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Radioactive Waste

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which bodies she (a) has consulted recently and (b) plans to consult in relation to radioactive waste management; and if she will make a statement. [65631]

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Mr. Meacher: We and the devolved Administrations consulted over 1,000 people and organisations, including local authorities, green groups and others during the recent consultation on "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely". I shall write to the hon. Member with further details.

We will continue to involve these people and organisations as our radioactive waste management programme continues.

Flood Defence

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local authorities in England were asked to complete a policy statement to determine whether the authority would be able to meet Government aims and objectives in relation to flood defence; and which of these authorities are considered to be within official flood risk areas. [66687]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 3 July 2002]: All local authorities in England have been asked to complete a policy statement in line with Government flood defence aims and objectives. With the exception of Brighton and Hove unitary authority ¹ , London borough of Camden and London borough of Islington, all local authorities have some part of their boundary within the area shown on the Environment Agency's 2001 indicative floodplain maps.

¹ The area within Brighton and Hove UA boundaries has no main river, therefore, no fluvial floodplain. In addition, the land rises very steeply from the shoreline and is therefore deemed to be a coastal protection (more at risk of erosion and landslides) rather than a flood defence area.

Sustainable Development

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to raise public awareness about the World summit on Sustainable Development over the next three months. [67078]

Mr. Meacher: In DEFRA we are continuing to work with other Government Departments and outside organisations to raise awareness of the World summit on Sustainable Development among both the media and the general public.

We are currently finalising proposals which not only build on the progress already made, but which also identify areas where we need to focus our resources, not only in the period running up to the event, but also during and immediately after the summit. These proposals include: producing a brochure about the summit which also highlights UK activity on sustainable development, focusing on locally based activities and making further improvements to the Government sustainable development website to enhance the information and networking opportunities it provides. The website can be found at www.sustainable-development.gov.uk

Johannesburg Summit

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what budget has been allocated by her Department to raise awareness on environmental issues linked to the Johannesburg summit. [67077]

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Mr. Meacher: The World summit on Sustainable Development takes place in Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September. Many environmental issues relate to the agenda so it is not possible to isolate a specific budget. However, through the Environmental Action Fund we are helping voluntary organisations in England to promote sustainable development. For 2002–03 we have allocated £1.4 million to 25 projects promoting 'biodiversity' and £3.1 million to 58 projects promoting the 'understanding and awareness of sustainable development'. In 2001–02 the Environmental Action Fund supported 115 projects promoting 'sustainable living' to the tune of £4.2 million. In addition, DEFRA supports Environmental Campaigns Ltd and the Energy Saving Trust's Energy Efficiency Campaign, and last financial year provided over £8.2 million (it is not possible to disaggregate a small element of Scottish Executive support for the Energy Saving Trust from this figure) for both. We expect to provide a similar level of support for this financial year.

One of the aims of the DEFRA Sustainable Development Strategy, 'Foundations for our Future', launched last month, is to raise awareness of sustainable development within staff in DEFRA. £120,000 has been earmarked over this coming year for this.

Agricultural Forms

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to reduce the complexity of forms that have to be filled in by farmers. [67556]

Mr. Morley: Many of the forms farmers are required to complete relate to CAP support schemes. These forms are reviewed each year for need and content.

The Bovine Scheme Literature Project is currently reviewing the three major bovine schemes, Suckler Cow Premium Scheme (SCPS), Slaughter Premium Scheme (SPS) and Beef Special Premium Scheme (BSPS), with a view to producing a single form and set of scheme literature, thus reducing the time farmers spend on form filling.

Wherever possible, forms are pre-printed with information we already hold.

The Department is currently considering its overall approach to reviewing forms.

Angling

Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce a system of bag limits for sports anglers fishing around the UK coast. [67306]

Mr. Morley: As I explained to the right hon. Member for West Dorset (Mr. Letwin) on 1 July 2002, Official Report, column 60W, limits on the amount of crabs and lobsters that hobby fishermen can take from the sea are being considered as part of the proposed shellfish licensing scheme. The Department is also looking at the possibility of bag limits for other species and I would hope to be able to reach firm conclusions this autumn. Any proposals to introduce bag limits will be the subject of consultation with both commercial and recreational interests.

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Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what plans she has to introduce a licensing system for the sale of fish and lobsters from inshore waters so as to make it illegal to purchase fish or lobsters from anyone not holding a DEFRA licence; [67304]

(2) what plans she has to prevent sports fishermen and women selling their catches to the retail and restaurant trade; [67307]

(3) what assessment she has made of the impact of sale of fish caught by sports fishermen and women to the retail and restaurant sectors on the viability of the inshore fishing industry in the UK. [67305]

Mr. Morley: Under existing fisheries legislation it is only permissible to sell (for profit) fish caught from and landed by vessels which have been licensed by one of the Fisheries Departments in the UK. Sales of fish caught by unlicensed vessels can depress prices for legitimate landings and adversely affect the earnings of licensed fishermen. Steps to prevent unauthorised sales are kept under review and any proposals for additional measures will be the subject of consultation with interested parties.

Parrett Catchment Project

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what control her Department will have over the chairman of the Parrett Catchment project. [67585]

Mr. Morley: The Department does not have control over the chairman of the Parrett Catchment project.

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what checks will be carried out to assess the success of the Parrett Catchment project. [67586]

Mr. Morley: The Parrett Catchment project is a local partnership and as such will not be subject to Government checks. We have welcomed the initiative and continue to encourage the project to analyse proposed options further and to integrate with existing Government sponsored mechanisms such as the Catchment Flood Management Plan.

Combined Heat and Power

Mr. Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the exemption for combined heat and power from the climate change levy, as announced by the Chancellor in his Budget, will become operational; and whether the value of the exemption will be realised by the qualifying combined heat and power generator. [67602]

Mr. Meacher: The introduction of the full exemption of CHP from the climate change levy is subject to EC State Aid approval. We hope to have this approval by the end of November. Whether the qualifying CHP generator supplements its price by the full value of the levy exemption or the licensed supplier reduces the price he pays by sharing some of it, is a commercial matter. Either way, the effect should be to make the onward sale of good quality CHP electricity more attractive.

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Curry Report

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received regarding the funding and implementation of the Curry report on the future of food and farming; and if she will make a statement. [67088]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 5 July 2002]: The Government's discussion document 'Sustainable Food and Farming: Working Together' invited views on how to take forward issues identified in the Policy Commission's report on the future of food and farming. Approximately 250 responses have been submitted, supplementing representations made during the extensive process of stakeholder engagement conducted recently. These responses are being analysed and will help inform the construction of a Strategy for Food and Farming in England, to be published this autumn.

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