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Farming Subsidies

Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations her Department has received about plans to use the period 2000–03 as the reference point for subsidy payments to farmers; and if she will make a statement. [117148]

Mr. Bradshaw: There has been general support from consultees for the proposed 2000–02 single payment scheme reference period, including the special provisions for farmers affected by force majeure or exceptional circumstances. However, there have been a

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number of representations seeking additional flexibility to ensure farmers are not disadvantaged by, for example, changing the nature of their business or acquiring land during or after the reference period. In the on-going CAP reform negotiations, we continue to explore with the European Commission and others the best means to protect the interests of such farmers.

Flood Defence

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 7 May 2003, Official Report, column 714W, if she will publish details of the representations. [119214]

Mr. Morley: A report on the outcome of consultations on the Flood and Coastal Defence Funding Review was placed on the Defra website in October 2002. In accordance with normal practice, copies of the individual responses to consultation have been placed in the Defra library for public inspection.

Flood Risk Insurance

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when Ministers or officials in her Department have met representatives from the Association of British Insurers since January 2002 to discuss Flood Risk Insurance; and what the outcome was in each case; [119586]

(2) what discussions Ministers or officials in her Department have held with representatives from the Association of British Insurers since January to discuss the agreement between the Government and the ABI on flood risk insurance which concluded at the end of December 2002. [119587]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 17 June 2003]: Defra and HM Treasury Ministers and officials met regularly with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) throughout 2002 to ensure continuance of flood cover for as many people as possible. The outcome of these discussions was a Statement of Principles announced by the ABI in September 2002.

Since January 2003, Defra and Treasury Ministers met the ABI on 20 May. Officials from both Government and ABI continue to meet regularly to discuss progress against the statement of principles.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Mr. Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to implement the recommendations of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee's Fifth Report of Session 2001–02, on Genetically Modified Organisms. [119545]

Mr. Morley: The Government response published on 24 October 2002 agreed with all of the conclusions and recommendations in the Committee's report. This centred on the then proposed GM public debate, now underway, and eventual decisions on the commercial cultivation of GM crops. We have implemented, or are implementing, all the recommendations relevant to Government.

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Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the precautionary principle, set out in the EU Directive 2001/18/EC and in the Environmental Protection Act 1990, has been adhered to in the farm scale evaluation programme; and if it is her policy that it will be adhered to in the Government's forthcoming decisions relating to GM crops. [118575]

Mr. Morley: The Government is firmly committed to taking a precautionary approach to decision making on GMO releases, this had always been the case under directive 90/220/EEC and is now explicitly recognised in directive 2001/18/EC and the national legislation that transposes it. Each proposed GMO release is subject to an evidence-based, case-by-case assessment of the potential risks to human health or the environment and approved only if the applicant can satisfy the regulatory authorities that all appropriate measures are being taken to avoid adverse effects.

The farm scale evaluations are an example of the Government's precautionary approach working in practice. In 1998, a genuine concern was raised about the potential impact on farmland wildlife of the herbicide use associated with GM herbicide-tolerant crops. We established the programme to investigate these concerns, and secured the agreement of the biotechnology industry that no GM crops would be grown commercially in the UK until the evaluations were complete.

The companies who developed the GM crops in the evaluations had already made applications at European level through directive 90/220 for approval for commercial cultivation. This requires the submission of a comprehensive dossier of information about the GMO and its properties and an environmental risk assessment. In one case (T25 maize) approval for commercial cultivation had already been granted. The risks to the environment of carrying out the farm scale evaluations were explicitly addressed before they commenced based on advice from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. The trials have been closely monitored and could and would have been halted if necessary.

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received from the United States government regarding (a) the EU moratorium on the growing of GM crops and (b) the licensing of GM crops in the EU. [119258]

Mr. Morley: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly discusses issues raised by GM crops with her counterparts from the United States and other nations. However, details of these exchanges are not recorded centrally.

