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Biosecurity (Rights of Way)

Mr. Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department has issued for footpath users when footpaths cross fields and farmyards covered by biosecurity recommendations. [23630]

Alun Michael: With the improving foot and mouth disease situation, the veterinary risk assessment on use of public rights of way has been revised, and concludes that it is now safe to re-open footpaths crossing remaining restricted premises—apart from those passing through farmyards or buildings—once final cleansing and disinfection is complete, or, if final cleansing and disinfection is not being undertaken, three months after completion of preliminary cleansing and disinfection.

The revised risk assessment was issued on 7 December, along with revised guidance to local authorities which encourages them to work closely with the Department's Divisional Veterinary Managers to establish exactly which rights of way may now be re-opened. Where paths pass through farmyards or buildings, authorities should try to arrange temporary permissive diversions with the farmers concerned, especially where heavily-used paths or national trails are affected. If this is not possible, those paths must remain closed until the veterinary restrictions are lifted. The revised risk assessment and guidance refer to footpaths as the most familiar rights of way, but apply equally to all types of public right of way.

The guidance includes a code of conduct which local authorities are asked to publicise to path users, to encourage them to behave so as to reduce still further the already minimal risk that their activities could transmit the disease. However, there is no conflict between the relaxation of restrictions on rights-of-way users and continuing tight biosecurity controls on some farming activity: the latter are designed to limit the risks arising from working directly with animals, which, though now small, are far more significant than those arising from footpath use.

97 per cent. of footpaths in England are now open. Local authorities may require a little time to establish which footpaths across restricted premises can be re-opened, but almost all should be open by early in the new year, provided that there are no further outbreaks of the disease.

19 Dec 2001 : Column: 429W

Common Land

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish (a) a report on the consultation responses and (b) the Government's proposals on greater protection and better management of common land. [23695]

Alun Michael: The Government are considering proposals for improving the legislation on common land and town and village greens, as set out last year in the consultation paper "Greater Protection and Better Management of Common Land in England and Wales". We expect to publish a detailed report on the responses to the paper and to announce our proposals for future action shortly.

Sheep and Cattle Subsidies

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people claim (a) sheep and (b) cattle subsidy broken down by the geographical areas used by her Department for payment purposes. [20713]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 5 December 2001]: The table shows the number of people claiming sheep subsidy, broken down into claims received at the nine (former) Regional Service Centres (RSCs) during the 2001 Scheme year application period.

Regional Service Centre (RSC)	Number of Claims
Bristol	2,248
Cambridge	998
Carlisle	5,824
Crewe	2,922
Exeter	4,588
Northallerton	5,073
Nottingham	2,813
Reading	2,906
Worcester	3,608
Total	30,980

19 Dec 2001 : Column: 430W

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the figures for the numbers of people claiming (a) sheep subsidy and (b) cattle subsidy for (i) one animal, (ii) two to five animals, (iii) five to 10 animals, (iv) 10 to 20 animals, (v) 20 to 100 animals, (vi) 100 to 200 animals and (vii) more than 200 animals. [20712]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 5 December 2001]: The table shows the number people claiming sheep subsidy on the above specified ranges of sheep numbers. This information reflects the 2001 Scheme year and therefore includes claims received at the nine (former) Regional Service Centres (RSCs).

Figures for one to five sheep are nil as the rules for Sheep Annual Premium claims state that the claim must be made on a minimum of 10 sheep.

Number of sheep	Number of claims
1	0
2–5	0
6–10	342
11–20	2,046
21–100	9,933
101–200	6,225
More 200	12,434
Total	30,980

The tables set out similar figures for the bovine schemes.

2000 scheme year bovine claims

	Number of claims for:
RPA	1 animal	2–5 animals	6–10 animals	11–20 animals	21–100 animals	101–200 animals	More than 200	Total
BSPS
Bristol	212	262	477	617	1,435	284	0	3,287
Cambridge	143	349	274	307	887	123	0	2,083
Carlisle	236	661	569	850	2,343	383	0	5,042
Crewe	264	702	540	675	1,406	221	0	3,808
Exeter	342	1,015	760	1,028	2,591	580	0	6,316
Northallerton	257	728	637	932	2,289	290	0	5,133
Nottingham	184	526	485	604	1,618	301	0	3,718
Reading	188	485	395	475	1,191	340	0	3,074
Worcester	183	472	403	521	1,237	277	0	3,093
Total	2,009	5,200	4,560	5,809	14,797	2,799	0	35,554

