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16 Nov 2004 : Column 1244W—continued
Bird Populations
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research is being undertaken on the population of ground-laying birds in moorlands and heaths; and if she will make a statement. [192207]
Mr. Bradshaw: A wide range of survey and monitoring is being undertaken on ground nesting birds in upland areas. The Breeding Bird Survey (jointly funded by British Trust for Ornithology, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) monitors annual trends of a number of upland species, while more detailed research on the ecology of grouse species being undertaken by the Game Conservancy Trust. Several studies on the ecology of upland breeding waders have been undertaken in recent years by RSPB and some universities.
Bovine TB (Deer)
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many comparative intra-dermal TB tests were carried out on (a) farmed and (b) park deer herds under the Deer Health Scheme in the last five years. [197319]
Mr. Bradshaw: To be eligible to join the Deer Health Scheme, applicants' deer herds must test negative to the tuberculin test and, to retain their membership, the herds must test negatively at 24 monthly intervals. Over the last five years, members' herds have been tested six times. The three deer herds currently in the Deer Health Scheme are all farmed.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) farmed and (b) park deer herds were (i) registered and (ii) not registered in the Deer Health Scheme in each of the last five years for which records are available. [197320]
Mr. Bradshaw: Over the last five years, membership of the Deer Health Scheme has declined from five members to three. Currently there are two members in Scotland and one in England. There are approximately 263 deer farms in England, 67 in Scotland and 33 in Wales. All the deer herds currently in the scheme are farmed.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations apply to the import into the UK of cervine embryos in relation to bovine TB; and what enforcement measures her Department has put in place. [197324]
Mr. Bradshaw: In England, cervine embryos are imported by licences made under the Animal and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations 2004 or the Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations 2004 and the Importation of Embryos, Ova and Semen Order (as amended) 1984. There is equivalent legislation applied to other parts of the UK.
The licence conditions include a request that the donor animals originate from a premises which, immediately prior to isolation at an approved collection centre, no clinical or other evidence has been recorded which leads to the conclusion that TB has occurred within the previous three years. Also, embryos intended
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for export to the UK must originate from a collection centre approved by an authorised veterinary officer of the competent authority of the exporting country.
In addition, all genetic material imported from a third country must enter the European Community via an approved border inspection post where the consignments undergo a series of veterinary checks.
The above statutory instruments are enforced by local authorities.
The likelihood of semen or ova from donor animals of domestic species being infected with TB is minimal. The World Organisation for Animal Health has published a "Categorisation of Diseases and Pathogenic Agents" by the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS). The IETS has categorised Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (cattle) as a category 4 disease on which preliminary work has been conducted or is in progress. Category 4 is made up of diseases/pathogenic agents for which transmission is considered a low risk.
Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what hourly rate of pay is payable to new employees under the pay offer being made by the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science. [193177]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 27 October 2004]: Under the April 2004 pay offer for CEFAS, the new hourly rates of pay (for existing as well as new employees) will depend on the grade of individual members of staff, and their position in the pay band associated with their grade. These range from £4.85 per hour to £25.78 per hour.
The pay bands, before and after implementation of the offer, are as follows.
A further change was made to the minimum of pay band 1 in October, to reflect the change to the national minimum wage. Five members of staff were affected. They were notified of the change in writing, and the new rates were paid in their October salaries.
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Cervine Embryos
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cervine embryos were (a) exported by and (b) imported to the UK in each of the past five years; and what the value was of the cervine embryo export industry in each of those years. [197325]
Mr. Bradshaw: Available information for the number of ampules/vials of cervine embryos exported from the UK is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 43 |
| 2000 | 306 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 3 |
The available information for the number of ampules/vials of cervine embryos imported into the UK is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 37 |
These figures are derived from computer based systems relating to import notifications and export health certification. The figures are subject to updating and amendment.
It is not possible to gauge the exact number of embryos involved as a ampule/vial may contain more than one embryo collected from the same donor animal.
Information on the value of cervine embryo exports is not available.
Chewing Gum
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is planning to tackle the problem of people dropping chewing gum. [197655]
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Alun Michael: The experience of local government and other public bodies, working with the Government, has demonstrated that there is no simple and immediate solution to this problem. That is why we have taken a joined-up approach to making a real difference. Last year I established a Chewing Gum Action Group which brought together chewing gum manufacturers, the Local Government Association, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns—formerly the Tidy Britain Group), the Department for Education and Skills, the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) and others.
The remit of the group is to tackle the irresponsible disposal of chewing gum using an integrated approach based on new research which we commissioned and concentrating on campaign activity, education, dissemination of good practice and more effective enforcement.
We will launch a public awareness campaign in the coming year with the aim of delivering the behavioural change needed to prevent gum being dropped in the first place. The group commissioned an extensive round of market research in order to understand 'gum droppers' and to enable the campaign to be as targeted as possible. The research was published on 1 November and can be viewed at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localenv/litter/index.htm.
The group is disseminating proven good practice, including innovative approaches to prevention and information sharing on tools and techniques for its removal, through the Improvement and Development Agency for local government website (IDeA).
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will penalise those councils who fail to implement the powers they have to clean up chewing gum. [197656]
Alun Michael: Chewing gum differs from normal litter in that it is very difficult and time consuming to remove once it becomes impacted onto a surface. Many authorities are doing an excellent job at finding innovative ways to remove gum and prevent its irresponsible disposal.
Under the current Code of Practice for Litter and Refuse, local authorities are under a duty to keep their land clear of litter and refuse. While chewing gum is included within this responsibility, it is clear that the difficulty and cost of removal is considerably higher in respect of gum that has been trodden in and has become a "stain".
The Government are looking at a variety of options to help local authorities tackle this problem. These include a public awareness campaign to be launched next year, and proposals in Defra's 'Clean Neighbourhoods' consultation to improve and streamline enforcement powers on chewing gum disposal.
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