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ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Ancient Trees

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what action her Department is taking to ensure that ancient trees are identified for inclusion in biodiversity action plans; [173941]

(2) what action her Department is taking to ensure that ancient trees are fully identified and mapped for the purposes of inclusion in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. [173942]

Mr. Bradshaw: Sites with ancient or veteran trees are being recorded through a variety of different mechanisms. Some are Sites of Special Scientific Interest and a number of the best areas have gone forward as Special Areas of Conservation under the EU Habitats and Species Directive (including the New Forest, Burnham Beeches, Epping Forest, Windsor Great Park, Richmond Park, Sherwood Forest).

Surveys to identify other sites for veteran trees, that may have been over-looked in the past, are under way, including recent work in Scotland and in the East Midlands of England. The Forestry Commission are planning to start the next National Inventory of Woodland and Trees later this year. The methods to be used are being finalised over the next few months and it is expected that the inventory will provide estimates of the overall abundance of veteran trees in woodland.

The most important concentrations of ancient or veteran trees across the countryside tend to be associated with wood-pastures (old parks, commons and the former royal hunting forests). The UK Wood-pasture and Parkland Habitat Action Plan is led by English Nature, who are developing the Wood-pasture and Parkland Information System (www.wapis.org.uk) that will enable both biological and historical data about these important sites to be brought together.

The National Inventory cannot be expected to pick up every one of the many thousands of individual veteran trees that exist within Britain, in field corners, hedges or along riverbanks. There is scope, therefore, for voluntary efforts such as by local tree wardens and through the Woodland Trust/Ancient Tree Forum's Ancient Tree Hunt to complement the work of the Government Departments and agencies. We welcome such voluntary sector contributions. We would encourage individuals and voluntary bodies to use the Wood-pasture and Parkland Information System to widen our knowledge and understanding and help make the information readily available through the National Biodiversity Network.

Animal By-products

Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the cost to retailers of the Animal By-products Regulation 2003. [177396]

 
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Mr. Bradshaw: The Animal By-Products Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) estimated that the cost to retailers for disposing of raw meat and raw fish is between £4 and £45 a week depending on the size of the store and the amount of waste generated by the store. No more recent estimate has been made.

Cattle

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2004, Official Report, column 1486W, on cattle, how much of the total cost of running the cattle tracing scheme will be paid by farmers; and if she will make a statement. [176706]

Alun Michael: We recently deferred the introduction of Cattle Tracing System charging from 1 April 2004 and are currently reviewing a range of options on the level of cost recovery.

Correspondence

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons she has not replied to the letter of 27 November 2003 from Mr. Jim Morrison, President of the Aluminium Federation on the problems of the export of waste under the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 1994; and if she will make a statement. [174996]

Margaret Beckett: [holding answer 27 May 2004]: My Department has no record of having received this letter. A copy was recently passed to me by my hon. Friend. A follow-up letter of 19 May has been received recently. I have now written to Mr. Morrison, addressing the issues that he raised.

Fallen Stock

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Master of Fox Hounds Association about whether hunt kennels will continue to collect fallen stock in the event of a ban on hunting. [176782]

Alun Michael: The Department has included the Master of Fox Hounds Association in discussions about arrangements for a National Fallen Stock Scheme and has registered a substantial level of interest from hunt kennels in joining the scheme. This suggests that many are willing to make the necessary investment to continue in business for the disposal of fallen stock whatever the future for hunting.

Grain Stockpiles

Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much grain was held on world stockpiles in each of the last 30 years; [177411]

(2) how many days' worth of global consumption of grain was held on world stockpiles in each of the last 30 years. [177412]

Alun Michael: The Government do not collect global grain stock or consumption statistics but the following information is publicly available from supply and demand balance sheets compiled by the United States Department of Agriculture.
 
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	World stocks(6) (million tonnes)	Days supply(7)
1974–75	170	64
1975–76	180	67
1976–77	241	85
1977–78	233	79
1978–79	278	90
1979–80	274	86
1980–81	255	80
1981–82	281	87
1982–83	332	101
1983–84	278	84
1984–85	340	99
1985–86	421	123
1986–87	469	132
1987–88	420	115
1988–89	336	95
1989–90	318	86
1990–91	366	98
1991–92	356	95
1992–93	395	104
1993–94	362	96
1994–95	358	93
1995–96	317	84
1996–97	366	93
1997–98	412	104
1998–99	444	112
1999–2000	439	110
2000–01	415	103
2001–02	396	97
2002–03	332	81
2003–04	251	60

⁽⁶⁾ Ending stock for year in question.
⁽⁷⁾ Ending stock divided by total daily consumption.

Public Rights of Way

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to develop a strategy for establishing connected-up networks of public rights of way in the North West. [177088]

Alun Michael: The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 requires all local highway authorities to prepare rights of way improvement plans. This requirement is intended to encourage authorities to take a strategic look at their rights of way networks, with a view to providing better for the needs of users—this includes planning for better joined-up networks. The Government have provided additional funding for the preparation of these plans.

TRANSPORT

Middle Lanes

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what survey work has been undertaken to gauge how often the middle lane is used on three-lane roads and motorways when not overtaking a vehicle in the left lane. [178006]

Mr. Jamieson: My Department is not aware of any such survey work. In order to produce meaningful results, a survey into lane usage would need to be widely based and would be labour intensive and costly. My Department is working to improve lane discipline and to reduce the annoyance that poor lane discipline causes.
 
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Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will run a campaign to educate motorists when using multi-lane roads and motorways to use the left lane and only to use other lanes for overtaking; and if he will make a statement. [178007]

Mr. Jamieson: Poor lane discipline does cause annoyance and can reduce road capacity. We are working to improve lane discipline. It is safe driving practice for vehicles using motorways to keep in the left-hand lane unless overtaking, and this advice is reflected in the Highway Code and the Driving Manual. The Theory Test includes questions on motorway lane discipline and the Department produces a leaflet, 'A Guide to Safer Motorway Driving'. Police motorway patrols can, where they think appropriate, pull up motorists for poor lane discipline, and indeed can prosecute where the motorist's behaviour amounts to inconsiderate driving.

Also, the Highways Agency is currently exploring the possibility of using the variable message signs on motorways (VMS) to encourage lane discipline, alongside their present use for early warning to motorists about traffic queues ahead and advice on diversion routes.

We will keep the issue under review, and will further strengthen the actions described, and reshape our information programmes as required.

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