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18 Sept 2003 : Column 925W—continued
Organic Farmers
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grants are available to organic farmers from her Department. [130102]
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Mr. Bradshaw: Support for farmers converting to organic farming, as well as on-going post-conversion aid to encourage the continued management of the land in an environmentally beneficial way, is available under the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), which is part of the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP). The rates of aid under the OFS are as follows:
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion option | ||||||
| Land eligible for Arable Area Payment Scheme and land in permanent crops (except top fruit orchards) | 225 | 135 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 450 |
| Top Fruit orchards (cherries, pears, plums and apples—other than cider apples) | 600 | 600 | 600 | 30 | 30 | 1,860 |
| Other improved land | 175 | 105 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 349 |
| Unimproved grassland, rough grazing and "managed land" | 25 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 50 |
| Maintenance option | ||||||
| Land eligible for Arable Area Payment Scheme and land in permanent crops (except top fruit orchards) | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 150 |
| Top Fruit orchards (cherries, pears, plums and apples—other than cider apples) | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 150 |
| Other improved land | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 115 |
| Unimproved grassland, rough grazing and "managed land" | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 25 |
The Department also provides free advice to prospective organic farmers through the Organic Information Conversion Service (OCIS) and the Department's R&D programme includes a large component dealing with research on organic farming.
Parliamentary Questions
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Questions directed to her remain unanswered. [130757]
Alun Michael: I and my ministerial colleagues attach great importance to answering hon. Members' questions promptly. I am afraid that it is not always possible to do so, if questions, for example, ask for historical or detailed information.
At 16 September, hon. Members had tabled 4,059 parliamentary questions to my Department; 313 questions were either transferred to another Department or withdrawn by Members.
Of the remaining 3,746 questions, 57 are in the process of being drafted.
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Phytophthora Ramorum
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many enforcement notices have been issued to destroy trees or shrubs infected by phytophthora ramorum. [130537]
Mr. Bradshaw: As at 16 September 2003, Enforcement notices have been issued for the destruction of trees and shrubs in respect of 305 confirmed outbreaks of phytophthora ramorum in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many inspectors are employed to prevent the import of (a) trees and (b) shrubs infected with phytophthora ramorum. [130609]
Mr. Bradshaw: 76 inspectors from Defra's Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate continue to monitor trees and shrubs imported from other member states or from third countries to ensure they meet import requirements and are not carrying the disease, This work forms part of their other duties including the survey work for this disease and a wide range of activities related to other plant pests and diseases. Similar action is being taken by the devolved Authorities and the Forestry Commission.
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of infection by phytophthora ramorum have been identified in national parks. [130615]
Mr. Bradshaw: Seven cases of infection by phytophthora ramorum have been identified at garden centres and nurseries located within the national parks.
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of infection by phytophthora ramorum have been identified in trees or shrubs on Forestry Commission land. [130618]
Mr. Bradshaw: No cases of infection by phytophthora ramorum have been identified in trees and shrubs on Forestry Commission land.
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many laboratory tests have been carried out in the last three months on plant material suspected of being infected with the phytophthora ramorum fungus; and what proportion has proved positive. [130643]
Mr. Bradshaw: During June, July and August 2003, 2,192 individual laboratory tests have been carried out on samples of plant material suspected of being infected with phytophthora ramorum fungus in the United Kingdom. 11.8 per cent. of these samples were confirmed as being infected with this pathogen.
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will place in the Library a list of the (a) parks, (b) gardens
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and (c) other premises in England in respect of which enforcement notices have been issued to destroy trees or shrubs infected with phytophthora ramorum; [130644]
- (2) if she will take steps to ensure that the public is aware of the identity of the premises of (a) wholesalers and (b) retailers of plants and shrubs where infections of phytophthora ramorum have been discovered. [130645]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 16 September 2003]: The Government believe the public should have as much information as possible about this disease and is happy to meet all reasonable requests for information. However, the information obtained specifically in relation to individual premises, has been gathered in pursuance of the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate's statutory powers and on the basis of this information, where necessary, enforcement notices are issued to ensure compliance. In the absence of a statutory obligation to publish details identifying individual premises, to publish such details without consent could seriously jeopardise our ability to work with business in relation to the reporting and control of phytophthora ramorum.
Sea Defences (Tendring)
Mr. Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total investment in sea defences along the coast of the Tendring Peninsula was (a) from 1992 to 1997 and (b) since 1997. [129560]
Mr. Morley: Operational responsibility for coastal defences (against erosion and flooding from the sea) along the Tendring Peninsula rests with Tendring District Council and the Environment Agency. Spending by those bodies on capital improvements and maintenance of coastal defences was (a) 9.6 million from 1992–93 to 1996–97 and (b) 15.1 million from 1997–98 to 2002–03. Much of the expenditure has been supported by Central Government funding through Defra grants on capital works and Revenue Support Grant from ODPM.
Softwood
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of softwood was imported into the United Kingdom originating from (a) the EU, (b) Norway, (c) the Baltic countries and (d) Russia in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000, (iii) 2001 and (iv) 2002. [129659]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 15 September 2003]: The figures for softwood imports are presented in the following tables.
| 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roundwood | ||||
| EU | 73 | 85 | 165 | 273 |
| Norway | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Baltic countries(15) | 50 | 29 | 27 | 38 |
| Russia | 2 | 25 | 54 | 52 |
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| 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sawn wood | ||||
| EU | 3,566 | 3,804 | 3,937 | 4,082 |
| Norway | 115 | 106 | 104 | 87 |
| Baltic countries(15) | 1,989 | 2,347 | 2,298 | 2,441 |
| Russia | 404 | 499 | 583 | 701 |
(15) Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of softwoods was imported in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001 and (d) 2002. [129660]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 15 September 2003]: The figures for softwood imports are presented in the following table.
| Roundwood | Sawn Wood | |
|---|---|---|
| (Thousand m(18) underbark) | (Thousand m(18)) | |
| 1999 | 165 | 6,642 |
| 2000 | 190 | 7,338 |
| 2001 | 256 | 7,221 |
| 2002 | 366 | 7,585 |
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Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of softwoods was harvested in the United Kingdom in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001 and (d) 2002. [129662]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 15 September 2003]: The figures are presented in the following table:
| Thousand m(18) underbark | |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 6,867 |
| 2000 | 6,926 |
| 2001 | 6,997 |
| 2002 | 6,832 |
Note:
The figures are based on delivery volumes to wood processing industries.
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