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7 Nov 2002 : Column 693W—continued
Unemployment
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates her Department has made of the sectors which have contributed to the change in unemployment in Scotland in the last seven months. [80224]
Mrs. Liddell: Sectoral Labour Force Survey employment data are not seasonally adjusted. However, over the past year employment growth in Scotland has been driven by the Banking, Finance and Insurance sector and the Public Administration, Education and Health sector. In the last six months the main growth sectors have been Energy and Water and Agriculture and Fishing. However, performance in these sectors is affected by seasonal variation.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Agriculture Regulations
Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many regulations have been introduced in each year since 1992 related to agriculture. [80341]
Alun Michael: This information is not available in the form requested as it would involve looking at all legislation, both E.C. and UK, introduced by different Government Departments to consider whether it related to agriculture. Such information could only be assembled at disproportionate cost.
Focus Group Research
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what use she and her Department has made of focus group research since June 2001; if she will identify for each research project the topics covered, the person or organisation carrying out the research, and the total cost; and if she will publish the research on her Department's website. [74990]
Alun Michael: The Department makes use of focus group research to gain a better understanding of the public and stakeholder perception of many of its projects. Records of this type of research are not held centrally for Defra, its Executive Agencies or NDPBs and the cost of this research is normally subsumed within the total cost of a project. Further information and costs could only be obtained at a disproprtionate cost.
Below is a table of focus group research that can be identified from our records.
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| Research Project/ Topic | Organisation/Person | Web |
|---|---|---|
| Foot and Mouth Disease Focus Group Research | Andrew Irving Associates / COI | To be published on Defra Website |
| Public Perceptions Concerning Vaccination FMD Case Study | Professor Glynis M. Breakwell | Summary to be published on Defra Website |
| Improving the public awareness and understanding of flood risk. | Consortium lead by Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick Ltd | To be published on completion |
| The appraisal of the intangible human health related impacts of flooding | Risk and Policy Analysis Ltd | To be published on completion |
| Water-based Sport and Recreation—the facts | The University of Brighton | Published on Defra Website |
| Sustainable Development Community Issues Groups | IPPR | Decision pending |
| Sustainable Development Stakeholder Seminars | Green Alliance | Decision pending |
| Illegal Imports Campaign | Solutions Strategy Research / COI | Decision pending |
| Defra Corporate Identity | Bamber Forsyth- Fitch | Decision pending |
Community Rail Partnerships
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent by her Department on Community Rail partnerships in rural areas in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03 to date. [78396]
Alun Michael: Community Rail Partnerships are supported financially through the Rural Transport Partnership programme, administered by the Countryside Agency on behalf of Defra. The Strategic Rail Authority also allocates #12,500 per annum to Community Rail Partnerships, currently up to September 2003. Annual spending by the Countryside Agency is shown below, which includes funding to the Association of Community Rail Partnerships for providing advice on improving platforms at rural railway stations.
| Countryside Agency | |
|---|---|
| 2000–2001 | #48,629 |
| 2001–2002 | #128,634 |
| 2002–2003 | #79,081 (Spent up to October 31) |
Rural Expenditure
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 28 October 2002, Official Report, column 587W, on rural expenditure, to the hon. member for SouthEast Cornwall (Mr. Breed), how much was (a) available, and (b) spent in (i) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (iii) 2002–03 to date through the following, the (A) Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, (B) Local Heritage Initiative, (C) Support for Rights of Way,
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(D) Doorstep Greens, (E) Millennium Greens and (F) Walking the Way to Health schemes, broken down by region. [79728]
Alun Michael: This information is not readily available. I have asked whether it can be collected and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Organic Products
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what legislation governs the sale of products labelled as organic; and what bodies are responsible for (a) implementation of and (b) inspections related to such legislation. [79828]
Mr. Meacher: EC Council Regulation 2092/91 (as amended) sets out the labelling requirements, which must be used in organic farming and growing, and the inspection system, which must be put in place to ensure this.
All food sold as organic therefore must originate from growers, processors and importers who are registered with a body approved by the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS) and subject to an annual inspection by these bodies.
The sale of products labelled as organic is governed in England by The Organic Products Regulations 2001 (2001 No. 430). Local Authorities have enforcement powers to implement these Regulations.
Farm Incomes
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average farm income was (a) in 1997 and (b) at the most recent available date in real terms. [76465]
Mr. Morley: Expressed in real terms at 2001–02 prices, average net farm income in England was #17,400 in 1997–98, and #11,400 in 2001–02. This last figure was a forecast made last January.