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many invitations have been sent out for each of the planned debates on GM crops; [119260]

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(2) what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the size of each venue chosen to host GM public debates. [119261]

Mr. Morley: GM Nation?—the public debate on GM issues—is being conducted by an independent steering board at arm's length from Government. The regional launch meetings organised by the steering board in Birmingham, Swansea, Taunton, Belfast, Glasgow and Harrogate were open to the public on a first come, first served basis—no specific invitations were issued. The events involved facilitated active participation in small discussion groups, which limited their overall size, and the venues chosen were sufficient for this purpose. In the event, the numbers of tickets requested were in line with the capacity of all the venues selected. Two sessions were held at Taunton in response to public demand.

In addition to these regional launch events, local authorities, other organisations and members of the public are being encouraged to organise their own local debates with the help of a debate toolkit. Copies of the toolkit are provided for each participant and facilitators can be provided on request for the larger county council level meetings. Members of the public can also get involved in the debate through the interactive debate website at www.gmnation.org.uk.

Illegal Logging

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU action plan to address the trade in illegal logging will be discussed by the Council of Ministers; and if she will make a statement. [119397]

Mr. Morley: The Communication from the Commission on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade was raised by the UK and Denmark at Environment Council on 13 June 2003. The UK urged the Presidency to facilitate a full discussion in Council at an early time.

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the next steps in the (a) development and (b) implementation of the EU action plan to address the trade in illegal logging are; and if she will make a statement. [119398]

Mr. Morley: The Communication from the Commission on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade was published on 21 May. The Commission request endorsement from Council and the European Parliament to:

(a) Enter into negotiations for FLEGT Partnership agreements with wood producing countries;

(b) Present a Regulation setting up the voluntary licensing scheme, in conjunction with wide stakeholder consultation; and

(c) Review options for, and consider the impact of, further measures to support the Action Plan, including, in the absence of multilateral progress, the feasibility of legislation to control imports of illegally harvested timber, and report back to the Council on this work during 2004.

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(d) Member states are also asked to identify relevant national legislation which could be applied to address the illegal logging issue, and to inform the Commission of their findings.

The UK Government are seeking an early discussion in Council in order to allow the Commission to take the process forward.

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the UK Government will ensure that the EU action plan on illegal logging will include the introduction of legislation to ban the import of illegal timber into EU member states; and if she will make a statement. [119399]

Mr. Morley: The Communication from the Commission on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade was published on 21 May. The Commission request endorsement from Council and the European Parliament to:

(a) Enter into negotiations for FLEGT Partnership Agreements with wood producing countries;

(b) Present a Regulation setting up the voluntary licensing scheme, in conjunction with wide stakeholder consultation; and

(c) Review options for, and consider the impact of, further measures to support the Action Plan, including, in the absence of multilateral progress, the feasibility of legislation to control imports of illegally harvested timber, and report back to the Council on this work during 2004;

(d) Member states are also asked to identify relevant national legislation which could be applied to address the illegal logging issue, and to inform the Commission of their findings.

The UK Government are supportive of the proposed Action Plan, including the licensing scheme to prevent the importation of illegally harvested timber into the EU from participating countries and the review of options for further legislation to control imports of illegally harvested timber.

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the Government's policy to support the development of EU legislation to ban the import of illegal timber into Europe; and if she will make a statement. [119400]

Mr. Morley: The Communication from the Commission on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade was published on 21 May. The Commission request endorsement from Council and the European Parliament to:

(a) Enter into negotiations for FLEGT Partnership agreements with wood producing countries;

(b) Present a Regulation setting up the voluntary licensing scheme, in conjunction with wide stakeholder consultation; and

(c) Review options for, and consider the impact of, further measures to support the Action Plan, including, in the absence of multilateral progress, the feasibility of legislation to control imports of illegally harvested timber, and report back to the Council on this work during 2004.

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(d) Member states are also asked to identify relevant national legislation which could be applied to address the illegal logging issue, and to inform the Commission of their findings.

The Government supports the Commission's proposal to review the options for legislation to control imports of illegally harvested timber, will help with related analysis and, together with other member states, will consider carefully the Commission's report.

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