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27 Nov 2002 : Column 279W—continued
CO2
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the CO2 emissions from the aviation sector in each year since 1990; and what the projected figures are for each year to 2010. [80844]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 20 November 2002]: The UK greenhouse gas inventory and the corresponding projections distinguish between domestic aviation (flights within the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and international aviation (emissions from fuel loaded within this area onto flights with destinations outside it). The table shows the most recent emissions inventory data on carbon dioxide emissions for these two categories from 1990 to 2000, expressed as thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide (ktCO2) per year.
| Year | Domestic | International | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2,160 | 14,791 | 16,951 |
| 1991 | 2,119 | 14,570 | 16,689 |
| 1992 | 2,222 | 16,121 | 18,343 |
| 1993 | 2,281 | 17,241 | 19,522 |
| 1994 | 2,325 | 17,856 | 20,181 |
| 1995 | 2,449 | 19,012 | 21,461 |
| 1996 | 2,552 | 20,238 | 22,790 |
| 1997 | 2,640 | 21,552 | 24,192 |
| 1998 | 2,765 | 24,122 | 26,887 |
| 1999 | 2,827 | 26,424 | 29,251 |
| 2000 | 2,867 | 28,544 | 31,411 |
Projections on the same basis as the inventory data are available at five yearly intervals from the model of the UK energy economy maintained by the Department of Trade and Industry. This model suggests that, on central assumptions, carbon dioxide emissions from domestic aviation will be 3177 and 3483 kt CO2 per year in 2005 and 2010 respectively, and corresponding projections for international aviation emissions are 31533 and 37583 ktCO2 per year. The projected total emissions are 34710 and 41066 kT CO2 per year in 2005 and 2010 respectively.
Complaints
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints were received against her Department in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and what proportion were investigated and concluded in (i) under 14 days, (ii) 15 days to four weeks, (iii) 29 days to eight weeks, (iv) 57 days to 12 weeks and (v) 12 weeks or more. [83150]
Alun Michael: 15 complaints about standards of service were made to the Department's Complaint Adjudicator during the 2001–02 financial year, and five have so far been made during 2002–03. There is no central statistical record of less formal complaints.
Defra aims to investigate service standard complaints within 15 working days wherever possible. However, due to the complexity of some cases it was not feasible to investigate them fully within that time. In all such cases, a holding reply was sent explaining the reasons for the delay and when the complainant could expect a full response.
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The length of time taken to investigate and conclude the complaints was as follows:
| Year | Under 14 days | 15 days to four weeks | 29 days to eight weeks | 57 days to 12 weeks | 12 weeks or more | Total complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 15 |
| 2002–03 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Correspondence
Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for North -East Hampshire of 10 May regarding Mr. Lloyd, a constituent. [83025]
Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, replied on 25 November.
Deer (Forestry Damage)
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the economic damage caused by the deer population to forestry. [80830]
Mr. Morley: The Forestry Commission has not recently commissioned any work on the economic implications of deer. It has however undertaken various related studies, such as an assessment of wildlife damage in forests and a review of damage by mammals in north temperate forests.
Drinking Water
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the adequacy of (a) controls and (b) the enforcement regime relating to drinking water from private suppliers. [83380]
Mr. Morley: Drinking water quality standards of private water supplies and requirements for sampling and analysis of supplies are set out in the Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991. The 1998 Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC) introduced some new and some revised standards for drinking water quality. My Department will be consulting next year on draft proposals to implement the new and revised standards for the purposes of private water supplies.
Local authorities are responsible for monitoring at the frequencies set out in the Regulations and, where necessary, enforcement of regulatory standards. Local authorities have powers in primary legislation to serve formal notice, requiring specified remedial action where a private supply is unwholesome, or is insufficient for the domestic purposes of people living in a house. Where a private supply is, or may become, so polluted that it is prejudicial to health, an authority may also apply to the court for an order for steps be taken to prevent injury or danger to health.
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Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of domestic customers it is estimated rely on lead pipes for connections to company supplies of drinking water. [83381]
Mr. Morley: In England and Wales, there are an estimated 21 million properties. Information provided by water companies recently indicates an estimated total of some 7.5 million lead communication pipes connecting properties to water mains.
Food (Local Production)
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of UK food was locally produced in the last 12 months; and what the projection is for the next (a) five and (b) 10 years. [82898]
Mr. Morley: This information is not available. The local food sector is highly diverse and any attempt to assess its size and impact is very difficult. In addition, as the Policy Commission on the Future of Food and Farming has recognised, there is no commonly accepted definition of locally produced food.
Future of Farming and Food Report
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the Report on the Future of Farming and Food. [81156]
Mr. Morley: The Government have already made significant progress delivering action identified in the Policy Commission's Report. A new strategy for sustainable farming and food in England will be published shortly. This will include a formal response to each of the Policy Commission's recommendations.
An Implementation Group of independent members, chaired by former Policy Commission chair Sir Don Curry, will oversee delivery of the new strategy.
Illegal Imports
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many illegal imports by type in passenger baggage and freight were identified at Heathrow (a) from 1 April 2001 to 16 September 2002 and (b) since 16 September. [82412]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 21 November 2002]: The seizures of illegal imports through Heathrow airport as notified to the Illegal Animal Products Seizures database are as follows:
27 Nov 2002 : Column 282W
Kerbside Recycling
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local authorities which undertook kerbside recycling schemes have carried out a continuous scheme for longer than six months. [83298]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 25 November 2002]: We do not have information on how long schemes have been in operation. This information is not held centrally.
Kyoto Agreement
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the extent to which emissions from the aviation sector are covered by the Kyoto agreement. [83377]
Mr. Meacher: The Kyoto Protocol when it comes into effect will cover emissions from domestic aviation for all Parties who ratify the Protocol, although only Annex I Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (developed countries) have emission limitation or reduction targets. Emissions from international aviation are not included in the targets that Annex I countries who have ratified the Kyoto Protocol will have to meet. Article 2.2 of the Protocol requests Annex I Parties to limit or reduce emissions from international aviation, working through the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
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