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Emissions Trading Scheme

12. Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock) (Lab): If she will make a statement on the proposed allocation of carbon allowances under the EU emissions trading scheme. [185754]

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Margaret Beckett): The UK's national allocation plan was approved by the European Commission on 7 July. The number of allowances in the UK plan that was submitted to the Commission is based on the UK as a whole reducing emissions by 15.2 per cent. by 2010. The allocation for the second phase of the scheme will be based on the trading sectors' contribution to meeting the UK goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide from base year levels by 2010.

Andrew Mackinlay: May I draw to my right hon. Friend's attention the fact that I wrote to her at the end of May, and I followed up with another letter, drawing attention—[Interruption.] If the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) does not mind, I am talking to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on a constituency matter. I would have thought that he would be interested in the fact that I wrote to her in May and have not had a reply. If the Opposition were any good, they would be pursuing that.

My Tilbury power station is unfairly disadvantaged by the proposal and, overall, some of the proposals are anti-competitive and do not reflect the expertise, innovation and investment proposals of many good power stations. I am meeting people from Tilbury power station tomorrow, and I wonder whether my right hon. Friend will help me by agreeing that she or one of her junior Ministers will meet us to discuss the issue. We could then show that there is room for improvement and fairness in the second phase she mentioned, to the advantage of my Tilbury power station, the industry as a whole and the United Kingdom. My Tilbury power station is being required to make a cut of 44 per cent. in emissions, compared with a national average of 15 per cent. That is unfair.

Margaret Beckett: I was sorry to learn that my hon. Friend had not received an answer to his letter. I was not aware of that until I saw the proposed answer to his question. I apologise, and I assure him that an answer is urgently in preparation as we speak. We will, of course, take very seriously the concerns that he expresses. He will know, too, that the Government have tried hard to strike a balance between what is necessary to make the emissions trading scheme work, which is in everybody's interest, what is necessary to meet the criteria for a satisfactory allocation plan that would stand a chance of being approved by the Commission and competitiveness issues. We believe that in almost all cases the concerns that have been expressed about competitiveness are not well founded. Many companies have assumed that others, elsewhere in Europe, would be treated differently. We have been urging the Commission to be both robust in its assessment of national allocation plan proposals and transparent in reaching its decisions. My hon. Friend may not be aware that several countries have already been asked to revise their initial proposals.
 
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Departmental Job Losses

13. Dr. Vincent Cable (Twickenham) (LD): What net reductions in staff levels she expects in her Department and the agencies for which she is responsible as a consequence of the spending review; and what estimate she has made of the savings accruing therefrom. [185755]

The Minister for Rural Affairs and Local Environmental Quality (Alun Michael): The number of posts across core DEFRA and its executive agencies will be reduced by about 2,400 by the end of 2007–08.

Dr. Cable: Following the headline announcements about net job losses of 2,400 and 390 relocations, when does the Minister propose to set out precisely where those cuts will occur? In particular, how many of them will flow from the announcement made yesterday about the creation of the new integrated institution? Will that institution be located in London or elsewhere?

Alun Michael: May I make it clear to the hon. Gentleman that the reduction of staff numbers and the announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State yesterday are both about increasing and improving delivery and achieving greater efficiency? They are not just about random numbers. The majority of job reductions will be achieved through the implementation of change programmes; for instance, the Rural Payments Agency change programme will lose about 1,600 posts and change programmes in finance, IT and human resources will contribute about 250 posts—some of that has already happened. We need to produce an efficiency delivery plan and when that is completed, the Office of Government Commerce will look at it and make a report to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor. It will then be available on the website.

Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): As the Minister takes the axe to jobs in his Department, will he also look into the number of special advisers—who are termed civil servants—which has more than doubled since 1997? How many special advisers will face the axe?

Alun Michael: That is a repetitive question. They are not the same at all. We are looking into the contribution made by civil servants and considering how to use core civil service staff appropriately; for instance, through improving quality by the more efficient delivery of IT. Rather than examining serious questions on the improvement of efficiency, the hon. Gentleman is just trying a cheap jab.

Animal Transportation

14. Mr. David Kidney (Stafford) (Lab): What plans she has to change the rules relating to the transportation of live animals. [185757]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): Following the failure earlier this year to agree new EU rules on animal welfare during transport, the Government's priority is now to ensure that the current rules are enforced properly in all member states.

Mr. Kidney: I continue to receive representations from constituents about maximum journey times and
 
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travel conditions for live animals, as may other Members and Ministers. The draft Animal Welfare Bill contains a new rule-making power, so is it the Government's intention to make new rules to provide for the more humane transportation of live animals in Europe, and will they do that whether or not they have the support of other EU nations?

Mr. Bradshaw: I share my hon. Friend's concern. We were deeply disappointed that, despite the best efforts of the Irish presidency and countries of a like mind to the United Kingdom, which wanted strict limits on journeys, we were unable to achieve a majority and that in fact the less welfare-minded countries were able to block any meaningful improvement on the status quo. However, we think that implementing the existing rules properly in a number of countries—not least the accession countries—will lead to a big improvement in animal welfare overall. My hon. Friend is right: the Animal Welfare Bill, which we published last week, introduces for the first time a duty of care, and will apply not only to pets but to all animals. That should help to improve animal welfare across the board.

Farm Produce

16. Mr. David Cameron (Witney) (Con): What discussions she has had with (a) the National Farmers Union and (b) other farming organisations about ensuring a strong domestic market for the produce of British farmers. [185759]
 
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The Minister for Rural Affairs and Local Environmental Quality (Alun Michael): All Ministers at DEFRA, including my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, regularly meet farming organisations, including the NFU. Our policies are designed to give farming a sustainable future, which will be helped by the hard-won reforms to the common agricultural policy.

Mr. Cameron: Does the Minister agree that the best friend of the British farmer is the well-informed British consumer insisting on quality British produce? Does he agree that it is difficult to insist on quality British produce without proper labelling? Will he explain the Government's position in principle on country of origin labelling and why they cannot do more in practice on supermarket pre-cooked meals, which often include produce from foreign countries where welfare standards are low and food is often pumped full of drugs?

Alun Michael: A well-informed consumer is certainly a good friend to the farmer. Another good friend is the Government, who have assisted the farming industry with their marketing. Consumers have responded positively to the many brands that are now identified as local and regional in this country, which has enabled many farmers to be successful. Linking farmers with their markets and what consumers want creates a two-way process between the consumer and the farmer, which is the best way forward. That approach underpins our plans for a sustainable future for farming and food.

 
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