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Nuclear Liabilities

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what resources have been committed in support of her Department's Liabilities Management Unit; what developments have taken place towards the creation of a nuclear liabilities management authority; and if she will make a statement. [101998]

Mr. Wilson: By the end of the current financial year, the Department will have spent approximately £9.5 million in support of the Liabilities Management Unit (LMU).

As announced in the Queen's Speech, the Government will publish draft legislation later this year. This will set out the legal basis for creating the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (formerly the Liabilities Management Authority—the new name better reflects the Authority's role but its remit remains the same). We will also publish at the same time draft memoranda of understanding between the NDA and the nuclear regulators and a draft NDA management statement, setting out the basis of the relationship between the NDA and the Government.

In the meantime, I can report that good progress is being made in preparing the ground for the NDA. The LMU is developing a comprehensive understanding of the liabilities on legacy sites and working closely with BNFL and UKAEA and the nuclear regulators in a number of important areas including the development of comprehensive long term decommissioning plans for all the legacy sites. My officials are also actively seeking out and talking to relevant and interested stakeholders, in particular through regular meetings with

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stakeholders at regional level. The first round of these meetings is focusing on explaining progress to date and identifying the issues which stakeholders want to discuss. The second round, in the summer, will focus on how the NDA might work with stakeholders with a view to developing a draft stakeholder engagement framework that the NDA can build on once it is in place.

Offshore Industry (TUPE Regulations)

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to secure protection under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employees) Regulations 1981 for those engaged in the offshore industry who are employed on the UK continental shelf; and if she will make a statement. [102842]

Alan Johnson: The offshore industry is not explicitly excluded from the coverage of the regulations. The regulations implement the EC Acquired Rights Directive, which states that it shall apply where and in so far as the undertaking, business or part to be transferred is situated within the territorial scope of the Treaty.

The Government have been considering possibilities for the reform of the TUPE Regulations, but has no plans to make further provision specifically in relation to the continental shelf. We announced on 14 February 2003 that a public consultation will be launched in the first half of this year on draft revised regulations. All representations received in that consultation will be taken into account. The new regulations are expected to be in effect by April 2004.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Advertising Costs (Scotland)

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Department spent on advertising in Scotland in each year since 1999 on (a) television, (b) newspapers, (c) radio, (d) magazines, (e) billboards and (f) sporting events. [102329]

Alun Michael: The Department has incurred no advertising expenditure in Scotland since its formation in June 2001.

An analysis of the expenditure for each agency and non-departmental body sponsored by the Department could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Animal Movement

Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what plans she has to grant an exemption in relation to the six-day rule for animal movements for agricultural shows; [102569]

(2) what assessment she has made of the potential loss of marketing opportunities for major breeders unable to move from show to show without an exemption for on-farm isolation. [102568]

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Mr. Morley: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in a written statement on 23 January 2003, Official Report, columns 20–23WS, that the standstill would be reduced to six days for cattle, sheep and goats with effect from 4 March, but with far fewer exemptions.

The removal of most of the exemptions is a counter-balance to the increased risk created by the reduction in the standstill period. The much shorter standstill should make it possible for show organisers to arrange events so that breeders and others wishing to exhibit at shows can plan their movements to comply with the rules.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the proposal to restrict cattle movements to a 96-mile radius; and what impact this will have on those farmers who move animals for finishing purposes. [102793]

Mr. Morley: In a written statement on 23 January 2003, Official Report, columns 20–24WS, announcing the Government's decision to reduce the 20-day standstill to six days, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, stated that Defra would commission further work into the possibility of imposing a distance limit on the movement of animals through markets or making such moves subject to special licences. A figure of 150 kilometres was suggested.

We will discuss this suggestion further with livestock auctioneers and the farming industry in order to obtain more information about the pattern of movements through markets and the likely impact of such a restriction before we reach a view on its merits.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the new arrangements for the restrictions upon animal movements, following the replacement of the 20-day rule, will be fully in place. [102794]

Mr. Morley: The Disease Control (Interim Measures) (England) Order 2003 and the Disease Control (Interim Measures) (Wales) Order 2003 both came into effect on 4 March 2003. The Orders reduced the 20-day standstill to six days for cattle, sheep and goats, and removed most of the previous exemptions from the standst

We intend to consult soon on a number of further proposals aimed at improving biosecurity and disease detection, for possible introduction later this year.

Avian Influenza

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what compensation her Department will make available to farmers affected by avian influenza. [102363]

Mr. Morley: Schedule 3 to the Animal Health Act 1981 provides that, where the Secretary of State causes birds to be slaughtered, compensation for poultry that are not diseased shall be their value immediately before slaughter. No compensation is paid for diseased poultry.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which vectors carry avian influenza. [102364]

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Mr. Morley: There are no known insect vectors of avian influenza. Avian influenza spreads by the movement of infected birds, products of infected birds and contaminated materials.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what symptoms are shown by poultry with avian influenza. [102365]

Mr. Morley: The clinical signs of avian influenza are variable and depend greatly on the characteristics of the particular virus involved, and on the species and age of the infected poultry.

Infection of chickens with a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus typically causes severe respiratory signs, swelling of the head, blue discoloration of the wattles and comb and diarrhoea. Death may occur between one and seven days after first appearance of clinical signs.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which countries had outbreaks of avian influenza in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002. [102369]

Mr. Morley: The Office International des Epizooties (World Animal Health Organisation) records that the countries that had outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the relevant years are as follows:

2000


Italy


Pakistan

2001


Hong Kong


Saudi Arabia

2002


Chile


Senegal.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research into avian influenza she has commissioned. [102371]

Mr. Morley: The Veterinary Laboratories Agency undertakes on-going research into avian influenza. The main aims of this research are to:

i) provide a rapid realistic diagnostic service for statutory tests;


ii) provide an international reference laboratory service;


iii) improve diagnostic methods of virus detection and characterisation;


iv) improve our understanding of virus virulence, host range, host adaptation and disease pathogenicity; and


v) improve our understanding of avian influenza epidemiology.

The Veterinary Laboratories Agency is also about to co-ordinate a survey for avian influenza viruses in poultry and wild birds. All EU members states are being asked to carry out surveys in accordance with Commission Decision 2002/649/EC to provide information on the incidence strains of low pathogenicity, some of which may have the potential to mutate to high pathogenicity.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many veterinarians are available from the Government's veterinary service to deal with the outbreak of avian influenza. [102373]

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Mr. Morley: At the present time, there is not an outbreak of avian influenza in Great Britain.

There are currently 211 State Veterinary Service permanent Veterinary Officers (VOs) and 48 casual VOs (full-time equivalents) located throughout GB. These would be deployed to eradicate the disease as necessary. Additional veterinary resources could be commissioned in a similar manner to that set out in Defra's Foot and Mouth Contingency Plan, which is scheduled to be laid before Parliament in late March 2003.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she gives on the treatment of chickens which do not die from avian influenza, but which are on infected farms. [102402]

Mr. Morley: EU Council Directive 92/40 lays down that once the presence of avian influenza has been officially confirmed on a holding, all poultry on that holding shall be killed without delay.

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