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Illegal Logging

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 18 April 2002, Official Report, column 1064W, which countries other than Indonesia she has (a) made approaches to and (b) intends to approach for negotiations on illegal logging and associated trade. [53756]

Mr. Meacher: The Government have informally discussed the memorandum with representatives of the United States, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and Malaysia. The Government have also raised the memorandum with EU member states and the Commission at a recent European Union workshop on Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade. The European Commission has recently committed to produce an Action Plan on illegal logging and associated trade by the end of this year.

The Government also plans to raise the memorandum with both timber producing and timber consuming countries at the next Preparatory Committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Bali, 27 May to 7 June) and with African countries at the next African Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (Brazzaville in June) as a possible model for taking forward actions on combating illegal logging on a bilateral basis in support of existing international commitments, for example under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Forum on Forests.

Veterinary Service

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the

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proportion of her departmental budget allocated to the state veterinary service broken down by main category of expenditure, in each of the last 10 years. [54226]

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Mr. Morley [holding answer 7 May 2002]: The proportion of budget allocated to the state veterinary service has been:

Year	Administration costs (£ million)	Programme costs (£ million)	Capital (£ million)	Total expenditure (£ million)	Total budget (%)
1995–96	36.7	24.3	0.3	61.3	6.6
1996–97	32.0	35.1	0.5	67.6	6.0
1997–98	33.8	33.6	0.2	67.7	7.2
1998–99	34.2	47.0	1.0	82.3	8.8
1999–2000	35.5	37.2	1.7	74.3	7.6
2000–01	41.1	52.7	1.1	94.9	9.1
2001–02	45.6	48.4	1.0	95.0	1.7

Notes:

1. The expenditure figures reflect the outturns at 31 March each year;

2. Figures for 1992–93 to 1994–95 are not readily to hand and constructing them would involve disproportionate cost;

3. Budgets can fluctuate because of disease outbreaks in certain years (eg foot and mouth) and because of departmental structural changes (eg creation of DEFRA in 2001–02).

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 8 May 2002, Official Report, column 162W, on the veterinary service, how many private veterinary surgeons have (a) applied, (b) received temporary appointments and (c) received permanent appointments as local veterinary inspectors broken down by region in each of the last 10 years. [56883]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 16 May 2002]: Information regarding the number of private veterinary surgeons who (a) have applied, and (b) received temporary appointments as local veterinary inspectors (LVIs) broken down by region in each of the last ten years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Numbers of private veterinary surgeons who received new permanent appointments as LVIs broken down by region in each of the last ten years is set out in the table.

Year	North	East	West	Scotland	Wales
1992	29	61	11	30	11
1993	1,027	1,383	1,006	214	256
1994	190	165	98	56	47
1995	152	147	111	50	84
1996	128	156	97	41	49
1997	188	176	108	63	53
1998	160	195	112	52	42
1999	222	265	119	50	50
2000	195	298	130	52	73
2001	185	205	109	49	56

Note:

Total LVIs permanently appointed on 17 May 2002 are 7,506.

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to change the state veterinary service in Scotland. [56325]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 15 May 2002]: The State veterinary service is a GB body responsible to all GB Agriculture Ministers. Were any changes to the existing arrangements as they apply to Scotland to be considered, then these would be developed fully with the Scottish Executive.

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received regarding the future of the state veterinary service in Scotland. [56324]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 15 May 2002]: None.

Committee Mandates

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Committee on agricultural structures and rural development is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [55661]

Alun Michael: The European Union's Committee on Agricultural Structures and Rural Development (STAR) covers issues regarding the implementation of the Rural Development Regulation and the Special Accession Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (SAPARD; an instrument for support of rural development in pre-accession countries). The committee functions as an advisory or "management comitology committee" according to the issue before it.

The committee normally meets monthly and has met 13 times in the last 12 months.

The UK representation at the committee is provided by DEFRA. The Commission pays transport costs for two delegates attending each meeting. Our costs amount to approximately 4,000 (£2,500) per annum.

Current issues under consideration at the committee are:

(a) Annual Modifications to country and regional rural development programmes,

(b) Implementation of SAPARD,

(c) Monitoring and Evaluation of Rural Development Programmes.

Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".

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As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com (2001) 783 Final).

As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Advisory Committee for the implementation of the directive on the reduction of the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56814]

Mr. Meacher: The role of the Advisory Committee is to assist the Commission with matters on which it is required to take a decision under the provisions of the directive such as considering requests from member states for derogations and on the format of reports. There was one meeting of the Committee over the last 12 months at which the UK was represented by an official from my Department at a travel and subsistence cost of about £150. That meeting considered a request from Greece for a derogation; there are no other matters currently under consideration. The annual cost of the work includes the time taken to prepare for and attend meetings and the travel and subsistence costs incurred. Specific information is not available without incurring disproportionate cost.

Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com (2001) 783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of legislation on ambient air quality assessment and management is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56810]

Mr. Meacher: The role of the Committee is to decide on amendments to technical measures described in the directive and to assist the Commission in preparing detailed instructions on the forwarding of information. There have been no meetings of the Committee over the

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last 12 months. The UK would usually be represented by an official from my Department. The annual cost of the work includes the time taken to prepare for and attend meetings and the travel and subsistence costs incurred. Specific information is not available without incurring disproportionate cost. There are no matters currently under consideration.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of the directive on bathing water is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months is; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56797]

Mr. Morley: The Committee for the adaptation to the technical progress on the quality of bathing water is a regulatory committee provided for under Article 10 of the EC bathing water directive.

The Committee has met twice over the last 12 months with the UK incurring £2,150 in annual costs. The UK can be represented by up to four policy officials.

The Committee has recently been considering a revised bathing water policy and reporting arrangements under the existing bathing water directive.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the committee for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the Directive on the protection of the environment and in particular of the soil when sewage sludge is used in agriculture is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56839]

Mr. Meacher: Article 14 of Council Directive 86/278/EEC on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture, provides for the establishment of a committee to adapt the Directive to technical or scientific progress.

This committee has not met in the last twelve months and has no items currently under consideration. If it were to meet, costs to the public purse would be limited to the cost of any additional work incurred in contributing to its considerations and any travel and subsistence expenses of officials representing the United Kingdom not met by the Commission.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the committee for the adaptation to technical progress of the Directive on air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56812]

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Mr. Meacher: This part of Directive 85/203/EEC on air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide has been repealed.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on a limit value for lead in the air is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56813]

Mr. Meacher: This part of Directive 82/884/EEC on a limit value for lead in the air has been repealed.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Committee on the monitoring mechanism of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the Community is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56729]

Mr. Meacher: The Committee on the monitoring mechanism of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the Community was established by Council Decision 93/389/EEC of 24 June 1993 (as amended by Council Decision 1999/296/EC of 26 April 1999). The monitoring mechanism is an instrument to assess accurately and regularly the extent of progress being made towards the Community's commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol.

The Committee has met twice in the last 12 months. The UK is usually represented by two officials from my Department. The costs incurred by the Department in contributing to the Committee's work are largely travel and subsistence costs of about £650 per meeting, incurred in attending the one day meetings in Brussels, and staff costs of about £700 per meeting. In addition to the time spent at the meetings themselves, officials spend a similar amount of time preparing for and reporting back on the meetings.

Items currently being considered by the Committee include submissions to the UNFCCC on the EU greenhouse gas emissions inventory and a possible revision to the monitoring mechanism decision in the light of the Marrakech Accords.

Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com (2001) 783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the

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Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56801]

Mr. Meacher: The mandate of the EC Nitrates Regulatory Committee is to assist the European Commission in responding to scientific and technical progress relevant to the requirements of the Nitrates Directive.

The Committee meets twice a year.

Four representatives are permitted from each member state. The Commission pays for one representative to attend from each member state. Additional experts from the UK cost between £300 and £400 per representative per meeting.

Items under consideration for the next meeting include a technical discussion on manure spreading on grassland, discussion of guidelines for monitoring groundwaters for high nitrate concentrations and discussion of criteria used to identify eutrophic waters. The Committee has also recently heard and voted on derogation requests from member states and discussed comparisons of implementation and Action Programme measures between member states.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Committee for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the air quality limit values and guide values for sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56811]

Mr. Meacher: This part of directive 80/779/EEC on air quality limit values and guide values for sulphur dioxide and suspended particles has been repealed.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Standing Committee for implementation of the Directive on the marketing of biocidal products is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56822]

Dr. Whitehead: I have been asked to reply.

The Standing Committee on Biocidal Products (SCBP) has several functions specified in Directive 98/8/EC, including delivering opinions to the Commission on

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adoption of regulations governing the review of active substances; the inclusion of active substances in Annex I of the Directive; the mutual recognition of biocidal products across member states; the temporary authorisation of products in emergency situations; common conditions and minimum data requirements for authorisations for research and development purposes; and public disclosure and confidentiality of information. The first meeting of the SCBP took place on 18 May 2000. This has been its only meeting to date. There are no items currently under consideration by the SCBP. The UK representation at such meetings would depend on the subject(s) under consideration, and would normally consist of officials of the Health and Safety Executive. The draft rules prescribe that the Commission will cover the expenses of one representative per member state, and so the cost to UK public funds is minimal.

Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1994/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of the House on 26 February 2002 (Com (2001) 783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on training in architecture is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56761]

Dr. Whitehead: I have been asked to reply.

The mandate of the Advisory Committee on Training and Education in the Field of Architecture (ACETA) is to help to ensure a comparably high standard of education and training for architects throughout the Community and permit free movement of people and provision of services as Single Market objectives. It has met once in the last 12 months.

The UK Delegation consists of one Government official from my Department, the chief executive of the Architects Registration Board, two representatives from the architectural profession, and two representatives from schools of architecture. The costs for the attendance by the Government official to the one day meeting in Brussels are approximately £500. The Committee has recently considered the compliance of university courses on architecture in member states with Directive 85/384/EEC, and in particular a number of Spanish diplomas.

Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line

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with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".

As an obligation to this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February (Commission Document 5685–02).

As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Committee on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances (Seveso II) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56808]

Dr. Whitehead: I have been asked to reply. The European Commission has established a Committee of Competent Authorities (CCA) for the Seveso Directive under article 19 of the Directive.

The mandate of the CCA is to promote coherent implementation and consistent application of the provision of the Directive throughout the Community. This necessitates close co-operation of the competent authorities of all member states and the European Commission. the CCA consists of representatives of the member states and the Commission services. It discusses issues concerning the implementation of the Seveso II Directive.

The committee meets twice a year and is attended on behalf of the UK by representatives of the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency. Where appropriate officials from other relevant Departments also attend. It is estimated that the annual cost to public funds in the UK is approximately £3,000.

Recent meetings of the CCA have considered the role of the European Commission's major accident hazards bureau, implementation issues of the Seveso Directive in member states, land use planning issues around major hazard installations and relevant research. The comitology committee provided for by Article 22 of the Seveso Directive on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances has not met over the last 12 months.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the Community framework for co-cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56809]

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Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.

The Management Committee on Marine Pollution is established under Decision No. 2850/2000/EC of 20/12/2000 of the European Parliament and the Council setting up a community framework for co-operation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution. This framework has been established for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2006. The committee is composed of representatives of member states and is chaired by the European Commission.

The aim of the committee is to:

a) support and supplement member states' efforts;

b) contribute to improving the capabilities of the member states for response in case of incidents;

c) strengthen the conditions for and facilitate efficient mutual assistance and co-operation;

d) promote co-operation among member states in order to provide for compensation for damage in accordance with the polluter-pays principle.

The UK is represented by officials from my Department and the annual cost of its work to public funds is about £1,500. The committee is presently considering training courses in oil pollution for member states.

Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February (Com (2001) 783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Committee for the adaptation to technical progress and for the implementation of the Directive on contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56820]

Dr. Whitehead: I have been asked to reply.

The Committee for adaptation to technical progress and implementation of the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms (GMMs) Directive (90/219/ EEC as amended by 98/81/EC) is mandated to consider information on the

techniques and methods of genetic modification excluded from the Directive;


elements to be considered and procedures to be followed in the assessment of the harmful effects of GMMs;


containment and other protective measures required;


requirements for notification to the Competent Authorities on premises and activities where GMMs are being used; and


the types of GMMs considered to be safe to human health and the environment.

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This committee consists of representatives from all member states and the European Commission. Officials from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) attend on behalf of the UK. This committee meets on an ad hoc basis. There have been no meetings in the last year, and no meetings are timetabled for the immediate future. Considerable effort has already taken place in developing the technical information underpinning this Directive. The secretariat to the committee would be provided by the European Commission, which provides interpreting services etc. The European Commission would also pay the travel expenses of the UK representatives. Any potential costs to UK public funds would therefore consist largely of the accommodation costs for the staff attending meetings and their salary costs.

If any changes to the Directive were proposed, HSE would seek advice from the Health and Safety Commission's tripartite Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification (ACGM). Agendas and papers for ACGM meetings are fully available to the public.

Also, together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".

As an obligation to this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com (2001) 783 Final).

As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agenda and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the Directive relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56816]

Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.

The mandate of the committee is set out in Article 9 of Directive 1999/94/EC which deals with the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and CO2 emissions in respect to the marketing of new passenger cars. The function of the committee is to deliver prompt adjustment of the detailed requirements of the Annexes to the Directive regarding the format of consumer information labels and guides, and the inclusion of fuel economy and CO ₂ data in advertising.

The committee has not met since the adoption of this Directive, and therefore there has, so far, been no cost to public funds. The annual cost of the committee to public funds would be restricted to staff time, their travel and

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subsistence costs. UK representation would normally be by officials of the Department's Vehicle Standards and Engineering Division.

Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com(2001) 783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

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