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ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Bovine Tuberculosis
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further steps she is taking to combat the rise of bovine tuberculosis. [43980]
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Mr. Morley: On 31 January movement restrictions were placed on cattle herds which had missed a six or 12-month TB test after the lifting of movement restrictions, in annually tested parishes. This measure was introduced in response to a veterinary risk assessment which has shown that herds undergoing these kinds of tests have historically had the greatest risk of bovine TB infection. In addition the backlog of TB tests that have arisen during the foot and mouth outbreak are being prioritised and where possible extra resources are being diverted to carry out this work.
Foot and Mouth
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what non- domesticated animals other than brown rats have been implicated in the spread of foot and mouth; and what steps were taken to destroy them on infected farms. [39490]
Mr. Morley: There is no direct evidence that wildlife contributed to the spread of foot and mouth last year, either as mechanical carriers, or through contracting and carrying the virus. Pest control activities on infected premises and farms considered to be dangerous contacts was limited to baiting for rats.
National Forest
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether a conclusion has been reached on the review of the National Forest Company. [46215]
Mr. Morley: The quinquennial review of the National Forest company has been completed. It has concluded that the company, a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, should continue to be responsible for delivering the National forest Strategy which is contributing strongly to the government's sustainable development agenda. Since its creation in 1995 the Company has for example achieved an expansion of woodland cover in the National Forest area, covering 200 square miles in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire, from 6 per cent. to 12 per cent. Detailed changes to the company's operations will be made in order to maximise effective delivery and value for money. A full report of the review is available at www.defra.gov.uk.
Fish Quotas
Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the statement by the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 February 2002, Official Report, European Standing Committee A, column 25, whether the levy for the over-quota fish was paid to the producers' organisations whose members were recently prosecuted in Plymouth; whether the Department has undertaken the correct checks to ensure that the relevant procedure has been followed, pursuant to the requirements laid down in the Council Regulations governing the operations of producers' organisations; and whether correct procedures have been followed to ensure that these organisations are protected should the Commission carry out external checks. [44101]
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Mr. Morley: From evidence we have in the form of sales notes, it appears that levy was paid to the South Western Fish Producers' Organisation on the landings both declared and undeclared. In the first instance, any remedial action regarding such levy payments is a matter for the PO.
Food Prices
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what information she collects on changes in farmgate and supermarket prices; and if she will make a statement; [43834]
- (2) if she will list the monthly changes over the last 24 months of (a) the farmgate price and (b) the supermarket price of a 35 lb lamb. [43835]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 15 March 2002]: Information on farmgate prices is collected from a variety of sources including my Department's own surveys of milk and egg processors, DEFRA Agricultural Market Reports, the Home Grown Cereals Authority, the British Potato Council and the Meat and Livestock Commission.
Price indices based on these data are published monthly as "Agricultural Price Indices, United Kingdom".
Retail prices are estimated from data on expenditure and volume of purchases as collected in the Expenditure and Food Survey (formerly the National Food Survey). These data are not published monthly as the sample size is insufficient. Approximate prices for selected commodities can be estimated from expenditure and consumption data that are published in the quarterly Statistics News Release. Annual average prices are given in the annual report on the survey (NFS 2000 is the latest).
Monthly movements in retail prices for food, as with other items, are best monitored by reference to the Retail Price Index published by the Office for National Statistics.
Information for the API for sheep and the RPI for home-killed lamb for the period January 2000 to December 2001 is given in the following table in terms of three-month moving averages. Agricultural producer prices were 7 per cent. lower at the end of the period than at the beginning while retail prices were 2.8 per cent. higher.
Retail prices lag several months behind producer price movements and show less volatility.
All foods as purchased by consumers will differ to some extent from the ex-farm commodity. Meat as retailed will have been de-boned, cut, trimmed of most fat and packaged. These additional processes affect the validity of a direct comparison between the consumer and farmgate prices.
(13) 3-month moving averages (December 1999-February 2000 = 100)
(14) DEFRA: Agricultural Price Indices, United Kingdom (www.defra.gov.uk)
(15) ONS: Consumer Price Indices (www.statistics.gov.uk)
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CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Accountancy Contracts
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the contracts agreed by her Department with the five largest accountancy firms since May 1997; and what was the total value of contracts with each. [42097]
Dr. Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to the hon. Member for Bath (Don Foster) on 7 February 2002, Official Report, column 1116W and to the hon. Member for Perth (Annabelle Ewing) on 15 March 2002, Official Report, columns 1279–80W.
Justices of the Peace
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many members of staff at her Department are justices of the peace; and if she has a strategy for her Department to encourage members of staff to become justices of the peace. [44546]
Dr. Howells: The Department keeps no central records of the number of staff who are justices of the peace. Staff involved in magisterial duties are granted up to 18 days special leave with pay each year.
