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Veterinary Surgeons
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) large animal and (b) small animal veterinary surgeons practise in the UK. [146094]
Mr. Bradshaw: There is no such thing as a large or small animal vet as all veterinary surgeons are qualified to deal with any type of animal. At the last count (March 2003) there were approximately 12,000 veterinary surgeons in full time practice in the UK.
In April 2003 The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), submitted evidence to the EFRA Select Committee inquiry into Vets and Veterinary
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services which showed that there are 2,375 main veterinary practices in the UK, of which 964 (41 per cent.) were farm practices.
In the 2002 Manpower survey of how veterinary time was devoted to different areas of practice, it was reported that vets in general practice devoted 80.1 per cent. of their time to small animals, 5 per cent. to horses, 6.7 per cent. to cattle, 1.3 per cent. to sheep, 0.3 to pigs and 0.1 to poultry.
Warm Front Programme
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will extend the entitlement to central heating installation under the Warm Front scheme when a heating system still operates but is inadequate. [145683]
Mr. Morley: Following recent reviews of Warm Front and a stakeholder event held in November 2003, we are considering the options for the future format of the Scheme. This includes consideration of the rules surrounding boiler replacements.
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to the Treasury regarding the adequacy of funding proposals for the Warm Front programme. [145759]
Mr. Morley: Future funding of the Warm Front scheme will be considered in 2004 as part of the normal Government Spending Round process.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she is making on improving the Warm Front scheme to combat fuel poverty. [145001]
Mr. Bradshaw: Following recent reviews of Warm Front and a stakeholder event held in November, we are now in the process of considering the options for the future format of Warm Front.
We expect to make decisions on the future form of the scheme during early 2004.
Waste and Resources Action Programme
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on ways in which the Waste and Resources Action Programme has contributed to the reduction of global warming. [143285]
Mr. Morley: The Waste and Resources Action Programme's aim is to promote sustainable waste management by working to create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products and removing the barriers to waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.
Attributing reductions in global warming (reductions in greenhouse gas emissions) to increases in recycling rate is an extremely complex area of research due to the number of variables to be taken into account. However, preliminary research undertaken by the Waste and Resources Action Programme indicates that using secondary materials (recycling) results in substantial energy savings when compared with production using primary materials. This initial assessment also suggests
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that if 30 per cent. of municipal solid waste is recycled in 2010 a reduction of approximately 10–15 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent gas could be achieved in the world.
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people are employed by the Waste and Resources Action Programme; and what additional recruitment is planned. [142592]
Mr. Morley: The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) currently employs 73 people, the majority of whom work on its core market development remit to promote sustainable waste management and to create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products.
In May 2003 WRAP'S remit was extended in England, as part of Government's response to the Strategy Unit report "Waste Not, Want Not", to include a household waste minimisation programme; an organics market development programme to provide material specific support and investment to the composting sector; the development of a kerbside recycling advisory service to local authorities and a targeted waste awareness programme combining national and local elements.
As a result of these new programmes, recruitment plans will take WRAP to a projected full-time equivalent headcount figure of up to 140 by mid 2004. The increase in staff resources is in proportion to the increase in Government funding allocated to WRAP.
Waste Management
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the 47th Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union, on European Union Waste Management Policy, and on its recommendations. [144576]
Mr. Morley: The Government are currently considering the report on European Union Waste Management Policy and will respond in due course.
Wessex Flood Defence Committee
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total budget for the Wessex Flood Defence Committee is for financial year 2003–04. [145763]
Mr. Morley: The Environment Agency is required to arrange for its flood defence functions, except for certain financial ones, to be carried out by Regional Flood Defence Committees (RFDCs). The RFDC may arrange for all or any of these functions to be carried out by Local Flood Defence Committees (LFDCs) under a scheme approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
I understand from the agency that the total budget for the LFDCs overseen by the Wessex RFDC for the financial year 2003–04 is £27.2 million.
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Chairman of the Wessex Flood Defence Committee
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received in (a) pay and (b) reimbursement of expenses in 2003–04; and what overseas trips he undertook on official business in 2003–04. [145766]
Mr. Morley: The previous Chairman of the Wessex Regional Flood Defence Committee (RFDC) received the following amounts, from the beginning of the current financial year (1 April 2003) to the end of his term of appointment on 30 June 2003:
- (a) pay: £3,797.49
(b) expenses: £981.62
The current Chairman of the Wessex RFDC has received the following amounts since his appointment began on 1 July 2003:
- (a) pay: £9,627.16 (including £2,032.18 in respect of his Chairmanship of Somerset Local Flood Defence Committee (LFDC) until 6 October 2003)
(b) expenses £1,882.80 (some of which relates to Somerset LFDC duties)
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Asylum Seekers
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many asylum seekers aged under 18 are in the care of social services, broken down by local authority. [144974]
Margaret Hodge: Information is not collected centrally in relation to all types of asylum seekers aged under 18. However information is available in relation to unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC).
The information in respect of UASC is shown for 2002, the most recent year for which figures are available.
Notes:
1. All figures rounded to the nearest five
2. '—'Indicates number between one and five that has been suppressed for reasons of confidentiality
3. Table excludes any children looked after under a series of short term placements
Source:
CLA100 return
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