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19 Sept 2002 : Column 258W—continued
Mooring (British Waterways)
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) highest and (b) lowest residential mooring annual charge in London was in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 2001–02. [70144]
Mr. Meacher: British Waterways have provided the following information for these charges:
| 1997 | 2001 | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | £2,645 | £7,050 |
| Lowest | £1,346 | £1,506 |
Prices shown are for a 21 metre vessel inclusive of VAT. Historic data for private operators is not available.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average increase in mooring rates charged by British Waterways was for each region in England in each year since 1997. [70148]
Mr. Meacher: British Waterways have provided the following information. Average percentage increases by region in 2002, were:
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The information is not readily available in this form for earlier years.
Project Clearwater
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the terms of reference are of British Waterways Project Clearwater. [70147]
Mr. Meacher: Project Clearwater is British Waterway's IT modernisation strategy which secured Departmental approval earlier this year. The project provides a business management system to improve BW's efficiency and to enhance its customer service.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultation has been carried out by British Waterways on their latest review of mooring charges. [70150]
Mr. Meacher: British Waterways have advised that a national review of mooring rates was formally announced in December 2001, following routine consultation meetings and exchanges with national user groups representing boating interests.
A number of national user groups wished to see the previous "matrix score" pricing system retained. Their views were carefully considered, but BW took the view that the matrix did not allow sufficient flexibility for comparison to the private sector and market demand.
All BW moorers were sent details of the increases and the policy underlying them in February. A minimum period of six weeks was allowed for feedback. BW have held discussions with individual boaters and in some cases, have postponed the renewal of mooring permits to allow additional time for consideration.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria are applied by British Waterways in determining a market rent for residential and non-residential moorings. [70149]
Mr. Meacher: British Waterways' Framework Document requires it to charge a market rate for its services as far as practicable. British Waterway's local waterway management units maintain data about all moorings in the area, both those owned by BW and by others. Comparison of this data, together with an assessment of market trends, informs decisions on setting rates.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what average price for (a) residential and (b) non-residential moorings was charged by British Waterways in each region in England in 2001–02. [70143]
Mr. Meacher: British Waterways have advised that since the majority of their residential moorings are concentrated in London, they do not normally compile this data by region. The average charge for a residential mooring for a 21 metre boat in London in 2001–02 was £2,647. The average charge for a non-residential mooring was £2,079.
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Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average percentage change has been in residential and non-residential mooring fees in London since 1997; and what average percentage change is planned for 2002–03. [70145]
Mr. Meacher: British Waterways have provided the following information. The average rate based on the number of customers is set out below.
| 1997 actual | 2001 actual | 2002–03 planned | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | £1,797 | £2,715 | £3,285 |
| Non residential | £1,919 | £2,797 | £2,943 |
Prices shown are for a 21 metre vessel inclusive of VAT.
This includes data relating to new sites established since 1997. Rates for these sites have been set at relative market rates and have resulted in an increase in average mooring rates. The percentage change since 1997 is 47.7 per cent. The mooring rates for 2002–03 will result in a percentage change of 8 per cent. Historic data for private operators is not available.
Plastic Waste
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the health effects on (i) humans, (ii) animals and (iii) plants caused by the disposal of plastic products. [70259]
Mr. Meacher: Research in this area concentrates on the health effects of waste management in general, rather than being related to specific materials in the waste stream.
The Environment Agency is currently undertaking various projects to improve knowledge of the health impacts of waste management options (including incineration, landfill and waste recovery facilities) and is looking into the development and use of Health Impact Assessments.
My Department recently hosted a seminar to consider where there are gaps in the research on health impacts of all waste management options and to help prioritise future research. Conducting such research will allow local authorities and others to make more informed choices about the range, type and location of facility they wish to operate.
Bushmeat Trade
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received from Mr. Clive Laurence from Ciel Logistics; and if her officials intend to meet him to discuss the illegal trade in bushmeat. [70308]
Mr. Meacher: DEFRA Ministers have not received any recent representations from Mr. Laurence. He met with the Head of our Illegal Imports Team on 31 May to discuss illegal meat imports generally and the use of x-ray technology specifically. Mr. Laurence was invited to provide relevant evidence of illegal trade in bushmeat to
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the disease risk assessment that is currently being carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency as part of the Governments' action plan to tackle illegal imports.
EU Waste Regulations
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the revised European Waste Catalogue and Hazardous Waste List on UK business. [70272]
Mr. Meacher: The changes to the hazardous waste list, which is now incorporated within the European Waste Catalogue, are likely to lead to increased costs for hazardous waste disposal for many businesses. A regulatory impact assessment estimating these costs will be published with the forthcoming consultation paper on the review of the UK Special Waste Regulations.
EU Committees
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU Advisory Committee on waste management is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [70577]
Mr. Meacher: The most recent EU Advisory Committee on Waste Management was held on 27 March 2002. The committee convenes approximately every 6 months. Dates have not been finalised for the next scheduled meeting.
