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2 Feb 2004 : Column 627W—continued
Farm Incomes
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average income of (a) arable, (b) beef, (c) dairy, (d) poultry, (e) pig, (f) sheep and (g) mixed farmers was in Lancashire in the latest year for which figures are available. [149936]
Alun Michael: The average net farm income for farms greater than eight ESUs in the county of Lancashire was £20,450 for the year ending February 2003. Due to lack of farm numbers in the source survey this can only be broken down into the following farm types:
| £000 | |
|---|---|
| Cattle and Sheep in the LFA | 15,530 |
| Dairy Farms | 16,730 |
| All other farm types | 26,260 |
Data source:
Farm Business Survey
Net farm income is defined as the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant-type capital of the business. It includes income from non-agricultural activities that are fully integrated into the farming business and which depend on the existence of the core farming activity.
Farming Subsidies
Mr. Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers in the United Kingdom received subsidies with a value of (a) Euro 0 to Euro 5,000, (b) Euro 5,000 to Euro 50,000 and (c) more than Euro 50,000 in (i) 2002–03, (ii) 2001–02, (iii) 2000–01 and (iv) 1999–2000. [144456]
Alun Michael: The following figures represent payments made in the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) Year (16 October to 15 October).
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Payments on our financial systems are in Sterling. To generate the ranges in Euros the bands have been converted into sterling based on an average conversion rate for each EAGGF year.
These figures represent payments to English farmers. Information for other countries within the UK is a matter for their respective devolved assemblies.
| EAGGF Year | Euro 0 to Euro 5,000 | Euro 5,000 to Euro 50,000 | Greater than Euro 50,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 88,398 | 39,823 | 4,936 |
| 2001–02 | 98,351 | 37,855 | 4,330 |
| 2000–01 | 97,182 | 39,169 | 4,962 |
| 1999–2000 | 92,220 | 38,030 | 4,062 |
Fisheries
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proceedings have been brought against shore-side dealers who handle black fish in each of the last 10 years. [150240]
Mr. Bradshaw: Under the Sea Fishing (Enforcement of Community Control Measures) Order 2000 (SI 2000 No. 51) proceedings for the submission of false documentation, associated with the handling of black fish, may be taken against the representative (agent) of the master in respect of landing declarations, against the first seller of fish in respect of sales notes or the buyer of fish where the first marketing is not carried out by an auction centre or an authorised person or body and against the transporter of fish in respect of the transport documentation. There is a maximum of up to £50,000 for each offence committed on summary conviction.
Flooding
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when the Environment Agency will publish maps showing the climate change zone in relation to the one in 100 year floodplain; [148282]
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- (2) when the Environment Agency will publish policies on the incorporation of climate change calculation into the determination of floodplain. [148283]
Margaret Beckett: The Environment Agency's Flood Mapping Strategy of July 2003 outlines 2005 as the earliest date for delivery of the 'Flood Zones for year 2050' onto the National Flood and Coastal Defence Database. 'Flood Zones for year 2050' is a dataset to show planners the anticipated extent of a range of flood probabilities (including, for fluvial flooding, a zone showing the one per cent. or one in 100 year probability) in the year 2050, taking account of current guidance on climate change.
The Environment Agency follows government policies and guidance for climate change; for floodplain, this is found in PPG25. The 'Flood Zones for year 2050' will incorporate the climate change guidance found in Appendix A of PPG25, namely an allowance for sea level rise and an increase in fluvial flows of 20 per cent.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the results of the work commissioned by the Environment Agency to model the impact of a one in 100 year plus 20 per cent. flood on the River Thames will be available. [148284]
Margaret Beckett: I understand that the Environment Agency expect the final results from modelling the impact of various floods on the River Thames, including the one in 100 year plus 20 per cent. will be available by summer 2004.
Haddock
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps have been taken to encourage a consumer shift from cod to haddock; and what assessment she has made of the impact on the British fleet of such a shift; [150853]
- (2) what assessment has been made of whether haddock is an acceptable retail alternative to cod; [150854]
(3) what plans she has to offer marketing assistance to fish wholesalers and retailers to encourage increased consumption of haddock by British consumers. [150857]
Mr. Bradshaw: Decisions on which species of fish to buy are for consumers to take. However the Sea Fish Industry Authority undertakes work to promote seafood consumption, and, with Seafood Scotland, is beginning a consumer campaign for marketing haddock.
Hill Farmers
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average income was for a hill farmer in Shrewsbury and Atcham in the last year. [151317]
Alun Michael: Estimates of farm business income are obtainable from the Farm Business Survey, but results are not available at constituency level because the size of the sample is too small.
Net farm income for full-time farms either wholly or mainly in the less favoured areas in the West Midlands Government Office Region in 2002–03, excluding farms involved in the compulsory FMD cull, was £12,000 per
2 Feb 2004 : Column 630W
farm. This compares with a net farm income of £13,200 for the West Midlands Government Office Region as a whole and £16,600 for England.
Net farm income is the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant-type capital of the business.
Foot and Mouth Disease
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions have been initiated and are pending, by or on behalf of her Department against (a) contractors and (b) farmers, in respect of alleged fraudulent claims or other irregularities relating to (i) claims made for compensation, (ii) works undertaken on behalf of her Department, and (iii) animals slaughtered; how many court hearings have been completed; and how many of the prosecutions have been successful. [150555]
Mr. Bradshaw: Since 2001, no prosecutions have been commenced in relation to fraudulent claims by contractors for compensation or works undertaken on behalf of the Department. Three prosecutions were commenced into fraudulent claims for compensation by farmers: one farmer pleaded guilty, two farmers were acquitted. There are no outstanding prosecutions.
