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30 Jun 2003 : Column 117W—continued
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Canoeists
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the accessibility to rivers for canoeists; [122713]
- (2) what recent discussions she has had with representatives of canoeists regarding accessibility to rivers. [122771]
Alun Michael: In December 2001 we published the findings of research into the opportunities and demand for water-based sport and recreation. The report, "Water-Based Sport and Recreation: the facts" concluded that there is some unmet demand for white water and long distance routes for canoeists. However, the findings also demonstrated that for most canoeists, as for most other water users, supply is equal to demand.
In the light of these findings, I have asked the Countryside Agency (in partnership with other Government agencies) to pilot some demonstration projects to develop best practice for access agreements on key stretches of water in England.
I have held a number of discussions with the British Canoe Union to discuss the accessibility of rivers. The Countryside Agency is also in regular contact with them and other relevant organisations in taking forward the research into demonstration projects to develop best practice for access agreements on key stretches of water in England.
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The promotion of access to rivers in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
Departmental Employees
Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people are employed by her Department in (a) Taunton and (b) Somerset. [121977]
(a) There are 137 full-time equivalent staff employed by Defra in two offices in Taunton, of which 11 are employed on casual contracts.
(b) Neither Defra nor any of its Agencies has offices in Somerset other than those in Taunton.
GM Food
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of whether there is a need to test the safety of GM food in addition to the requirements of Regulation 258/97/EC. [121293]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
In June 2000, the Food Standards Agency board reviewed the current safety assessment procedures employed by the UK Competent Authority under Regulation 258/97/EEC in the safety testing of genetically modified foods. The board was satisfied that the current safety assessment procedures are sufficiently robust and rigorous to ensure that approved GM foods are as safe to eat as their non-GM counterparts.
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) trials and (b) research (i) in the UK, (ii) in the USA and (iii) elsewhere on the health and biochemical effects of consuming GM foods. [121294]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
The available scientific evidence does not support the view that the consumption of the genetically modified foods approved to date would lead to any harmful effects.
Independent scientific experts carry out the approval of all GM foods on a case-by-case basis. The Food Standards Agency board, in its consideration of the safety assessment procedure, concluded that that the current safety assessment procedures are sufficiently robust and rigorous to ensure that approved GM foods are as safe to eat as their non-GM counterparts.
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence she has collated that consuming GM food is (a) safe and (b) unsafe; and if she will make a statement. [121295]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
The available scientific evidence does not support the view that the consumption of the genetically modified foods approved to date would lead to any harmful effects. The safety is assured using procedures developed by the World Health Organisation.
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Local Authority Funding
Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grants have been made by her Department to local authorities for 2003–04 in England broken down by local authority; and whether the grant is (a) ring fenced, (b) a specific formula grant, (c) within aggregate external finance and (d) outside aggregate external finance. [114919]
Alun Michael: This information is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Low-wave Radar
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact upon (a) whales and (b) dolphins in UK territorial waters of low-wave radar; and if she will make a statement. [120618]
Mr. Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
I understand the question pertains to what is known as Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS). The MOD plans to introduce Sonar 2087, an LFAS system, in order to protect against a developing submarine threat. The system is planned to be used, at need, on a world-wide basis. The associated Environmental Impact Assessment accordingly considered its potential effects on marine mammals in the conditions in which it might be used, rather than in the specific context of UK territorial waters. The assessment, which we are updating continuously as necessary, indicates that the sonar has the potential to be harmful to marine mammals. It forms the basis for the development of a range of operating measures to minimise the danger of such impact.
Private Sewers
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to (a) receive and (b) publish W.S.Atkins' research into the scale and problems of private sewers; and if she will make a statement. [121510]
Mr. Morley: The research into the extent and condition of existing private sewers and drains in England and Wales is complete. A consultation paper will be published at the beginning of July.
Suckler Cow Premium
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what efforts are being made to speed up the processing of suckler cow premium payments. [122521]
Alun Michael: Staff at the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) continue to work overtime at offices around the country to ensure that Suckler Cow Premium Scheme queries which are currently preventing payment are investigated and resolved as quickly as possible. To date, 90 per cent. of Suckler Cow producers have received an advance payment representing 80 per cent. of the premium due.
Balance payments on all the bovine subsidy schemes have been delayed because of the need to implement changes in EU legislation introduced for the 2002
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scheme year. These changes introduced new penalty procedures that apply when either the scheme rules or cattle identification requirements have been breached
Before making balance payments the RPA has had to build a new computer database and significantly enhance existing computer systems to cope with the changes. These are complex changes and despite being given high priority have taken a considerable time to implement. However, the RPA can now confirm that the software required to pay the majority of producers is now in place and Suckler Cow Premium Scheme balance payments have begun. To date, over 38 per cent. of producers have received their payments. Every effort is being made to ensure that the remaining balance payments are processed as quickly as possible.
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
Regional Assemblies
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, whether an English region voting for an elected assembly will be given more money to spend by central government as a result. [121471]
Mr. Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.
The White Paper, "Your Region, Your Choice: Revitalising the English Regions", sets out the funding arrangements for elected assemblies.
Elected regional assemblies will take responsibilities for programmes that are currently carried out at regional level.
Extra money will be rewarded to elected assemblies, which achieve or exceed targets agreed with central Government. This money will not be taken from regions without an elected assembly.
Adjudicators
Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his answer of 18 June 2003, Official Report, column 274W, on adjudicators, if he will provide a breakdown by ethnic background of adjudicators in post. [121889]
Mr. Lammy: There are currently 170 salaried adjudicators and 429 fee-paid adjudicators. The total of salaried adjudicators includes the chief adjudicator, the deputy chief adjudicator, nine regional adjudicators and seven deputy regional adjudicators. Of the background of the 170 salaried adjudicators 143 are white, five black, seven Asians, two Chinese, five other and eight unknown.
Of the 429 fee-paid adjudicators, 339 are white, 16 black, 20 Asians, one Chinese, 14 other, 37 unknown and two mixed.
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