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10 Mar 2005 : Column 1931W—continued
Bird Control
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what notice she gave of her intention to alter the terms of general Licence WLF18 to include an obligation to consider appropriate non-lethal methods. [220443]
Mr. Bradshaw: Between 31 March and 14 July 2004 a pre-consultation exercise was undertaken by Defra on the review of general licences to kill or take so-called pest species" of birds. This pre-consultation, on a number of proposed changes to general licences, included reference to other satisfactory solutions, involved key interests and was also published on the Defra website. The pre-consultation document can be accessed via the following link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/bird-licence/index.htm.
The responses to the pre-consultation were carefully considered and further discussions took place between Defra officials and organisations representing shooting and conservation interests.
On 10 February 2005 I announced the removal of the house sparrow and starling from general licences. This was supplemented at the time by a press release and a table of proposed changes to be made to general licences. This included reference to a condition regarding the use of non-lethal alternatives.
The press release and table can be accessed via the following link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/050210a.htm.
On 9 March 2005 in order to clear up misunderstanding in relation to the obligation to consider appropriate non-lethal methods Defra altered the wording of the general licence condition to read,
This licence can only be relied on in circumstances where the authorised person is satisfied that appropriate non-lethal methods of control such as scaring are either ineffective or impracticable."
A press notice was issued and the revised licences were immediately published on the Defra website. A copy of the press notice can be accessed via the following link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/050309c.htm.
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultation she undertook before adding to the General Licence WLF18 the obligation for the authorised person to demonstrate that appropriate non-lethal methods are ineffective or impracticable. [220444]
Mr. Bradshaw: A pre-consultation exercise on the review of general licences to kill or take so-called pest species" of birds was undertaken in the summer of 2004. This pre-consultation, on a number of proposed changes to general licences, involved key interests and was also published on the Defra website.
The pre-consultation document can be accessed via the following link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/bird-licence/index.htm.
The responses to the pre-consultation were carefully considered and further discussions took place between Defra officials and organisations representing shooting and conservation interests.
On 9 March 2005 in order to clear up misunderstanding in relation to the obligation to consider appropriate non-lethal methods Defra amended the wording of the general licence condition to read,
This licence can only be relied on in circumstances where the authorised person is satisfied that appropriate non-lethal methods of control such as scaring are either ineffective or impracticable."
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she intends to issue to authorised persons under General Licence WLF18 on how they should assess whether non-lethal methods are ineffective or impracticable. [220445]
Mr. Bradshaw: On 9 March 2005 in order to clear up misunderstanding in relation to the obligation regarding appropriate non-lethal methods Defra altered the wording of the general licence condition to read,
This licence can only be relied on in circumstances where the authorised person is satisfied that appropriate non-lethal methods of control such as scaring are either ineffective or impracticable."
A press notice was issued and the revised licences were immediately published on the Defra website. A copy of the press notice can be accessed via the following link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/050309c.htm.
Cross-compliance
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from what date cross-compliance will take effect; when the first payments will be made under the Single Farm Payment Scheme; if she will make interim payments; what other relief will be available to farmers who receive delayed payments; and if she will make a statement. [218468]
Alun Michael:
Cross-compliance requirements for the Single Payments Scheme (SPS) apply from 1 January 2005.
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The payment window for SPS runs from 1 December 2005 to 30 June 2006. The Rural Payments Agency's objective is to maximise the number of payments made early within that window or to help farmers affected by the timing this year. It must be borne in mind that this is a year of major change in the payments regime, that we are dependant on confirmation of points of detail and that the IT arrangements to underpin the new system are also new. It is important to make sure that our systems are robust.
It should also be noted that farmers are likely to benefit from early payment in full, in future years. I am considering with my officials, what action can be taken to speed up payments this year or to help in other ways.
EU Emissions Trading Scheme
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons negotiations on the application to opt out of phase one of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme have been linked with those on the National Allocation Plan. [220718]
Mr. Morley: The EU Commission has made clear that they will not consider an application for temporary exclusion without a complete list of installations to which the application applies. It was therefore necessary that each operator made a final decision on whether to be included in the list before the application is put to the Commission. In order to make this decision, the operators needed as complete information as possible as to the extent of their installations' allocations. These allocations were announced on 14 February. This is the link between the national Allocation Plan and the application for temporary exclusion for Climate Change Agreement holders.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she has taken to ensure that a complete and definitive list of those installations wishing to opt out of phase one of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme is available; who she has consulted in compiling such a list; and when she expects the list to be available. [220721]
Mr. Morley:
Installation level allocations under the National Allocation Plan were announced on 14 February. Operators who are covered by the EU ETS and a Climate Change Agreement were asked to decide whether they wished to be included in the UK's application for temporary exclusion from EU ETS by
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4 March. The resulting list is now being compiled and checked through sector associations and will form part of the UK's application. We expect the application to be made before Easter and the list will be published at that time. A list of operators, whose installations are included in the UK ETS as Direct Participants and for whom temporary exclusion has already been approved by the Commission, is available on the UK ETS website.
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the impact on the UK of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. [219544]
Mr. Morley: Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIA) have been carried out throughout the implementation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. These are available on the Defra website (see link below). A full, final RIA is currently being drawn up and will be published alongside the final allocation decision.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechanqe/trading/eu/index.htm
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will press for the abolition of climate change agreements in Phase 1 of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. [220503]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 8 March 2005]: Climate Change Agreements are an important part of the UK's Climate Change Programme to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. They have proved very successful in improving energy efficiency in energy intensive industry, saving industry an estimated £450 million pa in energy costs. At the first target period, in 2002, the 44 sectors covered reduced their emissions of carbon dioxide by 16.4Mt. I have no plans to abolish them.
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