	Number of claims for:
RPA	1 animal	2–5 animals	6–10 animals	11–20 animals	21–100 animals	101–200 animals	More than 200	Total
SCPS
Bristol	35	245	289	332	720	76	21	1,718
Cambridge	34	182	188	230	480	65	21	1,200
Carlisle	25	209	278	452	1,537	244	53	2,798
Crewe	39	297	328	421	766	55	15	1,921
Exeter	59	460	457	694	1,441	138	54	3,303
Northallerton	44	349	388	647	1,483	145	24	3,036
Nottingham	39	278	309	444	880	110	18	2,078
Reading	46	276	288	414	876	112	23	2,035
Worcester	49	298	282	369	707	74	11	1,790
Total	370	2,594	2,807	4,003	8,890	1,019	240	19,879

19 Dec 2001 : Column: 431W

	Number of claims for:
RPA	1 animal	2–5 animals	6–10 animals	11–20 animals	21–100 animals	101–200 animals	More than 200	Total
SPS
Bristol	396	852	708	1,094	1,589	131	46	4,816
Cambridge	163	397	325	351	634	102	65	2,037
Carlisle	433	1,075	981	1,429	2,294	222	89	6,523
Crewe	481	1,122	881	1,237	2,109	165	100	6,095
Exeter	548	1,392	1,162	1,586	2,101	229	57	7,075
Northallerton	420	1,119	942	1,097	2,087	329	161	6,155
Nottingham	289	803	851	1,022	1,675	242	104	4,986
Reading	241	560	415	549	1,216	156	53	3,190
Worcester	256	591	473	600	1,217	156	68	3,361
Total	3,227	7,911	6,738	8,965	14,922	1,612	743	44,238

2001 scheme year bovine claims

	Number of claims for:
RPA	1 animal	2–5 animals	6–10 animals	11–20 animals	21–100 animals	101–200 animals	More than 200	Total
BSPS
Bristol	208	662	535	646	1,296	151	49	3,547
Cambridge	131	327	272	292	532	70	38	1,662
Carlisle	197	776	667	953	1,773	169	35	4,570
Crewe	232	758	626	664	1,157	156	38	3,631
Exeter	324	1,178	961	1,282	2,465	296	81	6,587
Newcastle	73	245	228	297	540	62	11	1,456
Northallerton	379	1,159	1,018	1,226	2,010	269	64	6,125
Nottingham	177	627	505	613	1,296	173	60	3,451
Reading	113	350	274	311	726	126	48	1,948
Total	1,834	6,082	5,086	6,284	11,795	1,472	424	32,977

	Number of claims for:
RPA	1 animal	2–5 animals	6–10 animals	11–20 animals	21–100 animals	101–200 animals	More than 200	Total
SCPS
Bristol	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Cambridge	22	119	122	134	318	36	14	765
Carlisle	29	182	247	375	1,150	149	30	2,162
Crewe	30	185	204	264	465	32	13	1,193
Exeter	61	421	458	579	1,323	127	38	3,007
Newcastle	11	83	99	110	201	16	4	524
Northallerton	41	336	364	539	1,211	120	30	2,641
Nottingham	30	163	199	262	554	62	13	1,273
Reading	5	46	57	62	183	21	7	381
Total	229	1,535	1,750	2,325	5,405	563	149	11,946

	Number of claims for:
RPA	1 animal	2–5 animals	6–10 animals	11–20 animals	21–100 animals	101–200 animals	More than 200	Total
SPS
Bristol	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Cambridge	98	280	177	287	532	85	53	1,512
Carlisle	276	1,000	723	858	1,383	137	43	4,420
Crewe	145	486	388	458	926	106	30	2,539
Exeter	468	1,586	1,230	1,376	2,493	239	72	7,464
Newcastle	47	183	158	206	497	45	20	1,156
Northallerton	304	991	693	941	2,026	280	115	5,350
Nottingham	125	439	399	589	1,289	183	73	3,097
Reading	76	235	208	259	577	89	27	1,471
Total	1,539	5,200	3,976	4,974	9,723	1,164	433	27,009

19 Dec 2001 : Column: 433W

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if pet owners may apply for (a) sheep and (b) cattle subsidies. [21447]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 10 December 2001]: To qualify for subsidy on sheep or cattle an individual must be a producer as specified within European Community legislation.

In some circumstances "pets" may qualify but this is subject to detailed regulations. The definition of a producer, with regard to the grant of premiums for sheepmeat and goatmeat, is laid down within Council Regulation 3493/1990. For beef and veal subsidies this definition is in Council Regulation 1254/1999. Copies of these Regulations are available in the House of Commons Library.

Claimants must also meet the specific eligibility requirements of each subsidy scheme. These are also set out in Community legislation.

An overview of how livestock schemes operate within England, and which animals may be eligible for subsidy, is provided on-line at www.defra.gov.uk, under the headings of 'Farming' and 'Cattle and sheep schemes'.

Administration of the livestock subsidy regimes within England is carried out by the Rural Payment Agency (RPA). Local offices of the RPA are able to provide, free of charge, notes for guidance to claimants, which detail the specific rules of the individual schemes.

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