UK representation varies according to the agenda for each meeting and may include members of the Scottish Executive and other devolved administrations where there are items of sufficient interest.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2002, Official Report, column 607W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the Directive on the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution by asbestos; and if she will make a statement. [73181]
Mr. Meacher: The EU Committee for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the Directive on the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution by asbestos has not met since the establishment of the Scottish Executive, so its officials have never attended it.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2002, Official Report, column 606W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Committee on the Directive on packaging and packaging waste; and if she will make a statement. [73177]
Mr. Meacher: The devolved administrations are kept fully informed of the work of the Committee and may send experts to the meetings if they wish. In this case, the Scottish Executive has judged its interests to be adequately covered by the representation from DTI and DEFRA. The representatives from the DTI and DEFRA
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on the Committee advance UK interests, and negotiating lines are agreed in advance between the departments and the devolved administrations.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2002, Official Report, column 69W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Committee on the implementation of the Directive establishing a Community policy regarding water; and if she will make a statement. [73170]
Mr. Meacher: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 July 2002, Official Report, column 69W. Since this committee has never met, members of the Scottish Executive have not attended any meetings.
However, other meetings to consider aspects of implementation of the Water Framework Directive have taken place. Representatives from the Scottish Executive regularly attend meetings of the Water Directors of member states. Of late, this group's work has concentrated on the Water Framework Directive. It last met in Valencia on 10–12 June 2002 and a representative of the Scottish Executive attended. Scottish Executive officials also attend meetings of the Strategic Co-ordination Group on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. This group last met on 29–30 April 2002 in Brussels and the UK team included a representative of the Scottish Executive.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2002, Official Report, column 1124W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Management Committee for Fisheries Products; and if she will make a statement. [73171]
Mr. Morley: The Scottish Executive has been represented at all of the meetings which took place in the last year.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2002, Official Report, column 124W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Management Committee for the fisheries and aquaculture sector; and if she will make a statement. [73182]
Mr. Morley: In the last six months, the Scottish Executive has been represented at 3 of the 6 meetings which took place.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2002, Official Report, column 691W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Committee for the implementation of legislation on ambient air quality assessment and management; and if she will make a statement. [73291]
Mr. Meacher: There have been no meetings of this committee so the attendance of members of the Scottish Executive would not have arisen.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2002, Official Report, column 691W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Advisory Committee for the
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implementation of the directive on the reduction of the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels; and if she will make a statement. [73290]
Mr. Meacher: The answer of 8 July, Official Report, column 691W, said that there had been no meetings of this committee in the last 12 months. That is incorrect: there was a meeting in April 2002. That was the first and only meeting of the committee. No members of the Scottish Executive attended that meeting.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2002, Official Report, columns 368–369W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the directive on water intended for human consumption; and if she will make a statement. [73295]
Mr. Meacher: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Buckingham on 10 June, Official Report, column 915–916W.
A representative of the Scottish Executive attended meetings held in November 2001 and in April 2002 of the Committee established under Article 12 of the Drinking Water Directive 1998.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2002, Official Report, column 842W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources; and if she will make a statement. [73173]
Mr. Morley: In the period from September 2001 (the start of the new session) to date, Scottish Executive officials did not attend any of these meetings
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2002, Official Report, column 371W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for pigmeat; and if she will make a statement. [73178]
Mr. Morley: To date, no members of the Scottish Executive have attended the EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for pigmeat.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2002, Official Report, column 914W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Committee on geographical indications and protected designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs; and if she will make a statement. [73292]
Mr. Morley: Members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Committee on geographical indications and protected designations of origin 6 times within the last 5 years.
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Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2002, Official Report, column 914W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Committee on conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture; and if she will make a statement. [73293]
Mr. Morley: To date, no members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of this Committee.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 248W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for sheep and goats; and if she will make a statement. [73176]
Mr. Morley: In the period from September 2001 (the start of the new session) to date, Scottish Executive officials have attended 3 of these meetings.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with regard to the answer of 26 June 2002, Official Report, column 913W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Implementation Committee for Spirit Drinks; and if she will make a statement. [73296]
Mr. Morley: The Spirit Drinks Implementation Committee (SDIC) is mandated by Council Regulation 1576/89 and is responsible for the general rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks as laid down in that Regulation.
UK representation on SDIC meetings is determined according to the agenda items that are proposed for discussion and can include members of the Scottish Executive and other devolved administrations. Following consultation with devolved administrations about each SDIC agenda so far, it has been agreed that Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs alone would represent UK interests.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2002, Official Report, column 370W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Committee on certificates of specific character for agricultural products and foodstuffs; and if she will make a statement. [73179]
Mr. Morley: Members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Committee on certificates of specific character once within the last 5 years.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 248W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for beef and veal; and if she will make a statement. [73175]
Mr. Meacher: The UK delegation to the Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress on the EC Nitrates Directive ("the Article 9 committee")
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included officials from the Scottish Executive on the 26 October 1999 (12 meeting), 6 December 2001 (15 meeting) and 17 June 2002 (16 meeting).
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU Standing Committee for Foodstuffs is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [70567]
Ms Blears: I have been asked to reply.
The Standing Committee for Food was replaced by the Standing Committee on Animal Health and the Food Chain (Section: Food Safety and Controls) from 21 February 2002, by virtue of EP/Council Regulation 178/2002. The United Kingdom is represented on this Committee by officials, usually from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Ministerial level, with both the FSA and DEFRA on the formulation of European Union policy which touches on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive. Representatives of the Scottish Executive may attend as part of the UK delegation, should the subject matter require this. The Standing Committee is next due to meet on 11/12 September 2002.
[This information is correct as at Friday, 2 August 2002]
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