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ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Welfare

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she intends the slaughter provisions in the Animal Welfare Bill to apply to pet animals. [12412]

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Margaret Beckett [holding answer 5 November 2001]: The slaughter provisions in the Animal Health Act and Bill with respect to foot and mouth disease do not apply to animals which are not susceptible to this disease such as horses, cats and dogs.

Existing provisions in the Animal Health Act 1981 make no distinction between foot and mouth disease- susceptible animals kept as pets and those kept for any other reason. The same approach is taken in the new slaughter provisions under the Animal Health Bill.

Equally, the Bill will not change the current position on exemptions from slaughter, which is that there is specific provision in veterinary instructions for proportionate exceptions at local level based on local veterinary judgment, including where susceptible animals are kept as pets.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will propose amendments to the Animal Health Bill to cover failures by (a) DEFRA officials, (b) army personnel and (c) veterinary surgeons to respect her Department's bio-security rules. [15648]

Mr. Morley: No. I am aware of the allegations that biosecurity measures were breached by DEFRA officials and others. All such allegations were treated with the utmost seriousness and were investigated. Most cases were found either to be groundless or to be lacking in sufficient detail to enable a thorough investigation. All staff working for DEFRA already have to follow strict biosecurity guidelines.

Mr. Cawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress her Department has made in implementing the recommendation in the Performance and Innovation Unit report on animal welfare and the WTO. [16085]

Mr. Morley: The Government have ensured that the issue of animal welfare is firmly on the WTO negotiating agenda and an integral part of the European Union's comprehensive negotiating proposal.

PCSU Industrial Action

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the dispute between her Department and the Public and Commercial Services Union; and if she will make a statement. [16587]

Mr. Morley: The industrial action that is currently taking place by the Public and Commercial Services union in the former MAFF part of DEFRA risks affecting payment arrangements to farmers this winter. We are doing our best to take corrective action, taking account of the needs of our customers, the taxpayer and long term working relations in the Department. Our aim is to resolve the dispute as quickly as possible.

Public Transport (Rural Areas)

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to fund public transport interchanges at train and bus stations in rural areas. [16585]

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Alun Michael: Many local authorities have plans for new and improved public transport interchanges as part of the strategies contained in their local transport plans. Last December, the Government announced a significant increase in local transport capital funding on 14 December 2000, Official Report, columns 200–02, with £8.4 billion being provided over the five years from 2001–02. Innovative bus schemes in rural areas can also seek central government funding from the Rural Bus Challenge Fund. Promoters of interchanges at rail stations may also apply for Rail Passenger Partnership funding.

Rural Local Authorities

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local authorities in England and Wales she classifies as rural. [16583]

Alun Michael: The following list of districts/unitary authorities have been classified as rural by the Countryside Agency for their 1999, 2000 and 2001 State of the Countryside Reports:





























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Rural Employment

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of people between 16 and 60 years old in rural areas in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001 were active in (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) seasonal work. [16586]

Alun Michael: The percentage of people aged 16 and over in rural areas in England in full-time and part-time employment was as follows:

Percentage

YearFull-timePart-time
199673.1128.02
199773.5826.96
199873.4927.31
199973.4427.67
200072.9927.79
200173.1328.16

Reliable information on seasonal employment is not readily available.

Farm Birds

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what was the population of farm birds in rural areas in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001. [16580]

Alun Michael: In 1970 the baseline index for 25 farmland bird species was 100.

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Countryside Visits

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the level of spending by visitors to the countryside in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001. [16589]

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of people who visited the countryside in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001. [15897]

Alun Michael: The "United Kingdom Day Visitors Survey" shows the level of spending to be:







The Countryside Agency is working on plans for a further survey in 2002.

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