12 May 2003 : Column 1W
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 12 May 2003
CABINET OFFICE
Consultation Documents
Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list Government written consultation documents published since 1 January 2000 which had consultation periods of (a) less than three weeks, (b) between three and six weeks, (c) between 12 weeks and (d) 12 weeks or more. [111724]
Mr. Alexander: The Cabinet Office does not hold information for the time period specified. However, in a survey of Government written consultations carried out in 2001, 80 per cent. lasted at least 12 weeks.
Counselling Services
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what arrangements are made in his Department to allow staff to access counselling services. [111942]
Mr. Alexander: The Cabinet Office is committed to supporting its staff and provides an in-house staff counselling and support service which offers short-term counselling, information and advice on work and non-work related issues for all employees.
A contract has also been put in place to provide access to external counselling in individual cases where in house provision would not be possible or appropriate.
Criminal Offences
Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list, broken down by Act, the criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by his office since 1997. [112112]
Market Testing
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the estimated level of saving to the Department is from the use of market testing in 2002–03. [107767]
Mr. Alexander: My Department undertook no market testing exercises during 2002–03. However, in the performance of its business activities, the Cabinet Office seeks to ensure that value for money is always obtained, whether the work is carried out by in-house or external providers.
Next Steps Agencies
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether there are centralised records kept of (a) all Government Next Steps agencies and (b) their current chief executives. [110766]
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Mr. Alexander: The Cabinet Office keeps a record of executive agencies and their chief executives. It is published on its website at http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/agencies-public bodies/
This information also appears as hard copy in the Civil Service Yearbook, published by HMSO.
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the Government Next Steps agencies, with their respective chief executives. [110767]
Mr. Alexander: The Cabinet Office list of executive agencies and their chief executives is published on its website at http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/agencies-publicbodies/
This information also appears as hard copy in the Civil Service Yearbook, published by HMSO.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Accountancy Services
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in 2002–03. [109483]
Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 1 April 2003, Official Report, column 634W.
Angling
Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many angling development officer posts the Environment Agency are funding over the next three years; and if she will make a statement. [111927]
Mr. Meacher: There are currently six fisheries development officers in England and Wales who are tasked with developing and supporting projects to develop fisheries, including angling. Another post is being considered for 2004–05, but no further posts are anticipated.
Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money was allocated by the Environment Agency to encourage participation in angling in each of the last five years; how much the Agency has allocated for each of the next three years; and if she will make a statement. [111928]
Mr. Meacher: The Agency does not specifically allocate funds for the promotion of angling, although the Agency's work to improve fisheries will encourage further participation. The Agency's fisheries expenditure from 1998–99 to 2005–06 is as follows:
| Expenditure (£ million) | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 21.0 |
| 1999–2000 | 22.2 |
| 2000–01 | 22.4 |
| 2001–02 | 21.4 |
| 2002–03 | 26.5 |
| 2003–04(1) | 27.2 |
| 2004–05(1) | 27.8 |
| 2005–06(1) | 28.4 |
(1) Estimated expenditure.
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Animal By-products
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the number of abattoirs that will be unable to comply with the blood tank requirements of the Animal By-Products Regulation. [110893]
Margaret Beckett: The Department has issued guidance on simple, low-cost ways in which abattoirs can adapt to the new requirements, and believe that most abattoirs should be able to comply with the Regulation. However, we recognise there will be some cases where there may be genuine difficulties with compliance in the required timescale. We have asked the Meat Hygiene Service, who are the enforcement authority, to look at each such case on its merits provided there is a clear plan of work in place for complying with the new requirements.
Plastic Bottles
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has held with her ministerial colleagues on promoting the use of plastic alcohol bottles in bars and clubs; and if she will make a statement. [108014]
Mr. Meacher: Officials of Government Departments are working closely with the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit on their study to produce a national strategy for reducing the harm associated with alcohol misuse. The study is paying particular attention to the issue of alcohol-related violence, and views have been sought and obtained from a wide variety of organisations and individuals.
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received to encourage increased use of plastic bottles in bars and clubs from (a) the police, (b) environmental agencies and (c) other interested parties; and if she will make a statement. [108015]
Mr. Meacher: This Department has not received any representations regarding the use of plastic bottles in bars and clubs from environmental agencies or other interested parties.
With regard to the public order aspect of the question, Home Office Officials have not held any recent discussions with representatives of the British Beer and Pub Association or other organisations on what can be done to promote the use of plastic bottles. Representations have been received from one individual, advocating a switch from glass to plastic bottles in the UK licensed trade to minimise the risk of glass-related injuries taking place.
As indicated in the reply given on 29 March 2003, Official Report, column 457W, we remain concerned about the high level of injuries that occur when glasses and bottles are used as weapons in drink-related situations in and outside licensed premises and other drinking establishments, and we intend to see that this problem is effectively tackled. The Licensing Bill Guidance that has been published in draft by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will include a range of conditions that a licensing authority could impose on a premises to address violence of this form.
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Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) glass alcohol bottles and (b) plastic alcohol bottles were recycled in the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [108016]
Mr. Meacher: We have no specific information on the proportion of the glass and plastic that is recycled from alcohol bottles.
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence she has collated on the practicality of recycling (a) plastic and (b) glass alcohol bottles; and if she will make a statement. [108017]
Mr. Meacher: The recycled amount of glass packaging going into the waste stream has increased since 1998. The figures are as follows:
- 1998—23 per cent.
- 1999—27 per cent.
- 2000—33 per cent.
- 2001—33 per cent.
The recycle-more-glass scheme collects mixed glass for recycling free of charge from pubs, clubs, restaurants and bars. After 18 months it has signed up over 16,000 premises nationwide. The scheme collects 60,000 tonnes of glass a year, the equivalent to nearly 200 million bottles and jars.
We are not aware of similar schemes for collection and recycling of plastic bottles from pubs and clubs.
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