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Vehicle Emissions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the impact on global warming of automotive emissions of one tonne to the atmosphere of (a) particulates, (b) fine particulates, (c) sulphur dioxide, (d) carbon dioxide, (e) benzene, (f) butadiene, (g) carbon monoxide and (h) oxides of nitrogen. [96834]

Mr. Meacher: The substances listed above all have some impact on global warming, but the effect is indirect in some cases. It is not possible to calculate the specific impact on global warming of one tonne of each of the above substances, as this amount is relatively small in comparison to emission values used for climate calculations.

(a) and (b) Large amounts of particles, known as aerosol, can either have a cooling effect on the climate by reflecting incoming solar radiation back out to space, or a warming effect, by absorbing radiation. Aerosols have a relatively short residence time in the atmosphere so their influence tends to be short-lived and regional in nature.

(c) Sulphur dioxide is an indirect greenhouse gas, as it takes part in atmospheric reactions that form products that effect the climate. These reactions include some that lead to the formation of sulphate aerosol, which tends to have a cooling effect on climate, and some leading to the formation of tropospheric ozone, which is a potent greenhouse gas.

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(d) Carbon dioxide is the only direct greenhouse gas listed. It is the benchmark for determining the global warming potential (GWP) of other direct and indirect greenhouse gases and has a GWP of 1. Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are increasing at a rate unprecedented in at least the last 20,000 years.

(e) and (f) Benzene and butadiene are both Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). They take part in atmospheric reactions related to the formation of tropospheric ozone, and act to increase levels of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.

(g) and (h) Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) are indirect greenhouse gases. They take part in reactions that enhance the formation of tropospheric ozone and influence the lifetime of methane—the second most potent direct greenhouse gas—and other greenhouse gases.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the external costs of automotive emissions of one tonne to the atmosphere of (a) particulates, (b) fine particulates, (c) sulphur dioxide, (d) carbon dioxide, (e) benzene, (f) 1, 3 butadiene, (g) carbon monoxide and (h) oxides of nitrogen. [97250]

Mr. Meacher: Considerable research is in hand to improve the scientific and economic understanding of the health and environmental damages of air pollution. This work will provide important evidence on which policies will be further developed.

The Air Quality Strategy sets standards and objectives for particulates (PM10), sulphur dioxide, benzene, 1,3 butadiene, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide to be reached between 2003 and 2010. The Government have not published formal estimates of the air quality external costs per tonne of automotive emissions. The external costs of a tonne of emission from a vehicle will vary according to the pollutant in question, the type of vehicle and fuel used, where the vehicle is emitting as well as many other factors.

A Government Economic Service working paper has suggested a range from £35/tC to £140/tC (with a best estimate of £70t/C) as illustrative of the global damage cost of carbon emissions. It also suggested that these figures should be raised in real terms by £1t/C per annum as the costs of climate change are likely to increase over time. These values are currently under review following recent advances in the academic literature, and general developments in the UK Government economic appraisal guidance (such as the new Treasury Green Book).

Agricultural Holdings

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the (a) minimum income, (b) minimum standard man day and (c) minimum whole time equivalents required to maintain a viable agricultural holding across all sectors. [96960]

Mr. Morley: No specific estimates of this type have been made as the level of income and labour required to maintain a viable agricultural holding is a matter for the individual farmer. An assessment was made of current

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and future business prospects for farming in analysis produced to accompany the launch of 'The Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food'. This can be found at htto://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/newstrategy/econ/section1.pdf

Animal Welfare

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures have been introduced by the Government to improve the welfare of animals, with particular reference to enforcement measures. [97129]

Mr. Morley: The Government recognise the need to ensure that existing animal welfare legislation is effectively enforced to ensure compliance with the standards. Co-ordination of enforcement across the different enforcement agencies, such as the state veterinary service and local authorities is a priority task. We have for some time been investing resource to ensure development of closer working relationships between relevant bodies, through for example, regular liaison meetings.

The issue of animal welfare enforcement is one of the key issues under consideration in the new Animal Welfare Bill which will consolidate and modernise domestic and captive animal welfare legislation.

Bees

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to increase funding for programmes aimed at preventing the spread of bee diseases. [97545]

Mr. Morley: The Department has no plans to increase its level of expenditure on the programme of measures that are undertaken to protect bee health in England.

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the health of the beekeeping industry in the UK. [97543]

Mr. Morley: Of the 44,000 beekeepers in the UK about 400 operate on a commercial basis. Since 1992, the greatest single challenge to beekeeping has been the need to control the parasitic mite, varroa, which was first detected in England in that year. With Government help, beekeepers generally have learned to apply good husbandry techniques to control this threat. The market for, and interest in, honey produced in the UK has received a boost as a result of the ban on imports of honey from China in early 2002.

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the environmental role played by honey bees in pollinating (a) orchards and (b) agricultural crops. [97544]

Mr. Morley: In July 2001, the Department received from ADAS Consulting Ltd. an independent economic policy evaluation of our bee health programme. The ADAS researchers noted in their findings the public good dimensions of bee health, in particular the benefits to society arising from pollination services, including commercial crops, domestic and wild plants. They estimated the value of pollination of commercial crops

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at around £120 million, with orchards accounting for £79 million and agricultural crops £21 million of this total respectively.

Biodiesel

Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessments she has made on the impact of changes in duty for biodiesel on British agriculture. [97392]

Mr. Meacher: Biodiesel could offer an opportunity for diversification of agricultural activities and the development of new markets. Following the introduction of the reduction in duty by 20 pence per litre, compared to ultra-low sulphur diesel, in July 2002, we have yet to see biodiesel produced from British-grown oilseed rape. The duty cut is, however, already bringing forward production of biodiesel from used vegetable oil and over 60 forecourts in the UK are already retailing biodiesel. To develop biodiesel production from feedstocks from British agriculture, the return to farmers will need to be sufficient to compete with established food and animal feed markets which currently offer higher prices.

Capita

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 9 January, Official Report, column 172W, on Capita, if he will list (a) each contract's number, (b) the value of each contract and (c) the length of each contract. [96756]

Mr. Blunkett [holding answer 11 February 2003]: Detailed contract information in the format requested is not readily available and due to commercial confidentiality I am unable to give the value for each individual contract. However, I am able to provide a total value for contracts placed, together with the length of each contract. This information is provided in the table.

Contract	Contract length
Designing and Managing Building Projects	(13)5 years
Environment/Space Planning	2 Years
Criminal Records Bureau	10 years
HMP Blakenhurst Bid	1 year
Recruitment	1 year
IND Recruitment	1 year
Recruitment of General Managers	1 year
Conferences and Training	1 year
Provision of Human Resources Staff	(13)1 year
Finance related work	(13)1 year
Management Recruitment Scheme	6 months
Civil Service Short Answer Test	6 months
Multi-Disciplinary Term Commission Contract	3 years
Consultancy Support	1 year
Production of Purchase Manual	4 months
Efficiency Review	3 months
Quantum Project	1 year
Total value	£405,110,501

⁽¹³⁾ Contract for which Capita was not the prime contractor.

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 5 February, on Capita (ref 89967) if she will list for each of the contracts awarded by her Department to Capita since 1997 (a) the start and finish date of contract, (b) the value of contract, (c) the evaluation

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mechanism for successful delivery of contract, (d) the penalty charges for failure to deliver, (e) if penalty charges have been incurred, (f) the service level agreements and (g) the contract numbers; and if she will make a statement. [97473]

Alun Michael: Defra came into being on 8 June 2001. The information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

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