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Biofuel Production
Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to encourage biofuel production; what total oilseed production output was in each of the last 20 years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [25195]
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Mr. Morley: Figures for UK harvested production of oilseeds are as follows:
| Thousand tonnes | |
|---|---|
| 1984 | 924 |
| 1985 | 897 |
| 1986 | 966 |
| 1987 | 1,323 |
| 1988 | 1,033 |
| 1989 | 946 |
| 1990 | 1,207 |
| 1991 | 1,283 |
| 1992 | 1,213 |
| 1993 | 1,084 |
| 1994 | 1,243 |
| 1995 | 1,234 |
| 1996 | 1,415 |
| 1997 | 1,527 |
| 1998 | 1,566 |
| 1999 | 1,737 |
| 2000 | 1,157 |
| 2001 | (14)1,138 |
(14) Provisional
Following the Green Fuels Challenge my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that a new duty rate for biodiesel, set at 20p per litre below the rate for Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel, is to be introduced in Budget 2002. This Department also supports solid biomass crops through the Energy Crops Scheme, part of the England Rural Development programme. This Department has recently commissioned a six-month study, on behalf of the Government-Industry Forum on non-food uses of crops, to provide an independent, comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of the comparative energy, environmental and socio-economic costs and benefits of biodiesel production in the UK. The study will compare results with those for other relevant green fuels and relevant energy saving measures.
Crop Protection Products
Mr. Curry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she will take to monitor the enforcement of regulations relating to the application of agricultural crop protection products for non-approved amenity uses. [25033]
Mr. Morley: All pesticides are subject to strict regulatory control and must be approved by Ministers before they can be marketed or used in the UK.
Pesticides must be used in accordance with the approved conditions of use specified on the pesticide label, which include directions for the situations in which the pesticide may be used. Failure to comply with a condition of use is an offence and may be subject to enforcement action. The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcement in respect of the professional use of pesticides in amenity situations, and will decide on any necessary action on the basis of evidence that arises.
Mr. Curry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to regulate the use of marker chemicals when pre-mixed with crop protection chemicals for use in amenity situations; how many prosecutions there have been from such use in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement. [25008]
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Mr. Morley: All pesticides are subject to strict regulatory control and must be approved by Ministers before they can be marketed or used in the UK.
No pesticide may be mixed with a marker or other additive prior to sale or supply unless approval has been granted for the sale or supply of that mixed product. However following sale users may mix approved products with other chemicals, or arrange for mixing to take place on their behalf, provided they comply with all conditions governing use described on the pesticide label. An appropriate risk assessment must also be carried out prior to use. No prosecutions have been taken against users for the illegal use of mixed products.
Guidelines regarding the mixing of pesticides—"Guidelines on the Provision of Pesticide Mixing Services and Sale of Pesticide Twin Packs and Kits" were issued by the Pesticides Safety Directorate on 17 August 2000. These are being reviewed and it is intended that revised guidelines will be distributed to approval holders, distributors, retailers and user groups in 2002.
Mr. Curry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken to strengthen the role of the HSE in the enforcement of laws relating to illegal import of crop protection products for use in agriculture and horticulture. [25032]
Mr. Morley: All pesticides are subject to strict regulatory control and must be approved by Ministers before they can be marketed or used in the UK.
The Health and Safety Executive already have extensive powers to enforce against the illegal storage or use of pesticides, including those illegally imported into the UK. Local authorities have similar powers to take enforcement action against illegal advertisement, sale or supply. Where evidence establishes that illegal activity has occurred enforcement action is taken.
Flooding
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what action is being taken to assist the Environment Agency to complete the detailed report on the flooding across the UK in October and November 2000; when these reports are expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement; [25746]
- (2) when the Environment Agency is expected to complete an assessment of the flooding in Edmonton in October 2000; and if she will make a statement. [25745]
Mr. Morley: On 20 March 2001 I announced publication of the Environment Agency's Lessons Learned report on the 2000 floods. The agency subsequently produced a series of regional reports on the flooding including one for the Thames Region which covered the flooding in Edmonton.
Recommendation 1.4 in the Lessons Learned report was that
- "The Agency will use all available information, to catalogue the flooding that took place in Autumn 2000, the local causes of flooding and how solutions or responsibility for action can be successfully attributed".
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-
The agency has been progressing this work in all the areas affected by the flooding.
Agri-environment Schemes
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on agri-environment schemes in each year since 1997. [25621]
Mr. Morley: Total payments to agreement holders in the English agri-environment schemes in each financial year from 1996–97 are as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 44.5 |
| 1997–98 | 55.4 |
| 1998–99 | 64.2 |
| 1999–2000 | 85.8 |
| 2000–01 | 90.8 |
Data for payments made under agri-environment schemes in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland can be provided by the relevant Departments.
Flood Defence
Mr. Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what allowance has been made in the revenue support grant for 2002–03 for flood defence for councils in the River Severn catchment area. [25316]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 9 January 2002]: Provisional Standard Spending Assessments for flood defence in 2002–03 were announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, on 4 December 2001 and are available in the House Library.
PRIME MINISTER
Review Body on Senior Civil Service Pay
Mr. Savidge: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Special report and recommendations of the Review Body on Senior Civil Service Pay. [27055]
The Prime Minister: As part of the long-term programme of reform for the Civil Service, the Senior Salaries Review Body was asked in April 2001 to provide an independent assessment of the appropriate pay rates as a basis for the new Senior Civil Service pay system coming into effect in April 2002. The aims of the new
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pay system are to enable the Civil Service to compete more effectively to recruit and retain top managers; and to reward sustained performance and the delivery of results.
The Government accept the Review Body's recommendations for the minima and maxima of the new ranges. The target rates recommended will also be incorporated in the new system for the best performers.
Copies of the SSRB Special Report, along with a summary of the new SCS pay system are in the Vote Office and the Library of the House. I am grateful to the Chairman and the members of the Review Body for their work.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Trade Credits
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the value of debt and interest paid to the UK Government on trade credits to heavily indebted poor countries guaranteed by the UK Government in the last five years. [25239]
Nigel Griffiths: I have been asked to reply.
During the period from 1 January 1997 to December 2001 £57 million of principal and £68 million of interest was paid by heavily indebted poor countries under bilateral debt agreements resulting from defaulted trade credits.
All but £10 million was received from only eight countries—Ghana, Kenya, Yemen, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia, Guyana and Bolivia. Under the HIPC Initiative and the Government's 100 per cent. forgiveness policy no further payments are expected from the last five of these countries. Kenya and Yemen are deemed to have sustainable debt levels and Ghana is currently applying for HIPC debt relief.
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the value of trade credits to heavily indebted poor countries guaranteed by the UK Government which were cancelled in each year since 1983. [25238]
Nigel Griffiths: I have been asked to reply.
No such debts in relation to trade credits were cancelled between 1983 and 1990 inclusive. Amounts cancelled in each year since were as follows:
| Year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 6.62 |
| 1992 | 17.80 |
| 1993 | 26.89 |
| 1994 | 8.76 |
| 1995 | 23.74 |
| 1996 | 180.69 |
| 1997 | 22.49 |
| 1998 | 33.04 |
| 1999 | 56.91 |
| 2000 | 48.13 |
| 2001 | 135.04 |
| Total | 560.11 |
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