---

10 Mar 2005 : Column 1938W—continued

Departmental Costs

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid by her Department to external companies for (a) flowers and (b) plants in each of the last five years. [216399]

Alun Michael: In the Department's regional offices, costs of plants and flowers are included under the general umbrella of grounds maintenance" on the various facility management contracts that are in place, and are not separately identifiable. There has not been any specific planting schemes undertaken in the last five-years beyond simple replacement of dead stock under contract. In London headquarters offices there has been a trend towards the provision of artificial plants to save on ongoing maintenance costs. There are now only two locations where live plants remain with ongoing maintenance charges of £2,566 per annum since the contract commenced in April 2004.

Rendering

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under what circumstances A2 permits under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 can be granted to rendering plants that have not obtained planning permission for their activities. [221333]

Mr. Morley: In accordance with regulation 10(4) of the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000, as amended, the requirement
 
10 Mar 2005 : Column 1939W
 
for planning permission before an A2 permit is issued applies to specified waste management activities defined in regulation 2(1). Animal rendering plants as defined in Section 6.8 of Part I of Schedule 1 to these Regulations do not constitute a specified waste management activity within the terms of regulation 2(1).

Shooting Licences

Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who was consulted by her Department prior to the publication of the orders varying the terms of a general shooting licence with respect to the shooting of pests. [220456]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 7 March 2005]: 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 regarding 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. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the amendments made to the open general licence for shooting of pest species. [220905]

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 theDefra 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.
 
10 Mar 2005 : Column 1940W
 

On 1 March 2005 the revised licences came into force.

On 2 March 2005 Defra issued guidance to clarify the requirements regarding appropriate non-lethal methods. The information bulletin can be accessed via the following link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/050302d.htm.

On 9 March 2005 in order to clear up misunderstanding in relation to the obligation regarding 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."

A press notice was issued, which can be accessed via the following link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/050309c.htm.

The revised licences can be accessed via the following link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/gen-licence.htm.

TREASURY

Tax Credits

17. Helen Jones : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of tax credits on family incomes in Warrington, North. [221082]

Dawn Primarolo: 8,600 in-work families in the Warrington, North constituency are benefiting from tax credits including 8,100 in-work families with children. Tax credits provide the most support to families on the lowest incomes and there are 4,000 in-work families with children in Warrington, north receiving more than the family element of child tax credit.

For example for a family in full-time work with one child tax credits and child benefit would mean an extra £103 a week, which together with the national minimum wage would mean that that family is guaranteed an income of £252 a week.

Unemployment

19. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on levels of unemployment in Wirral, South since 1997. [221084]

Mr. Boateng: The Government have put in place a broad range of policy reform since our election in 1997 designed to reduce unemployment in all parts of the UK. Since these policies were implemented, claimant unemployment has fallen by 62 per cent. while long-term and long-term youth unemployment have fallen by over 90 per cent. in the Wirral, South constituency.

Education

20. Mr. Plaskitt : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on spending plans for education. [221085]

Mr. Boateng: The Government regularly receives representations on spending plans for education.
 
10 Mar 2005 : Column 1941W
 

This Government are taking forward a programme of high investment in education and skills. From being £36billion in 1996–07, the education and skills budget for the UK stands at £63 billion in 2004–05, and is set to rise to £76 billion by 2007–08.

Government Staffing

21. Mr. Amess : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of central government staffing levels on the level of taxation. [221086]

Mr. Boateng: No assessment has been made on the effect of central government staffing levels on levels of taxation. The Government have delivered sustained increases in public spending in order to deliver significant improvements in public services. As part of this, we expect to see an increase in the size of the front-line service delivery workforce—in particular for key public services like health, education and criminal justice.

Administration cost limits set for Departments at the 2004 spending review will reduce central Government running costs as a proportion of total spending to a record low.

G7 Presidency

22. Mr. Lazarowicz : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on how he intends to further the millennium development goals at the G7 meetings to be held in April. [221087]

Mr. Timms: The conclusions on development, issued by G7 Finance Ministers following their February meeting, set out the G7 agenda of work on ways to accelerate progress towards the millennium development goals. We agreed that more needs to be done on debt relief based on our willingness to provide as much as 100 per cent. multilateral debt relief and that a substantial increase in oda is needed to meet the MDGs. We also agreed a work programme on the IFF, revenue proposals and other financing measures. Finally, we agreed that we must ensure that the Doha round of trade negotiations delivers substantial benefits to developing countries. We will discuss these issues again when we meet in April.

24. Mr. Savidge To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the UK's presidency of the G7 and progress towards the millennium development goals. [221089]

Mr. Timms: We know already that in September of this year, the UN millennium declaration review summit will find that progress towards the internationally agreed millennium development goals is too slow. During our G7 presidency, the UK Government will seek agreement on increased aid volume through an international finance facility, the provision of 100 per cent. multilateral debt relief and progress towards a freer and fairer global trade system to accelerate progress towards the goals. The Government will also press for progress on developing vaccines for Malaria and HIV/AIDS.
 
10 Mar 2005 : Column 1942W
 

---