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20 May 2003 : Column 699W—continued
Otter Population
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with (a) environmental and wildlife groups and (b) fish farmers and their representative groups regarding the otter population in England; what steps she is taking to protect the otter population in England; and if she will make a statement. [113485]
Mr. Morley: The Otter is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the EU Habitats Directive.
The Government strongly supports the UK Biodiversity Action Plan target to maintain and expand existing otter populations and restore breeding otters to all catchments and coastal areas where they have been recorded since 1960.
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The Environment Agency and the Wildlife Trusts are the lead partners in pursuing these biodiversity targets. The Environment Agency published the Fourth Otter Survey of England (2000–2002) on Monday 12 May. This confirmed that the increase in otter distribution observed since the first survey in 1977–1979 is continuing. Every one of the 12 regions and catchments into which England was divided for the survey, shows an increase in the positive sites. Otters were present on 73 per cent. of the Local Environment Agency Plan areas surveyed. An increase in otter distribution cannot be directly translated into an increase in otter numbers but such a significant increase in the distribution represents a significant increase in the number of otters on England's rivers and waterways. Full details of the survey can be found at http://www.environment-agency.qov.uk./
My Department and the Environment Agency have had discussions with the Specialist Anglers Alliance on the recovery of otter populations and their concerns about the effects on carp fisheries.
Over Thirty Month Scheme
Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received about phasing in the over-thirty month scheme; and if she will make a statement. [114275]
Mr. Morley: I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement on 9 April 2003, Official Report, column 19WS. Officials have held an initial meeting with core stakeholders on 28 April. Future market prospects for over thirty months beef and options for the future of the OTMS were discussed. It was agreed that additional work on market forecasts should be carried out. A further meeting is being arranged.
Rural Transport Schemes
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many rural transport schemes have been funded by the Government in each of the last five years, with the amounts given; and how many have been earmarked funding for the next two financial years, with the amounts given. [112822]
Alun Michael: [pursuant to his reply, 13 May 2003, c. 150W.] The figures provided for the Rural Transport Partnership and Parish Transport Grant for the period 2001–02 and 2002–03 were funds allocated to these programmes, as opposed to amounts spent. I have amended my answer in the following table. In addition, the Countryside Agency also spent £2.7 million over the period 2001–02 to 2002–03 promoting the Rural Transport Partnership and developing guidance. £1.3 million was spent over the same period on promoting and developing guidance for the Parish Transport Grant. The rest of the answer remains correct.
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| Rural Transport Development Fund | Rural Transport Partnership(5) | Parish Transport Grant | Rural Bus Challenge(6) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Number | Funding (£ million) | Number | Funding (£ million) | Number | Funding (£ million) | Number | Funding (£ million) |
| 1998–99 | n/a | 1.6 | n/a | 4.2 | — | — | 46 | 11.2 |
| 1999–2000 | n/a | 1.6 | n/a | 4.2 | — | — | 58 | 16.8 |
| 2000–01 | n/a | 1.6 | n/a | 4.2 | — | — | 51 | 21.2 |
| 2001–02 | — | — | 278 | 7.1 | 40 | 0.4 | 58 | 20.5 |
| 2002–03 | — | — | 350 | 13.2 | 116 | 0.9 | 46 | 20.2 |
| 2003–04 | — | — | (7)350 | (7)12.0 | (7)200 | 8.0 | (8)— | (8)— |
| 2004–05 | — | — | (7)350 | (7)12.0 | (7)300 | 7.0 | (8)— | (8)— |
(5) Prior to 2001–02 this was called the Rural Transport Partnership Scheme.
(6) The Rural Bus Challenge is an annual competition and the level of funding refers to the total award granted to successful bids.
(7) Budget and project targets in the Countryside Agency Business Plan.
(8) DfT will announce a further round of the Challenge fund later this year.
Sheep Farmers
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to investigate how UK sheep farmers can move voluntarily away from live exports without it being detrimental to them economically. [113999]
Mr. Morley: The marketing of sheep and sheepmeat is a matter for all the players in the red meat supply chain. Many sheep producers take the view that the live export trade is unnecessary. The Government are working with industry through the Red Meat Industry Forum to help improve competitiveness and this includes, among other things, benchmarking for sheep producers and issues relating to the marketing of sheepmeat.
T3327
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what trials her Department is undertaking with the wild animal poison known as T3327 on property in the Government's ownership in Scotland; what the ingredients of the poison are; for how long such trials have been running; how many non-target animals, including protected and domestic animals, have been poisoned during the study; and how many foxes have been poisoned. [108139]
Mr. Morley: Defra funds an on-going programme of research into methods of combating outbreaks of rabies in wildlife. The Animal Health Act (1981) permits the use, in a rabies outbreak, of poisonous baits to control foxes and other wild vectors of rabies. T3327 is a carbamate compound akin to a number of approved agricultural pesticides. It was developed with a view to finding a more biodegradable, humane and effective poison for use, if absolutely necessary, in a rabies emergency. In September 2002 poison baits were laid for three days during a strictly controlled five-week trial in a 14km 2 area in the MoD's Dundrennan Ranges in Scotland. Further field trials of T3327 are not planned. Exact numbers of animals killed during the trial are not known, as some will have died underground but six foxes and 11 badgers were found dead. There was no evidence that other species, wild or domestic, had been poisoned.
