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22 Jan 2003 : Column 344W—continued
Fallen Stock
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much fallen stock by (a) species, (b) region and (c) month was rendered in each year since 1997. [92166]
Mr. Morley: We do not have figures for the amount of fallen stock that has been rendered in the UK. This information is available only at disproportionate cost.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate she has made of the amount of fallen stock in terms of (a) weight and (b) species in the UK in each of the last 12 months; [92167]
- (2) what the average cost was for rendering fallen stock in the last year for which figures are available. [92168]
Mr. Morley: Information regarding the amount of fallen stock for each of the last 12 months is not available. However, the industry has estimated that something in the order of, at least, 200,000 tonnes of fallen stock will need to be collected annually, when the ban on burial of fallen stock is implemented from 30 April this year.
The estimated tonnage is be made up of the following:
- 1,316,000 adult animal carcases (bovine, ovine, swine and equine)
2,262,000 immature animal carcases (bovine, ovine, swine and equine)
36,000,000 poultry carcases (avians).
The United Kingdom Renderers Association estimate that the average cost for rendering fallen stock is in the order of £40–50 per tonne. In arriving at this figure, assumptions have been made to take account of seasonal variations and regional differences.
Fisheries
Ann Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many British fishery officers have been sent during 2002 to those Baltic States which are due to accede to the European Union in 2004; and what the purpose was of sending them. [92644]
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Mr. Morley: Three British Sea Fishery Officers from Defra visited Poland in 2002 to advise and train Polish inspectors on the enforcement of EU fisheries legislation.
Flooding
Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress with its flood defence scheme at Hillfarrance, near Taunton. [91944]
Mr. Morley: Operational responsibility for flood management measures rests with the local operating authorities, normally the Environment Agency (EA) and local councils, who decide which projects to promote and their timing.
Defra is considering the EA's application for grant on its proposed flood alleviation scheme for Hillfarrance against the normal technical, economic and environmental criteria and priority score arrangements. However a final decision on grant aid cannot be taken until an application for planning permission has been considered by Taunton Deane Borough Council. Subject to this being in place, I understand the EA plan to start work in April 2003.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to provide additional funding for flood defences. [91956]
Mr. Morley: The Government are committed to maintenance and improvement of flood and coastal defences, including those to reduce the risk of coastal erosion as well as flooding, and has planned for spending of nearly £1.5 billion over the next three years:
| 2002–03 | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defra(4) | 131 | 134 | 137 | 182 |
| ODPM(5) | 280 | 295 | 332 | 382 |
| Total | 411 | 429 | 469 | 564 |
(4) For capital projects, Environment Agency national initiatives such as National Flood and Coastal Defence Database and Catchment Flood Management Plans, Storm Tide Forecasting Service etc.
(5) Funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to local authorities to support their levies to the Environment Agency and internal drainage boards and their own spend on flood and coastal defence.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Environment Agency's flood warning service to be available to all people whose homes or businesses have been designated as at risk of flooding. [89608]
Margaret Beckett: The Environment Agency has made a commitment in its Corporate Strategy to increase the coverage of its flood warning services to 77 per cent. of properties in flood risk areas by 2007. This will rise to 80 per cent. by the year 2009–10.
Mr. Lidington : To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the population designated as at risk of flooding will
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be covered by the Environment Agency's warning service by (a) 1 April 2003, (b) 1 April 2004, (c) 1 April 2005 and (d) 1 April 2006. [89610]
Margaret Beckett: The Environment Agency warns people of flooding by at least two means. These usually are a direct warning using the EA's automatic voice messaging (AVM) system and local radio announcements when flood warnings are issued. The warnings are also posted on the EA's website. As part of the EA's flood awareness campaign, each householder in a flood risk area receives an annual mailing advising them what to do during a flood. The EA plans to increase coverage of direct warnings to each household as follows:
- (a) April 2003 70 per cent. of households
- (b) April 2004 73 per cent. of households
- (c) April 2005 75 per cent. of households
(d) April 2006 76 per cent. of households
Margaret Beckett: A property is designated as at risk from flooding from main rivers and the sea if it appears within the area shown at risk on the Environment Agency's Indicative Flood Maps (which are available on the internet). These maps show the best available information on flood risk. An extreme flood outline representing the 0.1 per cent. probability of flooding in any year is under development and will be published later in 2003.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she plans to introduce a 0.5 per cent.standard for flood defences; and what estimate she has made of the cost to public funds of adapating a 0.5 per cent.standard for flood protection. [89629]
Margaret Beckett: There are no plans to introduce a common 0.5 per cent, or other common standard and no national estimate of the costs of such a standard have beenmade. There could be as many as 10,000 separate flood risk areas in England covering a very wide variety of land uses from low grade agricultural land to major industrial sites. It would not be feasible or desirable to apply the same standards to all these areas. The exclusion of flood water from some areas, particularly from some agricultural and amenity land would significantly increase the flooding problems to be addressed elsewhere.
The Department does provide indicative standards, linked to guidance on project appraisal, which are designed to ensure that suitable standards for the relevant land use are adopted where it is technically feasible and economically worthwhile to do so.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the progress made by the Environment Agency towards developing flood risk categories. [89640]
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Margaret Beckett: The Environment Agency has developed a method for categorising flood risk for the prioritisation and delivery of the flood warning service and it has been implemented throughout England and Wales.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made by the Environment Agency to identify private flood and coastal defences. [89745]
Margaret Beckett: The Environment Agency have identified all private flood defences on main river as well as all private sea defences.
Mr. Lidington : To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reports she has received from the Environment Agency about progress made in developing the National Flood and Coastal Defence Database. [89747]
Margaret Beckett: Defra officials have been kept fully informed by the Environment Agency about the progress of this development and receive regular reports on the project.
Fuel Poverty
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of those defined as being in fuel poverty in 2001 have carried out DIY insulation measures to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. [90806]
Mr. Morley: The information requested is not available. However, general information regarding the number of properties where improvements have been carried out will be available from the English House Condition Survey 2001, which is the responsibility of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
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