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5 Nov 2002 : Column 241W—continued
River Parrett Catchment Project
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she has received a proposal from the Parrett catchment project to fund a sluice on the River Parrett; [78751]
- (2) if she has received a proposal from the Parrett catchment project for a sluice on the Parrett. [78747]
Mr. Morley: A tidal sluice is one of the component options being considered by the Environment Agency (EA) as part of its Parrett Catchment Water Management Action Plan. The EA advises that the technical, environmental and economic evaluation of options is on-going and Defra has not yet received any formal proposal for the proposed sluice on the River Parrett.
School Milk Scheme
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on the School Milk Scheme in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03 to date. [78385]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 31 October 2002]: For the year 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 the expenditure on School Milk Subsidy was #8,010,877.57.
For year 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 the expenditure increased to #8,632,079.31.
For year 1 April 2002 to 29 October 2002 the expenditure was #5,849,398.72.
Water Courses
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Environment Agency regarding the cleaning of water courses; and if she will make a statement. [79237]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 4 November 2002]: The Department has frequent discussions with the Environment Agency on reducing pollution from water courses.
Water Industry
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been carried out to establish that a customer threshold of 50 megalitres per annum in non-domestic water supply will enable a new entrant to make a viable financial return. [77013]
Mr. Morley: The Government published a consultation paper on July 31; XExtending Opportunities for Competition in the Water Industry in England and Wales". This proposed competition only in the non-household sector, with an eligibility threshold
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of a minimum of 50 megalitres (Ml) a year. The consultation period closed on 1 October and we are now considering responses.
In preparing the proposals, assessment was made of the broad cost breakdown between the main elements of the supply chain, the likely scope for making savings on these, and the ranges of charges paid by users. Experience shows that the market will determine financial viability in a competitive environment.
These issues will be taken into consideration as we balance the need to create opportunities for competition while continuing to secure the Government's wider objectives for the water industry, which include protecting public health, the environment, social and economic goals, and safeguarding services for household customers.
Wood for Good Campaign
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contribution the Wood for Good campaign is making towards the goal of ensuring that all timber into the UK is from legal and sustainable sources. [77581]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 28 October 2002]: The impact of the Wood for Good campaign has recently been evaluated by an independent consultancy. The study showed that the campaign is meeting its objectives. These objectives do not include ensuring that all imported timber is from legal and sustainable sources. However, the campaign has improved understanding of the environmental safeguards in wood supplied from the member countries. The demand for construction timber from the member countries has increased and is attributed in part to the campaign.
Woodland Grants Scheme
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was made available through the Woodland Grants Scheme in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03; and how many applicants and how much was received by each recipient through the scheme in each of those years. [78393]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 31 October 2002]: The information is given in the table.
| Total paid | Number of schemes for which payments were made | Number of payments made | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 16,513,784 | 7,639 | 8,898 |
| 2001–02 | 15,796,737 | 7,063 | 8,065 |
| 2002–03 (to date) | 9,602,179 | 4,816 | 5,333 |
Some applicants have more than one scheme and some have received more than one payment in a year. A list of individual payments would involve thousands of entries, and has not therefore been produced.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
China
12. Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the possible effects if Article 23 of the Basic Law in Hong Kong is enacted; and what representations he is making to the Government of the People's Republic of China. [77173]
Mr. Rammell: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government have published outline proposals—but not yet draft legislation—on implementing Article 23. We have made clear to them that any legislation should be consistent with the principles of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong and the two UN human rights covenants.
International Terrorism
13. Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the state of the international coalition against terrorism. [77174]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The coalition against terrorism that we helped to build in the aftermath of 11 September remains resolute in its objective to eradicate terrorism as a force in international affairs. It has a long list of achievements to its credit: apart from Afghanistan, terrorists have been disrupted and arrested around the world, and there have been significant steps forward in international co-operation. But we have no illusions about how much more needs to be done.
Poland
14. Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UK's relations with Poland. [77176]
Mr. MacShane: Relations between the UK and Poland are excellent.
Pakistan
16. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the outcome of the recent provincial and parliamentary elections. [77178]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We welcome the holding of multi-party elections in Pakistan. They are an important milestone in Pakistan's on-going transition to democracy. The next crucial step is the transfer of power to the new National Assembly and establishing its role. We are committed to remaining engaged with Pakistan throughout the transition.
Israel
17. Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. [77179]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Lasting security can only be achieved through a negotiated settlement, not through force. We are committed to reviving final status negotiations by the end of the year. They must have
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explicitly as their aims an Israeli state free from terror and a viable Palestinian state based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338 and 1397. We fully support the efforts of the Quartet to agree a roadmap which sets out a series of steps, leading to a final and comprehensive settlement by 2005. The priority now is to agree and implement the roadmap.
21. Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what areas of (a) disagreement and (b) agreement he has with the US Administration about the Israel-Palestinian negotiations. [77183]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: In the House on 25 June my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary welcomed the approach to restarting the peace process set out in President Bush's speech of 24 June. We continue to work closely with the US to turn President Bush's vision of a final settlement within three years into a reality. What ever tactical disagreements might arise we are committed to working together to resolve them without delay.
29. Mr. Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent initiatives he has undertaken to promote a peaceful dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. [77192]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Lasting security can only be achieved through a negotiated settlement, not through force. We are committed to reviving final status negotiations by the end of the year. They must have explicitly as their aims an Israeli state free from terror and a viable Palestinian state based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338 and 1397. We fully support the efforts of the Quartet to agree a roadmap which sets out a series of steps, leading to a final and comprehensive settlement by 2005. The priority now is to agree and implement the roadmap.
34. Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, What action he is taking to secure a peace settlement in the Middle East on the basis of UN Resolutions 242 and 338. [77197]
Mr. Mike O'Brien : Lasting security can only be achieved through a negotiated settlement, not through force. We are committed to reviving final status negotiations by the end of the year. They must have explicitly as their aims an Israeli state free from terror and a viable Palestinian state based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338 and 1397. We fully support the efforts of the Quartet to agree a roadmap which sets out a series of steps, leading to a final and comprehensive settlement by 2005. The priority now is to agree and implement the roadmap.
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