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25 May 2004 : Column 1496W—continued

Product Recalls

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with EU Ministers on compulsory insurance for product recall costs; and if she will make a statement. [173678]

Alun Michael: The decision to recall a product is usually taken by individual companies in conjunction with advice from the Food Standards Agency (FSA). It is for the companies themselves to decide whether to insure against such an eventuality. I have not been involved in any discussions with EU Ministers on compulsory insurance for such product recall costs.

In relation to animal feed, the Council of Agriculture Ministers has recently adopted an EC Regulation. One of the Articles of this Regulation requires that the European Commission shall prepare a report on the viability of feed business operators having financial guarantees, such as insurance. This would be to provide cover for the total costs for which such operators could
 
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be held liable as a direct consequence of the withdrawal, treatment and/or destruction of feed from the market, or animals and food produced therefrom.

The FSA led the negotiations, so as such, I did not correspond with EU Ministers directly. However, DEFRA was kept fully informed by the FSA of their progress and Defra contributed views to the FSA, including on the issues of financial guarantees.

Rat Control

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs further to her answer of 5 May 2004, to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Rosindell), Official Report, column 1497W, on rats, whether a local authority using the enforcement and monitoring powers she refers to may (a) require a water authority to (i) carry out a programme of sewer baiting and (ii) improve the sewer infrastructure in its area and (b) require a railway authority to (A) maintain embankments to a reasonable standard and (B) clear dumped rubbish and litter on their land on a regular basis, in its area; and if she will make a statement. [173239]

Mr. Morley: In answer to the first part of the question, under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949, a local authority cannot require a sewerage undertaker to carry out a programme of sewer baiting or improve the sewer infrastructure in its area.

The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 is used by local authorities to require Network Rail, the owner of operational railway land, to maintain lineside and rail property. Local authorities also have powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Code of Practice on litter and fly tipping to serve litter abatement notices requiring litter or refuse to be cleared and/or prohibiting land from becoming defaced by litter or refuse. Network Rail clears litter in accordance with the timescales and zones given in the Code of Practice.

In both cases, local authorities have powers to enforce the duties of the owner or occupier and can use default powers to take those steps specified in a notice and recover any expenses reasonably incurred in doing so.

Recycling

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of (a) domestic, (b) commercial and (c) industrial refuse was recycled in (i) Brent, (ii) London and (iii) England in the latest year for which figures are available. [172814]

Mr. Morley: The information is as follows.

(a) The most recent year's figures for household
 
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waste are found in the Municipal Waste Management Survey for 2002–03.

	Percentage
London Borough of Brent	6.6
London	10.8
England	14.5

(b) and (c) . The most recent year's figures for commercial waste and for industrial waste are found in the Strategic Waste Management Assessment 2000, published by the Environment Agency, relating to figures for 1998–99. The survey collected data from a sample of 20,000 businesses across England and Wales.

	Percentage
Commercial waste
London Borough of Brent	Not collected
West London (including Brent)	25.5
Greater London	30.6
England	22.5
Industrial waste
London Borough of Brent	Not collected
West London (including Brent)	29.5
Greater London	37.6
England	34

Salt Manufacturers

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the proposed abolition of the product mix output algorithms in 2008; and what assessment she has made of the effects on the future competitiveness of UK salt manufacturers. [172942]

Mr. Morley: The Climate Change Agreements are agreements with energy intensive industry through which participants pay a reduced rate of climate change levy in return for meeting challenging energy efficiency targets between 2002 and 2010. The agreements provide for an adjustment to the targets up to 2006 to take account of changes in product mix and output which can increase the energy used per unit of output. The concession lasts only until 2006 because we enter into the Kyoto period in 2008, the date of the next target assessment. The Government must deliver on their commitment to make absolute reductions on CO ₂ emissions in the Kyoto period, and there must be increased certainty of the contribution to be made from each of the UK's Climate Change Programme policies. Parties to Climate Change Agreements should take the energy use implications of changes in products, and how this will affect their ability to meet their targets, into account when making commercial decisions. The UK Emissions Trading Scheme is available for companies to buy allowances to meet their targets if they wish to produce more energy intensive products. There has been no assessment of the effects on UK salt manufacturers.

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the publication of the National Allocation Plan in respect of the European Union Emissions
 
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Trading Scheme; and what assessment she has made of its effects on the future competitiveness of UK salt manufacturers. [172943]

Mr. Morley: The UK submitted its National Allocation Plan (NAP) to the European Commission on 30 April and published it for public consultation on 6 May 2004.

There are two salt manufactures listed in the UK NAP and they are covered by the EU Emissions Trading Scheme as a result of the combustion facilities on site. Both are classified in the Food and Drink sector, and one is a member of the Chemicals Industry Association.

The UK NAP acknowledges industry concerns about competitiveness and bases allocations on projected need for sectors open to international competition, including the Food and Drink and Chemicals sectors. Government have involved industry in every stage of the implementation process and have taken concerns over competitiveness on board.

Scottish Power

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last met representatives of Scottish Power plc; who was present; and what was on the agenda for discussion. [171783]

Mr. Morley: The Secretary of State last met a representative of Scottish Power plc on Thursday 13 May 2004 at a meeting of the Sustainable Development Task Force, of which Scottish Power is a member.

Scottish Power's representative at this meeting was Fred Dinning, who was attending in the place of Ian Russell, the Chief Executive. Other Task Force members present were from a range of UK Government Departments, the devolved Administration, and external stakeholder bodies. The full membership list is available on the Government's sustainable development website (www.sustainable-development.gov.uk).

The agenda for discussion included an update on the sustainable development strategy consultation; education for sustainable development; an update on the outcomes of the Twelfth Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development; and papers on breaking down the barriers for renewable energy. Full details and papers will shortly be available on the website, as well as the note of the meeting in due course.

Severely Disadvantaged Areas

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2004, to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key), Official Report, column 1025W, on severely disadvantaged areas, whether she has made representations to the European Commission to ensure that British farmers are not penalised if they are unable to meet the 17 May 2004 deadline. [174781]

Alun Michael: The Rural Payments Agency has not made representation to the European Commission in
 
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respect of the 17 May 2004 Integrated Administration and Control System deadline as the circumstances do not justify a derogation to the regulation on this occasion.

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