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12 Jun 2003 : Column 1020W—continued
Partnership Agreements
Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to conclude a partnership agreement with the trade unions representing the staff in her Department. [117458]
Alun Michael: Work on a partnership agreement is well in hand. Senior managers and the Department's Trade Union Side have met on several occasions to discuss partnership working in the Department and the Agencies. A further meeting is scheduled to discuss a draft policy document and subject to it being mutually acceptable we anticipate a partnership agreement will be concluded.
Rural Affairs
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will
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make a statement on funding arrangements for the implementing of (a) the rights of way legislation and (b) the vital villages policy. [116442]
Alun Michael: The information is as follows:
(a) Under the new burdens procedure, local authorities are being fully funded for their new duties in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. In the explanatory notes presented to Parliament with the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill in March 2000, we estimated those costs to be between £12 million and £19 million. The total funding is within this band and is paid through the unhypothecated Environment and Cultural Services Block. We are also funding various activities relating to the Act via the Countryside Agency.
(b) The Vital Villages Initiative was launched in 2001 as a three year demand led programme. It is administered by the Countryside Agency on behalf of Defra. The scheme delivered nearly £24.5 million to rural communities in its first two years of operation. A further £17 million has been budgeted for 2003–04, of which some £12 million has already been allocated. Due to the overwhelming success of the scheme there are currently more applications than available funding. Applications are being prioritised to ensure projects that benefit those communities in greatest need receive funding.
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last met the Chairman of the Countryside Agency to discuss rural proofing. [115578]
Alun Michael: I meet Sir Ewen Cameron frequently and regularly to discuss a wide range of issues in connection with his role as Rural Advocate and his role as Chairman of the Countryside Agency. Rural proofing is a regular topic of conversation. The Secretary of State and Ministers from Defra and other Departments also meet Sir Ewen from time to time.
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding she expects the Countryside Agency to give the Rural Transport Partnership in Gloucestershire in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05; and if she will make a statement. [118603]
Alun Michael: On behalf of Defra, the Countryside Agency plans to give Gloucestershire Rural Transport Partnership a £90,000 grant over the period 2003–04 to 2004–05. The 2004–05 funds will be subject to approval after 2003–04. For each of the years 2003–04 and 2004–05 Gloucestershire RTP will receive the core costs for running the partnership (including a rural transport officer post) of £35,000, plus £10,000 delegated fund for small scale transport projects in their area.
State Veterinary Service
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many veterinary surgeons have been employed by the State Veterinary Service in each year since 1997. [118070]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 12 June 2003]: The number of permanent veterinary surgeons (full time equivalent) employed by the State Veterinary Service at 1 January each year since 1997, is given in the table. The
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figures for 2002 and 2003 do not include Headquarters veterinary surgeons responsible for policy development in the Animal Health and Welfare Directorate General. In addition as at 1 January 2003 there were 58 casual and fixed term appointee veterinary staff.
| Year | Number of vets |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 289.5 |
| 1998 | 302.0 |
| 1999 | 283.0 |
| 2000 | 284.0 |
| 2001 | 286.0 |
| 2002 | 252.3 |
| 2003 | 257.4 |
DEFENCE
Animal Welfare
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Government's policy is on the use of animal fur in the manufacture of army uniforms. [117834]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is not aware of any Government policy on the use of animal fur in the manufacture of Army (or other military) uniforms. The Department does, however, purchase various clothing items which incorporate animal fur as part of their specification to an agreed quality standard. However, MOD is open to change and we are actively seeking suitable synthetic alternatives where feasible.
Warships
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 13 May 2003 to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis), Official Report, column 159W, on warships, which frigates will be disposed of earlier than previously planned. [117657]
Mr. Ingram: As I stated in my answer of 13 May 2003, Official Report, column 159W to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis), there are currently no plans to dispose of any Royal Navy Type 23 Frigates earlier than scheduled. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 May 2003, Official Report, column 47W to the hon. Member for New Forest, East and to the answer I gave him on 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 44W.
Nuclear Weapons
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government plan to take as a contribution to the elimination of the UK nuclear arsenal, as reaffirmed at the 2000 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. [118412]
Mr. Hoon: The United Kingdom has an excellent record in fulfilling its Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) obligations on nuclear disarmament. Consistent with the policy set out in the Strategic Defence Review in 1998, the UK has already gone further than other nuclear weapon states in implementing the measures agreed in the Final Document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference.
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More specifically, the UK has:
- withdrawn and dismantled the RAF's freefall nuclear bomb so that Trident is now our only nuclear weapons system;
reduced our operationally available stockpile to fewer than 200 warheads, which is a reduction of more than 70 per cent. in the potential explosive power of our nuclear forces since the end of the Cold War;
dismantled the UK's last Chevaline warhead, in April 2002;
reduced the readiness of our nuclear forces. Only a single Trident submarine is now on deterrent patrol, carrying 48 warheads. The submarine on patrol is normally on several days 'notice to fire' and its missiles are de-targeted;
placed fissile material no longer required for defence purposes under international safeguards. All enrichment and reprocessing facilities in the UK are now liable to international inspection; and
been more transparent about our nuclear and fissile material stockpiles and begun a national historical accounting study for fissile material produced.
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions the Government have had on the possibility of a follow-on to the Trident nuclear weapon (a) delivery system and (b) warhead. [118402]
Mr. Hoon: The Government keep under appropriate review all options, including those relating to nuclear deterrence, consistent with their international legal obligations, for maintaining and enhancing national and international security. There are no current plans for any replacement of Trident and no decisions are yet needed. We stated in the New Chapter to the Strategic Defence Review, published last year (Cm 5566), that the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons have a continuing use as a means of deterring major strategic military threats, and they have a continuing role in guaranteeing the ultimate security of the UK. In line with the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, it is our policy to maintain a minimum capability to design and produce a successor to Trident should this prove necessary.
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new scientific posts are being created at AWE; and what their role is in weapons research. [118400]
Dr. Moonie: Posts to be created over the next few years will be primarily to enable recruitment of graduates who will, in time, replace existing scientists, a number of whom are due to retire. The actual numbers of graduates to be recruited will depend on the success of AWE's recruitment campaign and the suitability of candidates.
The role of AWE is to support United Kingdom nuclear weapons policy as set out in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review.
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether scientific endeavours at AWE include research on new designs for nuclear warheads. [118401]
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Dr. Moonie: There are no current plans for any replacement for Trident and no decisions are yet needed. In line with the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, it is our policy to maintain the capability to design and produce a successor weapon should this prove necessary.
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