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Single Farm Payments
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to assist farmers with cashflow difficulties arising from switching from IACS to Single Farm Payments; and if she will make interim payments to them. [217537]
Alun Michael: The Rural Payments Agency has announced that payments are planned to start from February 2006. I have asked my officials to look at any mitigating actions that might be possible to speed up any payments.
Soil
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the work of the task force on soil guidance values; and when she expects this group to report formally on the outcomes of their work and meetings. [218927]
Mr. Morley:
The Soil Guideline Values Task Force is an initiative of the Cabinet Office Business Regulation team and the Government Departments and agencies most involved in the publication of the Defra/Environment Agency soil guideline values and related materials. This technical guidance help in assessing risk
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to human health in connection with land contamination, for example when considering regulatory action or proposals for development of land.
In the interests of better communication with ail stakeholders the group now includes representatives from both local authorities and the private sector. It is looking at a number of issues including, training and awareness raising, timetables for further publications, and approaches to elevated ambient levels of some substances. We currently expect formal proposals from the group later in the year.
UN Environment Programme
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by whom her Department was represented at the annual ministerial planning meeting for the United Nations Environment Programme, held in Nairobi, on 21 to 25 February; what issues were on the agenda; what matters were agreed; what papers were submitted to the meeting by the United Kingdom; and if she will place a copy of the final agreement and papers submitted in the Library. [217832]
Mr. Morley: I represented the United Kingdom during the 23 governing council, global ministerial environment forum of the United Nations Environment Programme. The UK delegation also included officials from Defra, DfID,
FCO and the UK mission in Nairobi.
The ministerial consultations considered UNEP's contribution to the following themes:
Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger (millennium development goal one) within the context of environment;
Ensuring environmental sustainability (millennium development goal seven) together with policy issues related to water, sanitation and human settlements;
Promoting gender equality and empower women (millennium development goal three) within the context of gender and environment.
A non-negotiated president's summary was produced to capture the key elements of the ministerial consultations, which will form UNEP's contribution to the UN commission on sustainable development and the UN millennium review summit.
In parallel discussions formal decisions were taken on the following issues:
Strengthening environmental emergency response and developing disaster prevention, preparedness, mitigation and early warning in the aftermath of the Indian ocean tsunami disaster;
Agenda and location of the nine special session of the UNEP governing council, global ministerial environment forum.
The United Kingdom worked closely with its EU colleagues in all areas on the basis of papers tabled by the secretariat of UNEP and others, but did not table any papers of its own. The outcomes of the meeting highlighted that environmental sustainability underpins the achievement of the millennium development goals and the world summit on sustainable development targets in line with EU and UK objectives.
A copy of the decisions and the president's summary will be made available in the Library once formally issued.
Wheat
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of the two metre-wide strip on wheat farmers with regard to contamination from ergot and other weeds; and if she will make a statement. [218469]
Alun Michael: This cross compliance requirement allows regular cutting to control the growth of vegetation, it also includes an exemption which allows the spot application of herbicide for the control of weeds in the 2-metre protection zone. In cases of severe weed infestations, farmers can also seek the Rural Payments Agency's approval to use more rigorous weed control measures.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Renewable Energy Manufacturing Industry
12. Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to support the renewable energy manufacturing industry. [219473]
Nigel Griffiths: We are spending almost half a billion pounds from 2002–08 on emerging technologies. Money that has already been allocated from this includes: £117 million in capital grants for round 1 offshore wind farms; approximately £66 million for biomass capital grants; £331 million for solar; £12.5 million for the Clear Skies Programme; over £50 million for Renewables; around £19 million/year for industry led R and D: £4 million for research under the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's Supergen programme.
Globalisation
13. Mr. MacDougall : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to assess the impact of globalisation on UK manufacturing. [219474]
Mr. Alexander:
The White Paper Trade and Investment: Making Globalisation a Force a Good" published in July 2004 analyses the growth of globalisation and the challenges it poses. In the same month we published a review of the Manufacturing Strategy setting out a framework for action to address
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this and other challenges facing manufactures in the UK. It focuses on support for innovation and skills, and helping industry to produce smarter, higher value-added products. This message is reinforced in The DTI Five Year Programme, published in November 2004, which sets out the Government's approach to help British companies succeed in today's challenging global economy.
Energy Supply (Security)
14. David Hamilton : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the security of energy supply for the UK. [219475]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The market is delivering secure energy supplies, and we expect it to continue to do so.
For example, we are seeing plans being brought forward for new gas import pipelines and infrastructure to import liquid natural gas.
There are also signs that the market is already thinking about the need for new build to meet future demand. For example, E-On recently announced plans for an upgrade of its generating facility on the Isle of Grain.
Competition
15. David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to assist UK-based companies in competing against companies in China. [219476]
Ms Hewitt: The DTI Five Programme and Manufacturing Strategy Review set out a framework for action to help British companies succeed in today's global economy, including responding to challenge from emerging economies such as China.
My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister chairs the China Task Force, set up following the Prime Minister's visit to China in 2003, which has produced a range of recommendations to strengthen our commercial performance in China.
16. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to assist UK companies in competing with companies in emerging economies, with particular reference to India and China. [219478]
Mr. Alexander:
The Government are fully aware of the challenges from emerging economies. That is why in 2002 we brought together industry and other stakeholders to develop the Manufacturing Strategy, the first from any Government in over 30 years. We are building a consensus on the challenges that lie ahead and have set out a framework for action to address them in the original Strategy document and the Strategy review published in July last year. This message is reinforced in The DTI Five Year Programme, published in November 2004, which sets out the Government's approach to help British companies succeed in today's challenging global economy.
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