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8 Dec 2003 : Column 205W—continued

Transport Authorities (Capital Return)

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rate of return on capital employed is required for 2003–04 from (a) Bridlington Pier and Harbour Commissioners, (b) the Civil Aviation Authority, (c) Dover Harbour Board, (d) the Driving Standards Agency, (e) Falmouth Harbour Commissioners and (f) Poole Harbour Commissioners; and what dividend and interest payments his Department is budgeting to receive from each in 2003–04. [142496]

8 Dec 2003 : Column 206W

Mr. Jamieson: The bodies named at (a) Bridlington Pier and Harbour Commissioners, (c) Dover Harbour Board, (e) Falmouth Harbour Commissioners and (f) Poole Harbour Commissioners are all independent trust bodies and, therefore, are not required by this Department to remit either dividend or interest payments to it.

The following information regarding bodies (b) the Civil Aviation Authority and (d) the Driving Standards Agency is available in their respective Corporate Plans for 2003–04:

Corporate plans for 2003–04

BodyRate of return on capital employed (Percentage)Budgeted dividend (£)Budgeted interest on NLF loans (£)
Civil Aviation Authority6500,000
Driving Standards Agency-31,735,000212,000

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Air Pollution

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many days of (a) moderate, (b) high and (c) very high air pollution were recorded by each automatic monitoring station in London in each year since 1997. [140858]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 2 December 2003]: The table shows the number of days on which levels of any one of a basket of five pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, fine particles and sulphur dioxide) were recorded as 'moderate', 'high' or 'very high' by each national automatic monitoring station in London between 1997 and 2002. These five pollutants are recognised as the most important for causing short term health effects.

Number of days moderate, high and very high for each national network monitoring site in London, 1997–2002

1997 1998
ModerateHighVery HighModerateHighVery High
Bromley Roadside000400
Camden Kerbside41121500
Haringey Roadside26901200
Hounslow Roadside200000
A3 Roadside20322121
Bexley47712710
Bloomsbury35501800
Brent48402510
Bridge Place1300500
Bromley000
Cromwell Road000
Eltham57502310
Hackney13001300
Haringey23101300
Hillingdon33802200
Lewisham1200200
Marylebone Road41613510
N.Kensington40712810
Southwark26101100
Sutton27001610
Teddington53403220
Wandsworth1300500
Westminster--
Southwark Roadside300000
Sutton Roadside2022600
Tower Hamlets Roadside200000
West London200000

8 Dec 2003 : Column 207W

1999 2000
ModerateHighVery HighModerateHighVery High
Bromley Roadside
Camden Kerbside2100900
Haringey Roadside1000700
Hounslow Roadside000000
A3 Roadside700100
Bexley50102410
Bloomsbury2100400
Brent43203700
Bridge Place2400---
Bromley000000
Cromwell Road000100
Eltham46002100
Hackney24001000
Haringey37302000
Hillingdon3310500
Lewisham500000
Marylebone Road507108360
N.Kensington48102300
Southwark29001200
Sutton36001800
Teddington47403700
Wandsworth2000600
Westminster-
Southwark Roadside000000
Sutton Roadside000100
Tower Hamlets Roadside000000
West London000000

20012002
ModerateHighVery HighModerateHighVery High
Bromley Roadside
Camden Kerbside1500300
Haringey Roadside8101000
Hounslow Roadside000000
A3 Roadside1220100
Bexley38023400
Bloomsbury22001710
Brent33202121
Bridge Place
Bromley000000
Cromwell Road000000
Eltham33112310
Hackney4001100
Haringey27101300
Hillingdon22101100
Lewisham000800
Marylebone Road381115430
N.Kensington39101600
Southwark21001200
Sutton2510300
Teddington42405800
Wandsworth2300900
Westminster8001210
Southwark Roadside000000
Sutton Roadside610200
Tower Hamlets Roadside000000
West London000000

Notes:

'Moderate', 'High' and Very High' refers to the Air Pollution Service Information bandings (www.airquality.co.uk/archive/standards.php*).

Moderate—mild effects, unlikely to require action, may be noticed among sensitive individuals.

High—significant effects may be noticed by sensitive individuals and action to avoid or reduce these effects may be needed (e.g. reducing exposure by spending less time in polluted areas outdoors). Asthmatics will find that their 'reliever' inhaler is likely to reverse the effects on the lung.

Very High—the effects on sensitive individuals described for 'High' levels of pollution may worsen.

— monitoring site not operating


8 Dec 2003 : Column 209W

Animal By-Products Regulations

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the impact of the Animal By-Products Regulations 2003 on (a) cattle farmers, (b) pig and sheep farmers, (c) poultry farmers, (d) other livestock farmers, (e) catering establishments, (f) abattoirs and (g) other affected businesses. [141115]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Animal By-Products Regulations provide for the administration and enforcement of the EU Animal By-Products Regulation (EC No. 1774/2202). The most recent assessment on this legislation is contained in the Regulatory Impact Assessment that accompanied the Animal By-Products Regulations 2003 when they were laid before Parliament on 9 June 2003. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Animal Husbandry

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on the impact on animal husbandry of (a) allowing animals to spend one overnight period at an auction and (b) requiring an animal to be killed at the slaughterhouse within 48 hours. [141441]

Mr. Bradshaw: After the reduction in the whole farm standstill from 20 days to six, Defra consulted earlier this year on a package of biosecurity proposals including one that animals should not remain longer than 24 hours on market premises. Following representations made by the industry, legislation was introduced on 1 August this year generally limiting this residency period to 48 hours.

I have received representations from a few operators of markets and slaughterhouses asking for the 48 hour period to be extended.

Animal Welfare

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on how she intends to influence the recommendations of the Farm Animals Welfare Council's Report on the Welfare of Farmed Animals At Slaughter or Killing. [142012]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 4 December 2003]: The Farm Animal Welfare Council is our independent advisory body on farm animal welfare matters. As such, we do not influence the recommendations that they make in reports. The Council published its report on the welfare of red meat animals at slaughter in June, and we are currently preparing a draft response.

8 Dec 2003 : Column 210W


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