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Cattle Passport Scheme

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average period of late receipt was for applications refused on the grounds of lateness under the British Cattle Movement Service Cattle Passport Scheme in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will introduce a grace period to take account of delays in the postal service as a cause of lateness. [214601]

 
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Alun Michael: In the year 2004, the average period of late receipt for cattle passport applications was 207 days. This figure is surprisingly high, because of a fairly small number of applications that were received many months or even years late.

It may be more helpful to explain that 50 per cent. of applications that were refused because of late application were received up to seven days late. 8 per cent. were between eight and 14 days late. A further 18 per cent. were up to six months late. 24 per cent. were over six months late, including some that were several years late.

Approximately 20 per cent. of refused passports are subsequently issued following a successful appeal.

The British Cattle Movement Service allows appeals on the grounds of postal delay only if the applicant can prove by independent evidence that he or she posted the application in good time.

The Cattle Identification Regulations 1998 require that passports be refused when applications are received late. A comprehensive review of these regulations will be carried out shortly and possible changes to the procedures concerning late passport applications will be considered. However, it is important to maintain a system that encourages farmers to register cattle births promptly. The full and accurate traceability of cattle is essential for disease control, and for the protection of public and animal health and welfare.

Consultants

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total expenditure by her Department on all external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii)2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08. [211665]

Alun Michael: Defra came into being in June 2001. From information held centrally, the Department spent £30.012 million on all external consultants in 2003–04. On current information, estimated costs on all external consultants in 2004–05 will be approximately £25.8 million. Estimates of expenditure on all external consultants cannot yet be provided because the Department has not yet completed its business planning for the next financial years.

Countryside Access

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many existing agri-environment scheme holders who provided access for walkers under the scheme are now ineligible to receive payment as a consequence of their land being mapped for access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; and what the (a) area of land affected and the (b) effect on income of the agreement holders is. [214499]

Alun Michael: In the first three areas where the right of access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 has come into force there are 25 holdings with agri-environment open access agreements on land mapped as access land. These agreements affect some 471 hectares of land and attract payments of £23,549.50 per annum.
 
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In addition, there are 11 holdings with agri-environment linear agreements and one holding with an agri-environment disabled access agreement on land mapped as access land in the first three areas. These affect 6,731 metres and 1,618 metres and attract payments of £3,028.95 and £1,698.90 per annum respectively.

The Rural Development Service is in the process of renegotiating these agreements with the agreement holders.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in respect of how many hectares of land mapped in areas one to four of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 mapping procedure fall within the definition of section 15 of thatAct. [214500]

Alun Michael: The amount of land mapped under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 in areas one to three, that falls within the definition of section 15, is 49,348.4 hectares. The right of access has not yet come into force in area four but the latest estimate is that this will involve a further 39,397 hectares.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hectares of land mapped in areas one to four of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 mapping procedure are excepted land under Schedule 1 of that Act, as land the use of which is regulated by byelaws under section 14 of the Military Lands Act 1982 or section 2 of the Military Lands Act 1900. [214501]

Alun Michael: The total area of land mapped under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 in areas one to three—but excepted from the right of access by virtue of being regulated by byelaws under section 14 of the Military Lands Act 1982, or section 2 of the Military Lands Act 1900—is 27,337.3 hectares. The right of access has not yet come into force in area four but the latest estimate is that this will involve a further 11,968.6 hectares.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hectares of land mapped in areas one to four of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 has had a restriction or closure applied for under section 28 of that Act for defence or national security; and how many hectares have as a result had a restriction or closure granted under the provisions of the Act. [214502]

Alun Michael: The total area of land mapped under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 in areas one to three, which is subject to a restriction or closure under Section 28 of that Act, is 505.5 hectares. The right of access has not yet come into force in area four but the latest estimate is that this will involve a further 178.8 hectares.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the original estimate for the cost of the consultation, mapping and appeals and other associated costs for the implementation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 was; and what has been the actual cost to date. [214503]

 
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Alun Michael: Defra is funding the Countryside Agency, National Park Authorities and the Planning Inspectorate to implement Part I of the Act throughout the whole of England by the end of 2005. The Countryside Agency's estimate at the end of 2000 for its total costs in implementing the new right of access was £28 million over four years. The agency has so far spent £38.83 million, consisting of £0.75 million in 1999–2000; £0.92 million in 2000–01; £5.17 million in 2001–02; £8.30 million in 2002–03; £13.25 million in 2003–04 and £10.44 million to date in 2004–05. National Park Authorities have been allocated an additional £4.725 million, consisting of £0.875 million in 2002–03; £2.0 million in 2003/04 and £1.85 million in 2004–05. We have also funded the Planning Inspectorate to deal with appeals against the inclusion of land on provisional maps and restriction appeals of £0.11 million in 2001–02; £0.84 million in 2002–03 and £1.20 million in 2003–04. The Planning Inspectorate has spent £1.23 million in the current financial year. Local authorities have been funded to establish local access forums under Part V of the Act.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funds have so far been allocated to the Access Management Grant Scheme; how much to date has been spent; and how much will be available for the grant scheme proposed to run until 2006–07. [214504]

Alun Michael: £2 million has been allocated to the Countryside Agency for the Access Management Grant Scheme in 2004–05. £547,462 has been spent on the scheme to date, with a further £709,503 committed to fund access authorities for work which they are due to complete before the end of this financial year. The scheme has been extended to March 2007, but the level of funding for the next two years has not been finalised.

Dairy Farming

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she nextplans to meet dairy farmers to discuss farmgate prices. [216193]

Alun Michael: Price negotiation between producers and processors, or processors and supermarkets is a private commercial matter in which the Government cannot and should not get involved, provided competition rules are respected. However, Ministers frequently meet representatives from all parts of the dairy supply chain and are therefore aware of the issues.

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the averagefarm gate price paid to farmers in Lancashire for milk is. [216195]

Alun Michael: We have data covering the United Kingdom as a whole, but we do not hold milk price information for specific areas of the UK. The average price for milk delivered in December 2004 (the mostrecent month for which figures are available) is 19.12 pence per litre.

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average herd size is of dairy farms in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley. [216197]

 
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Alun Michael: The following figures show the average herd size in June 2003 on holdings where dairy was the predominant activity. The herd numbers include all cattle on the holding.

	Average herd size
(a) Lancashire (comprising Lancashire CC, Blackpool UA , Blackburn with Darwen UA)	168
(b) Chorley	144

Source:
June Agricultural Census

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