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Policies (Environmental Impact)

Mr. Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many new policy proposals or significant changes in policy were produced in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; how many of these were screened for their environmental impacts; and how many were the subject of separate environmental appraisals. [185106]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) recognises that environmental assessment is essential to ensure that environmental sustainability is integrated into international development policy, planning and operations.

All DFID's development initiatives with a spend of more than £1 million are subject to environmental screening, which is also advised for projects of less than £1 million where there is a likelihood of significant environmental impacts. Where appropriate, screening will initiate a more comprehensive appraisal and assessment for policies, plans and programmes. The procedures, and guidance on the screening process, are detailed in DFID's Environment Guide (2003), which is available on the Department's public website www.dfid.gov.uk.

In the last year, the rate of application of environmental screening to projects has almost doubled (from 34 per cent. in 2002–03 to 62 per cent. in 2003–04), following a review and strengthening of the procedures. A new team has been established within DFID to monitor and strengthen these procedures.
 
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Public Relations

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the salary costs to the Department were for employees working in public relations and publicity in each year since 1997. [183843]

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Communication is integral to DFID's mission. DFID does not keep central records of all staff working on communications across the Department and this information could not be gathered without incurring a disproportionate cost for the years specified. Information on the press office is available from 1997 and is set out in the following table for all completed financial years to 2003–04.

	Number of press officers	Annual cost
1997–98	6	243,000
1998–99	4	240,000
1999–2000	3.3	100,000
2000–01	4.5	150,000
2001–02	4	148,000
2002–03	5	191,000
2003–04	6	230,000

ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Comptroller and Auditor General's Report

Mr. Heath: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission when the Speaker's Committee will publish the Comptroller and Auditor General's statutory value for money report to it for 2002–03 on the Electoral Commission. [186065]

Mr. Viggers: At its meeting on 14 July, the Speaker's Committee agreed to publish the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, which deals with the Commission's expenditure on its Public Awareness Strategy in 2002–03, as an Appendix to its First Report
 
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2004. This report has been laid before the House and published today, 22 July, as House of Commons Paper No. 924. Copies are available in the Vote Office.

Postal Voting

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what information he has as to when the Electoral Commission expects to publish its reports on the June 2004 all-postal pilot elections. [186438]

Mr. Viggers: I understand that the Commission has advised the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs of its intention to submit its evaluation of the June 2004 all-postal pilots to him on 27 August 2004. On this date the Commission will electronically publish on its website (www.electoralcommission.org.uk) all four regional reports as well as an overarching report. This will enable its conclusions to be available before Parliament returns from its summer recess in September.
 
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Printed copies of all the reports will be available from 13 September and the Commission will send a copy of each of the reports to every Member of the House.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

Departmental Staff (Upper Age Limits)

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Advocate-General whether her Department (a) has a set retirement age which applies to all or most personnel and (b) has a maximum age beyond which applications for employment will not be considered; and what the age is in each case. [186037]

The Advocate-General for Scotland: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland.
 
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ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Fish Stocks

1. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to preserve fish stocks. [185740]

Mr. Bradshaw: There are a range of national and EU measures in place to conserve fish stocks in our waters. Today I announced the Government's intention to seek a closure of the bass pair trawl fishery off South-West England.

Off-road Motor Cycles

18. Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to restrict the use of off-road motor cycles in (a) rural and (b) semi-rural areas. [185761]

Alun Michael: I recently consulted on a range of measures to tackle the problem of inappropriate use of off-road vehicles and to curtail inappropriate use of off-road motorcycles and other mechanically propelled vehicles on public rights of way. These proposals are relevant to both rural and semi rural areas. I shall respond to the consultative process and the views expressed in the near future.

Horticulture

19. Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on policy towards the horticultural sector. [185762]

Alun Michael: The Government welcome the contribution of horticulture to the UK economy. It is worth some £2 billion at the farm gate and supports substantial downstream activity in packhouses, processing and the garden industry. We will continue to work with the industry through the Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy, by funding research and development and through the England Rural Development Programme.

Access Rules Review

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made by the European Commission in completing the review of access rules referred to in Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002; and what the latest anticipated timescale is for the completion of this review. [184159]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 15 July 2004]: The Commission has sought and secured a delay in the production of a report into the effectiveness of access restrictions, which was originally intended to be made available by 31 December 2003. During 2003 and 2004, the Commission secured agreement on the scope of the review, established a scientific expert group to agree its
 
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terms of reference and established scientific expert sub-groups to conduct reviews and draft reports for evaluation of each access rule. The Commission's scientific expert groups first met in April 2004, the sub-groups are now preparing their reports. No revised timescale for the Article 19 review has been agreed, but the Commission's final report and corresponding proposals are expected before the end of 2004.

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) submissions and (b) representations have been made to her by the Scottish Executive in relation to the review of access rules referred to in Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002. [184160]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 15 July 2004]: In the course of routine business the Scottish Executive has made numerous written and oral representations to Defra on several aspects of the Article 19 review, concentrating on the implications of the review for the Shetland Box access arrangements. Representations from Scottish Executive have included views on the proper scope and timetabling of the review, the membership and terms of reference for the Commission's scientific expert groups, and the UK strategy for anticipating and handling proposals arising from the Commission's report, including effective stakeholder engagement and consultation.

The Scottish Executive provided Defra with detailed submissions on the effectiveness of the Shetland Box during the negotiations leading to the reformed framework regulation of the Common Fisheries Policy. No further submissions have been provided.

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) submissions and (b) representations she has made to the European Commission in relation to the review of access rules referred to in Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002. [184161]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 15 July 2004]: UK submitted written comments on the scope of the Article 19 review, made necessary analytical data available to the Commission and offered active co-operation in the establishment and membership of necessary scientific expert working groups.

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether, in relation to the review of access rules referred to in Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002, she intends to seek to justify the continued existence of the Shetland Box in terms of conservation and sustainable exploitation objectives. [184162]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 15 July 2004]: Yes, the UK agrees that the Shetland Box access conditions should be strengthened and updated but considers the Shetland Box arrangement to be a vital protection for an important ecosystem—and also believes its continuation is also justified in other terms.

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether, in relation to the review of access rules referred to in
 
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Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002, she intends to seek to justify the continued existence of the principle of relative stability in terms of conservation and sustainable exploitation objectives. [184163]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 15 July 2004]: No. The principle of relative stability is not being reviewed. Following working group discussions in 2003–04, it was agreed that the Article 19 review shall be limited to include the Shetland Box, the Plaice Box and certain access restrictions in the outermost territories of the Community.

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