Waste Management
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by England on the collection and management of (a) household and (b) municipal waste in each year
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since 1997–98; and what figures she has collated on the amount spent by (i) Northern Ireland, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales in each of those years prior to devolution. [113080]
Mr. Meacher: The following figures show net revenue expenditure on municipal waste collection and disposal in England since 1997–98 to date, and in Scotland and Wales prior to devolution. Data are not available on the separate costs of household and municipal waste. The figures include income received in respect of charges to outside organisations. Data for Northern Ireland are not held centrally.
| Year | England(9) (£m) | Scotland(10) (£) | Wales(11) (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 1,198.9 | 149.9 | 72.8 |
| 1998–99 | 1,281.9 | 148 | 75.8 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,423.3 | ||
| 2000–01 | 1,521.3 | ||
| 2001–02 | 1,653.9 | ||
| 2002–03 (Budget) | 1,818.9 |
(9) 1997–98 to 2001–02 outturn figures are taken from local authority returns on expenditure (RO6 forms) and for 2002–03 planned expenditure (RA02 form).
(10) Data provided by SERAD, reported by local authorities.
(11) Data provided by NAWAD, from archive publications
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the review commissioned by DEFRA into the environmental and health effects of waste management and disposal options will include home composting. [113083]
Mr. Meacher: The review of the health and environmental effects of waste management and disposal options will include in-vessel and windrow composting of municipal solid waste.
This review will not consider home composting because the review is focussing on options for the management and disposal of municipal waste for which local authorities are responsible.
Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the time scale is for her Department's review of the practicalities of operating variable charging schemes for waste collection. [113187]
Mr. Meacher: As set out in the Government's response to the Strategy Unit report 'Waste not, Want not', the Government will be carrying out further work before any decision is taken to enable local authorities to implement direct or variable charging for waste. The
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work will be carried out in co-operation with the Local Government Association and other stakeholders and will start this summer thus enabling Government to review its position on this in 2004.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the cost of introducing a zero waste strategy. [109389]
Mr. Meacher: No assessment has been made of the cost of introducing a zero waste policy. Our priority set out in Waste Strategy 2000, is to meet our obligations under the Landfill Directive to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste to 75 per cent. of 1995 levels by 2010, 50 per cent. by 2013 and 35 per cent. by 2020, using the maximum four-year derogation as necessary.
Although these targets do not constitute a zero waste policy (either zero waste to landfill, or a totally closed resource cycle), they do demand substantial waste minimisation, and significantly increased levels of re-use and recycling. Waste Strategy 2000 and Government's forthcoming response to the Strategy Unit Report "Waste Not, Want Not," set out how we intend to bring this about.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the cost of introducing a zero waste strategy; and what definition the Government uses of incineration in terms of the disposal of waste. [110212]
Mr. Meacher: No assessment has been made of the cost of introducing a zero waste strategy. Government's priorities for sustainable waste management in England and Wales are set out in "Waste Strategy 2000". The Government's forthcoming response to the Strategy Unit Report "Waste Not, Want Not", will also identify further steps to be taken to-help deliver our priorities and targets.
Although Waste Strategy 2000 is not a zero waste strategy (either zero waste to landfill, or a totally closed resource cycle), it does demand substantial waste minimisation, and significantly increased levels of re-use and recycling.
The definition of incineration as it relates to the disposal of waste, in the glossary of terms in "Waste Strategy 2000" is as follows:
- "Incineration—is the controlled burning of waste, either to reduce its volume, or its toxicity. Energy recovery from incineration can be made by utilising the calorific value of paper, plastic, etc to produce heat or power."
Mr. Meacher: The Strategy Unit report "Waste not, Want not" suggested that household incentive schemes that local authorities might wish to introduce could include council tax discounts for households that home compost; provide rewards or prizes for those that recycle; provide a mixture of free services with charges for special services; or introduce variable charging schemes with a reduction in council tax.
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Local authorities already have powers to introduce the first two of these suggestions. They also have powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 to charge householders for the collection of specified items of heavy and bulky waste and garden waste.
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funds will be available for the Sustainable Waste Management Legacy Fund for 2003; and how much ENTRUST will receive to administer the transition fund. [111549]
Mr. Meacher: The latest estimate is that around £19 million will be distributed to eligible applicants under the LTCS Sustainable Waste Management Legacy Fund. To administer the fund, ENTRUST is receiving a fee of 2 per cent. of whatever funds are distributed (i.e. if the Fund distributes £20 million to eligible applicants, the administration fee received will be £400,000). This is the same level of payment that ENTRUST receives to regulate the LTCS itself on behalf of HM Customs and Excise and represents good value for money.
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects decisions on allocating transitional funding from the Sustainable Waste Management Legacy Fund to be completed. [111551]
Mr. Meacher: The aim is to complete all outstanding work on the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme (LTCS) Sustainable Waste Management Legacy Fund, by 23 May.
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