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8 Apr 2003 : Column 133W—continued
Halal and Shechita Slaughter
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to bring forward proposed reform of regulations governing halal and shechita slaughter; and if she will make a statement. [108118]
Mr. Morley: The Farm Animal Welfare Council (the Government's independent advisory body on farm animal welfare matters) is currently producing a report on the welfare of red meat animals at slaughter. We will consider the recommendations in their report after it has been published later this year.
Pay Review
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made with the pay review in her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible, with particular reference to the gender pay gap; and if she will make a statement. [106750]
Alun Michael: In its response to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) Task Force report, "Just Pay", the Government committed all Departments and agencies to review their pay systems by April 2003 and prepare action plans to close any equal pay gaps.
The position in Defra and its agencies is as follows:
Defra has undertaken an equal pay review in line with the guidance from the Cabinet Office. This has included the Pesticides Safety Directorate and Veterinary Medicines Directorate, for which the core department has pay remit and negotiating responsibility.
The review, which has now been completed, looked at not only gender issues, but also those of ethnicity and disability. The review's conclusions are shortly to be considered by senior management. Defra will report back to the Cabinet Office with an action plan by the end of April.
The Central Science Laboratory began an equal pay audit in Autumn 2002. An action plan has been prepared and is under discussion. The Central Science Laboratory aims to able to submit the action plan to the Cabinet Office by the end of April 2003.
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
An equal pay review has been carried out in the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, and a draft report is being considered by senior management.
The Rural Payments Agency has carried out an equal pay review in accordance with the Cabinet Office guidance and an interim report has been prepared. The full report is expected this month and will then be considered.
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Veterinary Laboratories Agency
The Veterinary Laboratory Agency pay equality audit has been completed and an Action Plan sent to the Cabinet Office. Any action necessary will be considered within the pay negotiations for 2003.
Non-departmental public bodies
Non-departmental public bodies are not required to undertake an equal pay review by April 2003, although several have done so.
Poultry Industry
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the practice of debeaking in the poultry industry; and if she will make a statement. [106531]
Margaret Beckett: Generally beak trimming should only be carried out as a last resort when it is clear that more suffering would be caused in the flock if it were not done.
There are, however, specific requirements for laying hens in Council Directive 99/74/EC. The Directive prohibits all mutilations, but permits member states to allow the beak trimming of birds that are less than 10 days old in order to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism. We intend to take up this authorisation only until 31 December 2010, and have met interested parties, including the egg industry and breeders, to agree an action plan to achieve this aim.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mortality rates were of poultry kept in (a) battery units, (b) enriched units and (c) alternative units in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [106532]
Margaret Beckett: The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000 require poultry keepers to record mortality rates and have the records available for inspection. The State Veterinary Service uses the rates as an indicator of management practice on-farm. However, the figures are not recorded on a central database.
Pub is the Hub Schemes
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many 'Pub is the Hub' schemes have been sponsored by the Countryside Agency in (a) England, (b) the eastern region, (c) Suffolk and (d) the Bury St. Edmunds constituency. [104828]
Alun Michael: The Countryside Agency does not administer a specific 'Pub is the Hub' grant. A good practice guide of that title was published in December 2001 to inspire rural pubs to diversify their services. However, the Vital Villages Community Services Grant, administered by the Countryside Agency for Defra, can be used to fund 'Pub is the Hub' style projects. Since April 2001, there have been 24 funded pub schemes in England, of which four are in the eastern region, one in Suffolk and none in the constituency of Bury St. Edmunds.
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Sea Fishing Strategy
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when she expects to make public the first draft of the long term UK sea fishing strategy; [105918]
- (2) what recent progress her Department has made in the production of a long-term strategy for the future of the UK sea fishing industry. [105925]
Mr. Morley: The fishing industry took on the task of developing a strategy through the Fish Industry Forum and in liaison with Government. A presentation on the state of play on that industry initiative was made to Fisheries Ministers in July 2002.
As announced on 26 March, the Strategy Unit has been requested by the Prime Minister to develop a long-term strategy for a sustainable sea fishing industry in the UK: the final report is intended to be completed by the end of 2003.
Sea Levels (Bristol Bay)
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has conducted on sea levels in the Bristol Bay area for the next 20 years. [107339]
Mr. Morley: Sea levels have been and will continue to be monitored in the Bristol Channel as a part of the National Tide Gauge Network, operated by Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL) and funded by Defra.
Tide gauges are monitoring sea levels constantly at the following sites, Mumbles, Newport, Avonmouth, Hinkley Point and Ilfracombe. The Environment Agency also monitor levels at West Quay Bridgwater for local operational reasons. This information is used to provide tidal predictions and for monitoring long term sea levels and relative land levels.
Through analysis of the Tide Gauge data and information from global climate change modelling POL have made predictions of future trends in sea levels all round the UK. These have informed the recommended Defra allowance of 5 mm rise per year for this area of the coast that takes account of both sea and major land level movements. It is also compatible with a range of future scenarios published by Defra last year as part of the UK Climate Impacts Programme in "Climate Change Scenarios of the United Kingdom", copies of which can be found in the Libraries of both Houses.
Sheep
Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the present system of sheep identification. [107719]
Mr. Morley: The present system of sheep identification was enhanced on 1 February 2003 in England and Wales. From that date, all sheep born after 1 February or still on the holding on which they were born and not yet marked, need to be individually identified with a tag or tattoo before they move or within one year of birth.
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Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what representations she has received concerning sheep identification; [107720]
- (2) what plans she has to implement in full the tagging system required by the EU for sheep identification. [107718]
Mr. Morley: We have received a number of representations expressing concern over the European Commission proposals on sheep and goat identification. We have raised these concerns with the Commission and said that any proposal to enhance the current EU rules should be workable, enforceable and proportionate to the disease risk. We shall continue to negotiate on that basis.
Shellfish
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what obstacles are delaying the introduction of a shellfish licensing scheme; and if she will make a statement. [106758]
Mr. Morley: I am delighted to be able to refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made announcing such a scheme on 3 April 2003, Official Report, column 69WS.
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