Regeneration Schemes (English Heritage)
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) which English Heritage supported regeneration schemes have (a) applied for EC state aid, (b) been successful and (c) been refused in the last 12 months; [43513]
- (2) if she will make a statement on EU state aid rules and English Heritage-supported projects. [43514]
Dr. Howells [holding answer 15 March 2002]: English Heritage's main historic buildings, monuments, parks and gardens programme, which supports the repair of
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individual buildings, parks and gardens, was notified to the European Commission as possible state aid in July 2001. We are awaiting the Commission's assessment of the programme's compatibility with the EC Treaty. Grants to individual enterprises from English Heritage's Heritage Economic Regeneration schemes do not require notification as they are compatible with the de minimis block exemption regulation.
Golden Jubilee
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how much money has been received in the form of donations to fund the Golden Jubilee events in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement; [44578]
- (2) if she will list (a) the donors sponsoring the Golden Jubilee events and (b) the amount of money each donor has contributed in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement. [44579]
Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 265W. These are matters for Lord Sterling, who started fundraising last summer and has so far raised over £4.5 million.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the groups expected to march in the Golden Jubilee procession on 4 June; and if she will make a statement. [44591]
Tessa Jowell: The Queen's Golden Jubilee Weekend Trust, chaired by Lord Sterling, announced the details on 13 March 2002.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans have been made for cleaning up after major Golden Jubilee events; and if she will make a statement. [44581]
Tessa Jowell: For events taking place in the Royal Parks during the Jubilee Weekend of 1 to 4 June, cleaning up will be the responsibility of the event organisers and the Royal Parks Agency. For events in Westminster and the City of London, responsibility will fall to Westminster city council or the Corporation of London as appropriate.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many visitors are expected to attend the (a) fireworks display on 3 June, (b) ceremonial procession from Buckingham Palace on 4 June, (c) Golden Jubilee Festival in the Mall on 4 June and (d) Queen's balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace on 4 June; and if she will make a statement. [44566]
Tessa Jowell: Previous experience of similar events shows that it is impossible accurately to predict the numbers that will attend, but many tens of thousands are expected.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps have been taken to encourage neighbourhood street parties to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee; and if she will make a statement. [44586]
Tessa Jowell: The Golden Jubilee Office distributed 20,000 Golden Jubilee Celebrations Toolkits to councils, Citizens' Advice Bureaux, libraries, a wide range of organisations across England, Scotland and Wales and the media. A further 13,500 copies have subsequently been requested and demand continues to be high.
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The Celebrations Toolkit is also available to be downloaded from the official Golden Jubilee website (www.goldenjubilee.gov.uk).
In addition, representatives from Buckingham Palace and the Golden Jubilee Office are delivering joint briefings across the United Kingdom. To date, they have briefed over 1,200 organisations. More briefings are planned.
On 6 March, the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions issued guidance to local authorities in England about their powers to close roads for events such as street parties and suggesting ways of ensuring that undue burdens are not placed on event organisers. This was announced in a joint press release from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to commission statues in commemoration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee; and if she will make a statement. [44567]
Tessa Jowell: The Government have no plans to commission statues to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The Government are working closely with Buckingham Palace to facilitate the celebrations in a way that embraces the six themes for the Jubilee: celebration; giving thanks; service; involving the whole community; looking forward as well as back; and the Commonwealth, while adhering to Her Majesty's wish that there should be no undue expenditure from public funds. It is for local communities to decide how they wish to celebrate the Jubilee.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) of 6 February 2002, Official Report, column 986W, on the Golden Jubilee, what the objectives are of each initiative for the celebrations; if she will outline the project plans; how many people are working on each of these initiatives and plans; and if she will make a statement. [44565]
Tessa Jowell: The objective of each of the 61 initiatives that are being delivered through 12 project plans is to facilitate the celebrations for the Queen's Golden Jubilee in a way that embraces the six themes for the Jubilee: celebration; giving thanks; service; involving the whole community; looking forward as well as back; and the Commonwealth, while adhering to Her Majesty's wish that there should be no undue expenditure from public funds. It is for local communities to decide how they wish to celebrate the Jubilee.
Some of the initiatives have yet to be announced and I will, therefore, write to the hon. Member outlining them in due course.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer from the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) of 14 February 2002, Official Report, column 622W, on the Golden Jubilee, what plans she has to apply for a special grant for exceptional additional costs which could not be met from within existing budgets for the Queen's Golden Jubilee and for how much; and if she will make a statement. [44562]
Tessa Jowell: I have no such plans.
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Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Department has spent on the Queen's Jubilee in each of the past three years; how the money was allocated; and if she will make a statement. [44589]
Tessa Jowell: No DCMS expenditure was incurred before 2001–02 for which £4.017 million was transferred to my Department by the Home Office from their existing vote.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 13 March 2002, Official Report, column 1156W, ref. 41453, what the definition is of employment with the 999 emergency services for the purpose of eligibility for the award of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. [44253]
Tessa Jowell: To be eligible for the medal, emergency personnel must have completed five years' service on 6 February 2002 with one of the '999' emergency services which include the police, ambulance and fire services, the Coastguard, mountain rescue and the RNLI.
Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reasons prison officers will not be awarded the Golden Jubilee Medal. [44421]
Tessa Jowell: The medal is being issued to members of the armed forces and Royal Fleet Auxiliary and to the '999' emergency services. As the Prison Service is not an emergency service, prison officers will not be eligible for the medal.
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