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22 May 2003 : Column 891W—continued
Fish Quotas
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what progress has been made in advising non-profit distributing fish quota trading companies whether the purchase of fish quotas to lease to local or member fishermen is allowed under (a) UK and (b) EU rules; [114022]
- (2) when she expects to advise the Duchy Fish Quota Company whether its business plan to purchase and lease fish quotas (a) meets EU state aid values, (b) is eligible for European Structural Fund aid, (c) is eligible for UK national Government aid and (d) is eligible to receive public funds from local authorities; [114023]
(3) what advice she has given to local proposals to intervene in the market for fish quotas in order to protect the availability of that quota for fishermen within that locality. [114021]
Mr. Morley: I am aware that a scheme for quota purchase in Cornwall is under consideration. We have advised the Duchy Fish Quota Company that the use of public funds in schemes for the purchase and lease of fish quota is under examination by the European
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Commission, for compatibility with state aid rules. We have promised to report to the company the European Commission's conclusions when they are reached.
Free-range Eggs
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what restrictions are imposed on English bed and breakfasts on use of eggs produced by their own free-range chickens. [113406]
Mr. Morley: None. The egg marketing standards regulations do not apply to eggs supplied by the producer direct to the final consumer.
Haskins Review
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to (a) receive and (b) publish Lord Haskins' review of DEFRA and its agencies. [114342]
Alun Michael: Lord Haskins expects to submit a full report in the summer. Publication will follow as soon as possible after due consideration by Ministers.
Honours
Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials in her Department have received honours; and how many honours are held by her officials, broken down by category of honour. [111481]
Alun Michael: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was formed in June 2001 following machinery of government changes. Departmental data held on honours relate to the period since then.
In that time, 14 members of the Department have received an honour. Of those, five have now left, so currently nine honours awards are held by Defra officials. These comprise: one CB (Companion of the Order of the Bath), one CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire), four OBEs (Officers of the Order of the British Empire) and three MBEs (Members of the Order of the British Empire). Data are not routinely kept on (a) the number of awards held by individuals, or (b) any awards received by staff before they joined the Department, or (c) awards given to current staff for achievements not related to official duties.
Laying Hens
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on DEFRA-funded research into enriched cages for laying hens; [114257]
- (2) what research into cages for laying hens she has assessed, with particular reference to enriched cages; and if she will make a statement. [114260]
Mr. Morley: Defra is currently funding research into these types of cages in order to enhance our scientific and practical knowledge. The research project which finishes in June 2004, aims to evaluate the effect of stocking density and cage height on bird behaviour, welfare and performance as well as investigating
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innovative material suitable for dustbathing in enriched cages. The project is a collaboration between ADAS, Bristol, Lincoln and Roslin universities.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the EU directive (1999/74/EC) in respect of height requirements for enriched cages. [114258]
Mr. Morley: Council Directive 1999/74/EC sets a minimum height of 45cm for the useable area of enriched cages.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what economic assessment she has made of the welfare of laying hens (a) housed in free-range systems and (b) housed in barn systems; and if she will make a statement. [114259]
Mr. Morley: An economic assessment of the effect of Council Directive 1999/74/EC on alternative systems was undertaken as part of the Regulatory Impact Assessment prepared for the implementation of this Directive into domestic law.
Further economic assessments will be carried out in preparation for the 2005 Review of Directive 1999/74/EC.
Live Animal Exports
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the export of livestock to France in each of the last three years. [113357]
Mr. Morley: All livestock exports from the United Kingdom to France must comply with strict animal health and welfare rules. In particular, additional EU animal health rules which were introduced in 2001 as a result of the foot and mouth disease outbreak have applied to all sheep and goat exports from the UK to France since EU trade restrictions were lifted.
National Parks
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many national parks there are; how much land they cover; and what representations she has received to (a) enlarge them and (b) create new national parks. [115152]
Alun Michael: The seven National Parks in England, together with the Broads (which are of similar status) cover 993,592 hectares. This is 7 per cent. of the land area of England. The Countryside Agency is responsible for designating National Parks in England and modifying their boundaries, subject to confirmation by the Secretary of State. Since Defra was established in July 2001, the Agency has submitted Designation Orders for new National Parks in the New Forest and the South Downs. The Agency has not sought to enlarge any existing National Parks. Last year's review of English National Park Authorities recommended that the boundary of the Broads should be studied, and Defra has had occasional queries about boundary changes elsewhere.
Responsibilities for National Parks in Wales and Scotland lie with the devolved administrations and their respective statutory advisers.
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Network Rail
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department was consulted by Network Rail in respect of its plans to cut back vegetation along railway lines; whether the matter has been discussed with the Department of Transport; and if she has made an assessment of the tree removal programme with regard to biodiversity. [114078]
Mr. Morley: All wild birds, and certain animals and plants, are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. For all birds, listed plants and animals it is an offence to kill, or take any species. Licences can be issued under section 16 of the Act to derogate from this protection for specific reasons, such as public health and safety.
Network Rail has not consulted the Department, nor have officials discussed this matter with the Department of Transport. However, where railway companies propose to remove trees, scrub or vegetation from railway properties, the Department would advise that such work is undertaken outside of the breeding and rearing season for birds, and with the minimum of disruption to animals and plants.
The Department has not made an assessment of the effect of the tree removal programme on biodiversity.
Public Awareness Activities
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what budgets her Department has allocated for public awareness activities in each financial year to 2005–06; and to what policy areas funds have been allocated. [113451]
Alun Michael: Defra has allocated £7.6 million for publicity-related expenditure in 2003–04. Of this, the significant allocations are: £2.3 million for Environmental Protection; £0.6 million for the Waste Implementation programme; £1 million for Flood Awareness; £0.25 million for Wildlife and Countryside; £0.25 million for Illegal Imports awareness; and a further £1.5 million for events around England which are principally focused on communicating Defra's policies on Sustainable Food, Farming and Rural Affairs. We are currently assessing the priorities for the remaining funds against our strategic communications objectives.
Decisions on publicity budgets for 2004–05 and 2005–06 will be made later this year as part of the planning process
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