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what value of payments remain unpaid to Welsh contractors employed during and following the foot and mouth disease outbreak. [151727]
Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare (Brian Cotter), on 6 January, Official Report, column 261W.
The Department is in dispute with four Welsh contractors over charges arising, or which are claimed to have arisen, from the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak. As these matters are ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further.
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what value of compensation payments remain unpaid to Welsh farmers as a result of the foot and mouth disease outbreak, broken down by (a) constituency and (b) local authority area. [151728]
Mr. Bradshaw: There are no compensation payments due to Welsh farmers that remain unpaid as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak.
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many compensation payments, of what value, have been paid to Welsh farmers as a result of the foot and mouth disease outbreak, broken down by (a) constituency and (b) local authority area. [151729]
Mr. Bradshaw: We cannot provide a breakdown of compensation payments by either constituency or local authority area. The compensation payments data is not held in that form.
However, we can provide the following breakdown of compensation payments made to Welsh farmers by county.
2 Feb 2004 : Column 631W
| County | Number | Total Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Powys | 991 | 41,470,929 |
| Gwent | 211 | 10,517,681 |
| Mid Glamorgan | 54 | 775,061 |
| Clwyd | 25 | 508,428 |
| West Glamorgan | 14 | 971,654 |
| Dyfed | 12 | 377,399 |
| South Glamorgan | 2 | 253,318 |
| Totals | 1,309 | 54,874,470 |
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the criteria are for interest payments to be made by her Department on outstanding foot and mouth disease claims; and if she will make a statement. [151839]
Mr. Bradshaw: The criteria will vary on a case by case basis and will depend on such things as the precise contractual terms providing for interest; the construction of the contract; the terms and applicability of The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998; and the validity and timeliness or otherwise of the applications for payment received.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many outstanding claims for foot and mouth disease clean-up contracts remain to be processed by her Department; and what estimate has been made of the total liability. [151840]
Mr. Bradshaw: As the Department has paid businesses on the basis of the contractual terms agreed it does not believe there are any valid unpaid and outstanding invoices submitted by businesses to the Department for work undertaken in connection with the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001.
The Department is withholding £52.9 million from businesses in connection with charges arising from the provision of goods, services and works during the outbreak. In these cases, it believes on the basis of the quantum, accounting, technical and legal advice it has received that it was overcharged for goods, services and works during the outbreak. In all other cases, the Department has paid businesses for the goods, services and works provided in connection with the outbreak in 2001.
As at 29 January 2004 the Department is in serious dispute with 22 contractors and five of these disputes are currently in the civil courts, with more expected to follow.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money has been spent (a) internally and (b) on outside assistance on the disputing and forensic analysis of invoices submitted by Northumberland and Durham Machinery Ring Ltd for foot and mouth disease clean-up contracts. [151841]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department has spent (a) £2,480 internally and (b) £336,357 excluding VAT externally on professional services in connection with the forensic
2 Feb 2004 : Column 632W
examination of the Northumberland and Durham Machinery Ring account pertaining to the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001.
This expenditure excludes the costs of the successful mediation on 20 January, which are the subject of standard confidentiality provisions agreed between the parties.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements have been made by her Department with organisations or persons rewarded by payment of commission, percentage or other means for securing reductions in invoices submitted by contractors for foot and mouth disease clean-up contracts. [151842]
Mr. Bradshaw: No such arrangements have been made.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many invoices submitted for foot and mouth disease clean-up contracts have been paid in full by her Department without negotiation or dispute as to quantum. [151843]
Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare (Brian Cotter) on 6 January 2004, Official Report, columns 260–62W. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost, as it would require a review of all applications for payment submitted over four financial years in connection with the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of the claims made for foot and mouth disease clean-up contracts which have been settled by her Department have been settled within the allocated time period. [151844]
Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare (Brian Cotter) on 6 January 2004, Official Report, columns 260–62W.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many claims made for foot and mouth disease contracts submitted to her Department have been settled to date. [151845]
Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare (Brian Cotter) on 6 January 2004, Official Report, columns 260–62W.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many claims for foot and mouth disease clean-up contracts have yet to be settled by her Department. [151846]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department is withholding £52.9 million from businesses in connection with charges arising from the provision of goods, services and works during the outbreak. In these cases, it believes on the basis of the quantum, accounting, technical and legal advice it has received that it was overcharged for goods, services and works during the outbreak. In all other cases, the Department has paid businesses for the goods, services and works provided in connection with the outbreak in 2001.
2 Feb 2004 : Column 633W
As at 29 January 2004 the Department is in serious dispute with 22 contractors and five of these disputes are currently in the civil courts, with more expected to follow.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many claims for foot and mouth disease clean-up contracts have been submitted to her Department since the outbreak of the disease. [151847]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department considers it has received 30 claims for foot and mouth disease clean-up contracts since the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money has been spent (a) internally and (b) on outside assistance on the disputing and forensic analysis of invoices submitted by businesses for foot and mouth disease clean-up contracts. [151848]
Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare (Brian Cotter), on 6 January 2004, Official Report, column 259W.
Internal costs total £430,000 to date.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much interest has been paid by her Department on outstanding claims for foot and mouth disease contracts; what estimate has been made of likely outstanding payments; and if she will make a statement. [151849]
Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare (Brian Cotter), on 6 January 2004, Official Report, columns 259–60W.
Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of the claims made for foot and mouth disease clean-up contracts which have been settled by her Department with (a) companies and (b) individuals based in Somerset were settled within the allocated time period. [152001]
Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Brian Cotter), on 6 January 2004, Official Report, column 261W.
The Department is in dispute with one contractor in Somerset over charges arising, or which are claimed to have arisen, from the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak. As this matter is on-going, it would be inappropriate to comment further.
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