House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 26 Jun 2002 (pt 13)

Tree Diseases

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the threat to (a) alders and (b) willows by phytophthora infections; how that assessment is influencing her policy; and if she will make a statement. [61601]

26 Jun 2002 : Column 922W

Mr. Morley [holding answer 19 June 2002]: Phytophthoras are a group of microscopic fungal pathogens responsible for plant diseases in many parts of the world. While some cause severe damage, including death of trees, others are of little consequence.

The Phytophthora disease of alder is present in England, Scotland and Wales and is most active in the south-west and south-east of England. Surveys of the disease in 2000 and 2001 established that an estimated 600,000 trees were affected: around 12 to 14 per cent. of the alder population. Researchers at the Forestry Commission Research Agency (FCRA) have established that the cause of the disease is a new hybrid pathogen which is very damaging to alder. The putative parents cause little or no damage to alder but can be aggressive pathogens of other woody hosts.

In addition to the UK, the disease is present in 10 other European countries. Movement of infected plants has probably facilitated its rapid dissemination and infected stock may start new foci of infection when planted out. Research is continuing to further improve methods of managing the disease and diagnosing the pathogen. As with most Phytophthoras, control is difficult and eradication from already infected riparian habitats would be impossible. As this particular disease is so widespread, quarantine controls would be ineffective.

It is rare for willows to suffer from disease caused by species of Phytophthora and they do not appear to be susceptible to the new hybrid Phytophthora that causes disease of alder.

Sheep Movements

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on how her Department intends to overcome difficulties in the manner in which the 20-day standstill is being interpreted for sheep movement in (a) Scotland and (b) England and Wales. [62989]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 19 June 2002]: DEFRA officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in the National Assembly for Wales Agriculture Department and the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department and together they seek to find a solution to any practical difficulties arising from the differences in the livestock movements controls.

The Government will not make decisions about possible changes to the current standstill rules until Ministers have seen the recommendations of the Royal Society and lessons learned inquiries. Those decisions will be taken in discussion with the devolved Administrations and with stakeholders.

Salmon

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total percentage of salmon caught by (a) the Scottish Nets, (b) Northumbrian Nets, (c) Yorkshire Nets, (d) Scottish Rods and (e) Northumbrian Rods was in each year since 1990; and what the total number of salmon caught in the United Kingdom was in each of those years. [63363]

Mr. Morley: The most recent information is set out in the following table:

Scottish nets Northumbrian nets Yorkshire nets Scottish rods⁽³⁾ Northumbrian rods⁽³⁾ Total UK

Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number catch⁽³⁾^,⁽⁴⁾

1990 33.9 97,400 15.0 43,048 3.0 8,482 24.9 71,600 0.5 1,449 287,328

1991 36.4 76,300 10.8 22,525 1.4 2,904 30.0 62,400 0.6 1,263 209,534

1992 39.0 101,600 7.0 18,567 0.6 1,577 31.4 82,900 0.7 1,749 263,846

1993 32.2 86,800 13.8 37,097 1.7 4,703 29.5 79,500 0.6 1,656 269,638

1994 34.0 106,400 13.6 42,547 1.3 4,007 26.7 83,300 0.6 1,772 312,529

1995 31.9 93,900 16.9 49,801 1.2 3,409 29.3 86,100 0.7 2,053 294,134

1996 30.7 64,700 8.4 17,784 0.4 797 33.0 69,600 1.2 2,466 210,860

1997 21.1 37,100 11.3 19,828 1.2 2,094 34.6 60,700 1.3 2,356 175,556

1998 17.9 31,800 9.2 16,298 1.1 1,967 41.2 73,100 1.6 2,786 177,244

1999 12.9 17,900 18.1 25,013 1.3 1,820 37.9 52,500 1.8 2,540 138,385

2000 18.0 35,500 20.1 39,635 1.9 3,719 33.2 65,600 1.7 3,451 197,426

	Scottish nets	Northumbrian nets	Yorkshire nets	Scottish rods⁽³⁾	Northumbrian rods⁽³⁾	Total UK
	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	catch⁽³⁾^,⁽⁴⁾
1990	33.9	97,400	15.0	43,048	3.0	8,482	24.9	71,600	0.5	1,449	287,328
1991	36.4	76,300	10.8	22,525	1.4	2,904	30.0	62,400	0.6	1,263	209,534
1992	39.0	101,600	7.0	18,567	0.6	1,577	31.4	82,900	0.7	1,749	263,846
1993	32.2	86,800	13.8	37,097	1.7	4,703	29.5	79,500	0.6	1,656	269,638
1994	34.0	106,400	13.6	42,547	1.3	4,007	26.7	83,300	0.6	1,772	312,529
1995	31.9	93,900	16.9	49,801	1.2	3,409	29.3	86,100	0.7	2,053	294,134
1996	30.7	64,700	8.4	17,784	0.4	797	33.0	69,600	1.2	2,466	210,860
1997	21.1	37,100	11.3	19,828	1.2	2,094	34.6	60,700	1.3	2,356	175,556
1998	17.9	31,800	9.2	16,298	1.1	1,967	41.2	73,100	1.6	2,786	177,244
1999	12.9	17,900	18.1	25,013	1.3	1,820	37.9	52,500	1.8	2,540	138,385
2000	18.0	35,500	20.1	39,635	1.9	3,719	33.2	65,600	1.7	3,451	197,426

⁽³⁾ Includes data on catch and release.

⁽⁴⁾ Excludes any NI rod catch for which no details are available.

26 Jun 2002 : Column 923W

Salmon and Trout

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the stocking programme for salmon and trout on the River Esk has been over the last 20 years; when it was last stocked; and who provided the finance. [63362]

Mr. Morley: Details of salmon stocking on the River Esk are shown in the table. The Esk was last stocked with salmon in 2002 in mitigation for a pollution accident—compensation was obtained from the polluter. No sea trout have been stocked but between 700 and 1,200 brown trout have been stocked annually by angling clubs or fishery owners.

