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Written Answers to Questions

Friday 21 May 2004

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Abandoned Vehicles

Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abandoned vehicles were removed by local authorities in England in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04. [173407]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 18 May 2004]: The number of abandoned vehicles removed by local authorities in England was as follows:

	Number of vehicles recovered by local authorities
2001–02	284,400
2002–03	298,900

Note:
Figures for 2003–2004 will be available in early 2005

Disposable Nappies

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 May, Official Report, column 1658W, on disposable nappies, whether the Waste Implementation Programme Manager met representatives of the Nappy Alliance at Ashdown House on 23rd March; and if she   will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting. [174743]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 20 May 2004]: I can confirm that the Waste Implementation Programme (WIP) Manager met with representatives of the Nappy Alliance on 23rd March. The meeting was a useful opportunity to discuss the work WIP is already taking forward through the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to promote re-usable nappies. This work stream forms an essential part of Government's renewed drive to minimise the amount of household waste generated in England.

One of the issues raised in the course of the meeting was the need to ensure that this element of Defra's waste strategy has full support across Government. In particular, this means working closely with the Department of Health to ensure that hospitals are in a position to encourage the supply of re-usable nappies, and that healthcare professionals give new parents the facts they need to make their own informed choice. Following the meeting on 23 March and the subsequent publication of the Women's Environmental Network's report 'Nappies and the NHS: Waste Prevention and a Fair Choice for Parents', I have written to the Under-Secretary at the Department of Health to make the case for a strong lead from hospitals and health trusts on this important initiative.
 
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Farm Income

Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the (a) crops, (b) vegetables, (c) fruit and (d) plants the growing of which will not qualify for single farm payment. [166026]

Alun Michael: Under the Single Payments Scheme, farmers will be allocated 'entitlements' against which they may make an annual claim for payment. Such claims must be supported by an equivalent number of hectares of agricultural area, except those used for forestry, permanent crops (eg fruit trees) or used for non-agricultural activities.

In addition, the amount of land used in support of a claim on which horticultural crops (those referred to in   Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No. 2200/96 and Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No. 2201/96 and potatoes other than those intended for manufacture of potato starch) are grown will be limited by authorisations allocated to individual growers.

Flooding

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for   Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received regarding the recent increased assessment of flood risk in the South East; and if she will make a statement. [170837]

Mr. Morley: The Government welcome the report "Foresight Future Flooding" by Professor Sir David King published through the Office of Science and Technology on 22 April.

Currently nearly two million properties are at risk of flooding in the UK from rivers and the sea and a further 80,000 are at risk from heavy downpours that overwhelm drains in urban areas. Under future scenarios in the report and assuming our approval to flood risk management does not change then annual damages could rise substantially by the 2080s. The areas at greatest risk include the South East Coast. We therefore face major challenges in managing these potential risks and associated costs.

The Government are considering the implications of the report and we intend to address the findings in an initial response through a consultation document for a new flood and coastal defence strategy that I hope to publish in the summer.

Each major stakeholder is committed to delivering a number of actions and my Department will oversee progress.

Greenhouse Gases

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will request the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Subsidiary Bodies to undertake an exploratory study of contraction and convergence as a potential basis for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. [171229]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 17 May 2004]: The UK, as part of the EU, sought to open a technical dialogue on possible approaches to long-term action to tackle climate
 
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change at the UN climate change negotiations in Milan last December. The aim was to begin technical discussions on different methodologies, including contraction and convergence, to promote better understanding of the challenge facing the international community.

We achieved recognition of better access to data and analytical tools relevant to implementing commitments under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, plus a scoping phase to develop a shared data interface to help with this, and a process to exchange further views on these issues in July 2004. The UK will continue to press for technical discussions relevant to the assessment of different methodologies.

Negotiations on climate change action beyond the end of the first Kyoto Protocol commitment period in 2012 are due to commence in 2005. In the meantime, we will continue to exchange views informally with other countries on how to promote further action.

Hazardous Waste

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to use BSE and foot and mouth disposal facilities for the handling of hazardous waste. [171287]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 10 May 2004]: We have no plans to use such facilities for the handling of hazardous waste. Sites for handling hazardous waste would have to have the appropriate authorisations under the Waste Framework Directive and the Landfill Directive. The disposal by burial of animal carcases during the FMD epidemic was subject to control under the Animal Waste Directive which has now been superseded by the EU Animal By-Products Regulation. BSE infected carcases are disposed of by incineration in approved incinerators.

Household Waste

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will impose a statutory obligation on local authorities to ensure weekly collections of household waste. [174088]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 18 May 2004]: We have no plans to require local authorities to collect household waste on a weekly basis.

Decisions on the frequency of collection are a matter for each local authority, which needs to have in place a collection regime which enables it to meet its statutory duties in a way which is consistent with Best Value and takes full account of local circumstances.

Hunting

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what research the Department is undertaking into the impact of land used for hunting under the single farm payment; [169742]

(2) what discussions she has had with the (a) Countryside Alliance and (b) Master of Foxhounds on the impact of the single farm payment on hunting; and whether this will qualify as an activity which will derive payments under the new scheme. [169743]

 
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Alun Michael: I am not aware of any research or discussions with any organisations on an inter-relationship between hunting and the new Single Payment Scheme. Hunting is not an activity that would attract payment under the Scheme, but agricultural land on which hunting takes place may be used by a farmer in support of a Single Payment claim if that activity does not lead to a breach any of the Scheme's conditions, including the obligation on the farmer to maintain the land in good agricultural and environmental condition.

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