The final figure for 2001–02 will be published on 28 November and the forecast for 2002–03 will be released on 30 January.
Net farm income is defined as the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their labour and on the capital of the business
Dairy Farming
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support and assistance she is providing to dairy farmers. [79226]
Mr. Morley: Annual EU expenditure on the Dairy CAP runs at almost 2 billion euro. Over the last year, mindful of the difficult market situation in the dairy sector, measures have taken in Brussels, backed by the Government, to increase support in the sector. For example, export refunds have been increased for skimmed milk powder, whole milk powder and butter to help encourage exports by making up the difference between Community and world prices. Despite this considerable expenditure, the farmgate price of milk remains below the level at which many dairy farmers can
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make the investment required to sustain their business. This clearly shows that the current Dairy CAP is failing farmers and is in need of reform.
We believe that a sustainable future for dairy farming is best secured through the recommendations in the Report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Food and Farming, together with the Milk Task Force Report. The Government has already announced measures to take forward some of the recommendations in the Policy Commission Report and we will publish our Sustainable Agriculture Strategy shortly. Furthermore, my noble friend Lord Whitty has convened a number of meetings of an informal dairy supply chain group, including representatives of dairy farmers, which has addressed issues of concern to those in the dairy supply chain that came out of these reports. This group is also likely to consider how the industry can best address any lessons that emerge from the ongoing KPMG study on the structure of the UK dairy sector and milk pricing, which was commissioned by the Milk Development Council.
Recycling
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has undertaken to investigate funding of doorstep recycling schemes. [79020]
Mr. Meacher: We have commissioned no specific research on this topic. However, the Strategy Unit of the Cabinet Office are currently reviewing waste issues, including the costs of delivering the diversion from landfill to which we are committed. This takes account of door-step recycling. We expect their report to be published very shortly.
Home Energy Efficiency
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment has been made by her Department of the cost and potential savings at a different initial levels of energy efficiency of property of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; [77590]
- (2) what assessment has been made by her Department of the cost effectiveness of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme in reducing fuel poverty amongst owner-occupiers and private sector tenants; [77586]
(3) what (a) assesment she has made, (b) discussions she has had or plans and (c) representations she has received in relation to the research conducted by the institute of Fiscal Studies on the cost-effectiveness of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; [77591]
(4) what assessment (a) has been made and (b) is planned of the effects of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme on reducing fuel poverty (i) to date and (ii) under the fuel poverty strategy. [77589]
Mr. Meacher: The information requested will take time to collate and I will write to the hon. Member shortly. I will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
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Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will estimate how many households would be taken out of fuel poverty if their properties were to be improved by the average SAP rating achieved by Warm Front and Warm Front plus assistance; [79512]
- (2) what funding (a) was available for the Warm Front scheme in 2001–02 and 2002–03 and (b) will be available in 2003–04; how such funding relates to the annual budgets set out in the statement of 30 November 2000, Official Report, column 765; and if she will make a statement; [79508]
(3) what research has been carried out into the match between fuel poverty and eligibility for Warm Front assistance; and if she will make a statement; [79506]
(4) which of her Department's Public Service Agreements relate to fuel poverty reduction; and what progress has been made in achieving them; [79514]
(5) what assessment has been made of the administration costs incurred by the two Warm Front scheme managers in terms of (a): cost effectiveness and (b): efficiency programmes; [79510]
(6) in how many cases private sector landlords have been obliged to repay costs of heating and insulation installations as a result of properties that have bene fited from Warm Front no longer being occupied by eligible tenants; [79505]
(7) what progress has been made on establishing a common definition of fuel poverty for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; [79513]
(8) what training is undertaken by individuals providing advice to households under the Warm Front scheme; and what formal qualification verifies that the adviser is a skilled and competent person; [79509]
(9) how many households are eligible for (a) Warm Front grants and (b) Warm Front plus grants; and by how many these numbers would be increased if there were to be 100 per cent take up of the qualifying benefits; [79507]
(10) what resources are expected to be expended on domestic energy efficiency improvements over the next three years through (a) the Warm Front Programme, (b) the Energy Efficiency Commitment, (c) capital budgets of local authorities and (d) Registered Social Landlord energy efficiency programmes. [79511]
Mr. Meacher: The information requested will take time to collate and I will write to my hon. Friend shortly. I will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
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