Salmon

Unfed fry 0+ parr 1+ parr smolts Total

1982 — — — — 0

1983 — — — — 0

1984⁽⁵⁾ — — — 30,320 30,320

1985⁽⁵⁾ 50,000 — — — 50,000

1986⁽⁵⁾ 50,000 — — — 50,000

1987⁽⁵⁾ 50,000 — — — 50,000

1988⁽⁵⁾ — — 15,000 — 15,000

1989⁽⁵⁾ — — 12,000 — 12,000

1990⁽⁵⁾ — — 10,900 — 10,900

1991⁽⁵⁾ 50,000 — 50,000 — 100,000

1992⁽⁵⁾ 50,000 — 60,000 — 110,000

1993⁽⁵⁾ 10,000 — 5,202 — 15,202

1994⁽⁵⁾ 50,000 — 6,866 — 56,866

1995⁽⁵⁾ — — 7,852 — 7,852

1996⁽⁵⁾ — — 3,700 — 3,700

1997⁽⁶⁾ — 14,000 — — 14,000

1998⁽⁶⁾ — 60,000 — — 60,000

1999⁽⁶⁾ — 25,000 — — 25,000

2000⁽⁶⁾ — 30,000 — — 30,000

2001 — — — — 0

2002 — — 12,000 — 12,000

	Salmon
	Unfed fry	0+ parr	1+ parr	smolts	Total
1982	—	—	—	—	0
1983	—	—	—	—	0
1984⁽⁵⁾	—	—	—	30,320	30,320
1985⁽⁵⁾	50,000	—	—	—	50,000
1986⁽⁵⁾	50,000	—	—	—	50,000
1987⁽⁵⁾	50,000	—	—	—	50,000
1988⁽⁵⁾	—	—	15,000	—	15,000
1989⁽⁵⁾	—	—	12,000	—	12,000
1990⁽⁵⁾	—	—	10,900	—	10,900
1991⁽⁵⁾	50,000	—	50,000	—	100,000
1992⁽⁵⁾	50,000	—	60,000	—	110,000
1993⁽⁵⁾	10,000	—	5,202	—	15,202
1994⁽⁵⁾	50,000	—	6,866	—	56,866
1995⁽⁵⁾	—	—	7,852	—	7,852
1996⁽⁵⁾	—	—	3,700	—	3,700
1997⁽⁶⁾	—	14,000	—	—	14,000
1998⁽⁶⁾	—	60,000	—	—	60,000
1999⁽⁶⁾	—	25,000	—	—	25,000
2000⁽⁶⁾	—	30,000	—	—	30,000
2001	—	—	—	—	0
2002	—	—	12,000	—	12,000

⁽⁵⁾ Joint: River Esk Action Committee/Environment Agency or predecessor

⁽⁶⁾ River Esk Regeneration Programme (including European funds through Objective 5b)

Countryside, Liberty and Livelihood March

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if representatives of the Government will attend the Countryside, Liberty and Livelihood march on 22 September. [63925]

Alun Michael: There are no plans to do so.

26 Jun 2002 : Column 924W

Tallow

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much tallow produced under the over-thirty-months scheme has been sold in each year since the scheme began (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) when exported overseas; and for what purpose it has been sold. [63535]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 21 June 2002]: Since the introduction of the over-thirty-months slaughter scheme (OTMS) a total of 384,345 tonnes of tallow has been produced to date.

All tallow generated from cattle slaughtered under OTMS is to be incinerated (with energy recovery).

A total of 170,897 tonnes has been incinerated to date. This equates to a total of 13,271 tonnes for 1996, 29,711 tonnes for 1997, 15,896 tonnes for 1998, 28,188 tonnes for 1999, 37,409 tonnes for 2000, 27,274 tonnes for 2001 and 21,315 tonnes to date for 2002.

No tallow has been exported.

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much revenue has been raised from the sale of tallow produced under the over-thirty-months scheme in each year since the scheme started in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) overseas. [63537]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 21 June 2002]: No financial information is available in a calendar year basis. Please see the income from tallow sales by financial year.

Financial year £

1996–97 ⁽⁷⁾—

1997–98 ⁽⁷⁾—

1998–99 333,397.00

1999–2000 1,454,308.00

2000–01 968,638.00

2001–02⁽⁸⁾ 734,069.00

Financial year	£
1996–97	⁽⁷⁾—
1997–98	⁽⁷⁾—
1998–99	333,397.00
1999–2000	1,454,308.00
2000–01	968,638.00
2001–02⁽⁸⁾	734,069.00

⁽⁷⁾ Income for tallow sales not separately identifiable, included under general receipts.

⁽⁸⁾ Invoice payments are outstanding.

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the notification and results of tenders to dispose of tallow produced under the over-thirty-months scheme are not published in the Official Journal. [63538]

26 Jun 2002 : Column 925W

Mr. Morley [holding answer 21 June 2002]: The RPA is currently evaluating the bids received in connection with the OTMS tallow disposal tender. Following contract award, details of the successful tenderers will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. The original contract award date was spring 2001 but the tender was suspended due to the foot and mouth crisis. The disposal was readvertised with a planned contract start date of spring 2002. The RPA expects contract award in mid July 2002.

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what restrictions apply to the sale of tallow produced in the United Kingdom under the over-thirty-months scheme (a) in the UK and (b) when being exported overseas. [63536]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 21 June 2002]: Over-thirty-month slaughter scheme (OTMS) tallow produced is currently incinerated (with energy recovery) at plants in the UK only. No tallow has been exported.

OTMS tallow remains the property of and under the control of RPA until it is incinerated.

Next Section

Index

Home Page