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Farm Films Recovery Scheme
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assistance her Department gives to support recycling of used silage films; [57254]
- (2) if she will make a statement on the Farm Films Recovery Scheme. [57253]
Mr. Meacher: The Farm Film Producers Group operated on a voluntary basis between 1994 and 1997 to collect farm plastics for recycling. A small number of voluntary local collection schemes still exist.
We will be addressing the question of how to deal with waste non-packaging farm plastics in the forthcoming consultation document on the application of the Waste Framework Directive to agricultural waste. We will consider whether a statutory scheme should be introduced in the light of responses to this consultation exercise.
Village Pub Diversification
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many requests have been made for information on village pub diversification, broken down by region. [57457]
Alun Michael: The "Pub is the Hub" good practice guide is issued by Business in the Community, the British Beer and Pub Association and the Countryside Agency. There are no central records held on requests for information on village pub diversification.
The Countryside Agency has funded eight projects located in public houses in the past year through their Community Services Grant. These are broken down by region as follows:
| Region | |
|---|---|
| North East | 0 |
| North West | 0 |
| Yorkshire & Humber | 1 |
| East Midlands | 1 |
| West Midlands | 0 |
| Eastern | 2 |
| South East | 4 |
| South West | 0 |
Rural Funding
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on (a) parish plans, (b) community service grants and (c) parish transport grants, broken down by initiative, in 2001–02. [57461]
Alun Michael: The total outturn for expenditure on the Countryside Agency's Vital Villages Grant schemes until 31 March 2002 is: (a) Parish Plans Fund £399,000; (b) Community Services Grant £1.7 million; and (c) Parish Transport Fund £354,000.
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Endangered Species
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the review of the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 will be completed. [57650]
Mr. Meacher: The review will be conducted in accordance with standard Cabinet Office guidelines for such reviews. This will involve discussions within Government (which are already under way), a pre- consultation process with the main stakeholder organisations, and a full formal public consultation exercise (which normally takes three months, to allow sufficient time for a considered response). How long the review will take will depend on the outcome of those consultations.
Bali Pre-conference
Mr. Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) first class, (b) club class and (c) economy tickets have been booked for (i) Ministers, (ii) officials and (iii) special advisers attending the WSD conference in Bali. [57835]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 20 May 2002]: One Minister, two officials and one special adviser have booked first class tickets. Thirty officials have booked club class tickets.
Mr. Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's budget is for the Bali pre-conference. [57839]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 20 May 2002]: The Department's budget for the Bali preparatory meeting for the World Summit on Sustainable Development is approximately £86,000.
Mr. Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total budget is for the UK delegation to the Bali pre-conference. [57842]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 20 May 2002]: The total budget for the UK Delegation for the fourth preparatory meeting for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Bali will be approximately £180,000. This comprises air fares, hotel rooms, subsistence and office accommodation.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people will accompany her at public expense on her forthcoming trip to Bali; and what the total cost of the visit will be. [57654]
Mr. Meacher: There will be 28 people accompanying the Secretary of State during her forthcoming trip to Bali for the fourth preparatory meeting for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. This will include representatives from DEFRA, DFID, DTI, FCO and the Cabinet Office; the total cost of the visit will be approximately £180,000. This comprises air fares, hotel rooms, subsistence and office accommodation.
Sustainable Development
Mr. Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the
23 May 2002 : Column 502W
Government will publish their response to the Environmental Audit Committee's First report of Session 2001–02, Departmental Responsibilities for Sustainable Development. [59802]
Margaret Beckett: I am pleased to announce that I have today, laid copies of the Government's response to the Environment Audit Committee's first report of the 2001–02 session, Departmental Responsibilities for Sustainable Development, in the Library of the House.
The Government's response sets out progress on sustainable development following the general election in 2001. We strongly believe that the creation of DEFRA has produced a department which is better equipped to champion sustainable development and ensure that sustainable development continues to be a priority for the Government.
TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE REGIONS
Maladministration
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many findings there have been of maladministration by ombudsmen with responsibility for agencies under the remit of his Department since 1997. [56307]
Dr. Whitehead: Information on the handling of complaints is set out in tabular form by the Parliamentary Ombudsman each year as an attachment to his Annual Report. For those complaints where there was evidence of maladministration which warranted a full investigation, the table sets out how many complaints were upheld as being fully or partially justified. Copies of the Parliamentary Ombudsman's Annual Reports for the period 1997–98 to 2000–01 inclusive can be viewed in the House Library, or on the Parliamentary Ombudsman's website at "www.ombudsman.org.uk/publications"
Parish Councillors (Data Protection)
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether the Register of Parish Councillors' interests are covered by the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. [56617]
Dr. Whitehead: The provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 apply to the maintenance of the register of parish councillors' interests, subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000, including the requirement that the register should be made available for inspection by members of the public.
Statutory Law Enforcement Agencies
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what statutory law enforcement agencies and prosecuting authorities there are within the responsibility of his Department; and what complaints procedure is available for each. [57101]
Dr. Whitehead [holding answer 16 May 2002]: The following divisions of the Department, its agencies, or bodies for which the Secretary of State for Transport,
23 May 2002 : Column 503W
Local Government and the Regions is accountable to Parliament, may act as prosecuting authorities in relation to the matters for which they have responsibility:
- British Transport Police
Civil Aviation Authority
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Health and Safety Executive
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Radioactive Materials Transport Division
Transport Security Division
Vehicle Certification Agency
Vehicle Inspectorate.
Additionally, all of the authorities listed are within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, with the exception of the British Transport Police. Complaints against the British Transport Police may be referred to the Police Complaints Authority.
Local authorities are also within the responsibility of the Department and operate their own complaints procedures. Complaints against local authorities can also be made in appropriate circumstances to the Local Government Ombudsman; in addition complaints against Councillors can be made to the Standards Board for England.
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