| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
31 Oct 2002 : Column 917W—continued
TB
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what actions her Department and the Bourne Group have undertaken to investigate the incidence of bovine TB in those areas which have been restocked with cattle since the culling and movement restriction policy following the foot and mouth outbreak last year. [77388]
Mr. Morley: Defra has commissioned an extensive research project with Warwick University to study the transmission of bovine TB in restocked herds. The first part of this project investigates the incidence of bovine TB in herds in the badger culling trial areas which have been restocked since the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, compared with herds in the same areas which were unaffected by FMD. The second part of the project is a case control study of restocked herds in all parts of Great Britain which become infected with bovine TB within two years of restocking.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the implementation of the amended TB Order. [77391]
Mr. Morley: The original public consultation on the amended TB Order was interrupted by the foot and mouth disease outbreak. Additional policy considerations have come to light since the initial exercise was carried out and a further consultation on the amended TB Order is planned for the first half of next year. A timetable for implementation of the Order will be drawn up following consultation.
Common Agricultural Policy
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the European Commission's proposals on the mid-term review of the common agricultural policy. [75960]
Mr. Morley: I welcome the European Commission's proposals for reform of the CAP which are a good basis for discussion. The Government supports the proposed shift in support from production-linked payments to
31 Oct 2002 : Column 918W
wider agri-environment and rural development measures as well as the proposal to remove the link between production and support. In a number of key areas we would have liked the proposals to go further, notably by offering real budgetary savings and firm proposals for reform of the dairy regime. We will need to ensure that the reforms offer a fair deal for UK producers.
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she expects on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy as a result of the mid-term review; and if she will make a statement. [75248]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 23 October 2002]: Formal legislative proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy are not expected until December at the earliest. Negotiations will therefore continue into 2003. It is too early to say what the outcome of discussions will be, but the UK will continue to argue that reform is essential if we are to meet our domestic objectives and international obligations.
Community Development Work
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the fund for community development work was spent in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03 to date. [78404]
Alun Michael: The proposal to support community development workers was announced in the rural White Paper in November 2000. I understand from the Countryside Agency that bids from rural community councils to employ additional community development workers to work with small rural communities to tackle the problem of social exclusion were invited in October 2001 for the three year period from April 2002. 37 posts have been approved. In addition, the Community Development Foundation has been contracted to develop a network of rural community development workers, including the posts funded through the Agency, to build capacity among the network, to spread good practice and to promote training. Total spend in the year to date is #385,691. There was no expenditure in 2000/01 and 2001/02.
Countryside Agency
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) recent discussions she has had and (b) representations she has received regarding the Countryside Agency; and if she will make a statement. [78614]
Alun Michael: I have regular meetings with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Countryside Agency and we exchange correspondence frequently. Most recently I met the board of the agency on 16 October where we discussed how best we could work together to deliver the Government's objectives of securing prosperous rural economies, vibrant rural communities and a countryside which all may enjoy.
31 Oct 2002 : Column 919W
Officials in the Department also work closely with officials in the Agency to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of rural policy.
Departmental Logo
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much it cost to redesign the Department's logo; and which outside bodies were involved in the creative process. [78200]
Alun Michael: Our current expenditure on redesigning the Defra Logo is #24,000, with a further #8,000 of expenditure on research and refinement.
The outside body involved in the creative process was the brand design agency, Bamber Forsyth-Fitch.
Environmental Action Fund Grant
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding is available through the Environmental Action Fund Grant; and how much was spent through it in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03 to date. [78392]
Alun Michael: In each of the financial years 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03, #4.2 million has been available through the Environmental Action Fund. Out-turn was also #4.2 million in both 2000–01 and 2001–02. For 2002–03 we have allocated the full resource of the Fund to deserving biodiversity and sustainable development education and awareness raising projects.
Farm Support
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent and how many farmers have been supported, by category, through the (a) England Rural Development Programme and (b) Farm Business Advisory Service in (i) 2000–01, (ii) 2001–02 and (iii) 2002–03 to date. [78386]
Alun Michael: England Rural Development Programme (ERDP)
| 2000–2001 | 2001–2002 | 2002–2003 |
|---|---|---|
| 122.6(12) | 167.2 | 50.0 |
(12) The ERDP was approved by the European Commission on 11 October 2000. Expenditure recorded against the programme did not start until 16 October 2000. This is the date on which the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (under which CAP payments are Made) year commences.
| 2000–2001 | 2001–2002 | 2002–2003 |
|---|---|---|
| 25,828 | 26,089 | 7,217 |
(13) This includes farmers and non-farmers in receipt of payments from any of the ten ERDP schemes. Those benefiting from more than one scheme are counted only once. It is not possible separately to identify figures for farmers and for non-farmer recipients, or to break down the figures by type of farm other than at disproportionate cost.
31 Oct 2002 : Column 920W
Farm Business Advisory Service (FBAS)
| 2000–2001 | 2001–2002 | 2002–2003 |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | 6.8 | 0.95 |
| 2000–2001 | 2001–2002 | 2002–2003 |
|---|---|---|
| 3,480 | 3,102 | 789 |
| 2000–2001 | 2001–2002 | 2002–2003 |
|---|---|---|
| 2,012 | 2,955 | 916 |
It is not possible to identify the numbers of farmers by type of farm in either scheme without incurring disproportionate costs.
Firefighters' Strike
Mr Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what preparations she has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike; and what the cost is to the Department of these actions. [77665]
Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. Raynesford) on 28 October 2002, Official Report, column 527W. The cost of providing emergency cover will depend on the extent and nature of any industrial action.
Growth Promoters
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessments she has made of the appropriateness of using growth promoters in livestock and poultry. [77624]
Mr. Morley: The Government take very seriously the possibility of the development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria affecting humans as a result of the use of antibiotics in animals. They are satisfied that the four remaining antibiotic growth promoters are not related to any therapeutic antibiotics currently used in human or veterinary medicine but will keep the issue under review. Government policy will continue to be informed by the advice of their specialist committees.
There is currently a proposal before the European Commission for a regulation on additives for use in animal nutrition. The proposal aims to rationalise existing measures and introduce new controls. One of the effects will be to withdraw the use of antibiotic growth promoters by 31 December 2005. The intended withdrawal is based on a precautionary approach taking into account the impact that antimicrobial-resistant microbes can have on human health. This time scale includes a phasing out period, allowing time for the development of new husbandry methods and for industry to develop alternative products.
31 Oct 2002 : Column 921W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |