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Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what input she will seek from (a) hon. Members, (b) farmers and (c) conservation groups in developing a transparent process for making policy decisions on whether badger culling will form part of future policy for controlling bovine tuberculosis. [221278]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Government strategic framework for the sustainable control of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Great Britain was published on 1 March. Among other things, it sets out how policy decisions on wildlife controls will be reached.
The Government are committed to establishing a new advisory group on bTB to advise the Chief Veterinary Officer and Ministers on policy options and delivery developments, to co-ordinate action taken in England, Wales and Scotland and ensure that decisions at a national or regional level are made in accordance with the principles set out in the Framework. I envisage the new group will be in place by the end of 2005 with membership including those with farmed animal experience and conservation experience.
I expect hon. Members, including the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, will continue to be interested in the development of new policies in this area.
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the current incidence of bovine tuberculosis in Stafford constituency; and if she will take action to reduce such incidence. [221279]
Mr. Bradshaw: The information requested is not available on a constituency basis. Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) data is held by county or Animal Health Divisional Office area.
The incidence of bovine TB in cattle in Staffordshire in 2004 was 6.56 per cent. 1 . The corresponding figure for Great Britain in 2004 was 3.45 per cent.
Our aim to achieve a sustained reduction in disease incidence in cattle in high incidence areas, as well as slow down and prevent the geographic spread of bovine TB to areas currently free of the disease, forms part of our overall vision for the control of TB for the next 10 years. This is set out in the Government strategic framework for the sustainable control of bovine TB which was published on 1 March.
1 Incidence is defined as confirmed new herd incidents as a percentage of tests on unrestricted herds. Data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on the 8–11 March 2005. This is provisional data, which is subject to change as outstanding TB test and culture results become available.
Cetaceans
Norman Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the voyages since 1 January 2002 on which (a) her officials and (b) agency officials were present and witnessed
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dolphin by-catches in trawling nets; and what (i) documentary evidence was assembled, including photographs and videos and (ii) written reports were subsequently produced. [221562]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 14 March 2005]: As part of Defra-funded research into cetacean by-catch, the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) has placed observers on a range of trawl fisheries to monitor cetacean by-catch. By-catch has not been observed by any other officials and, to date, by-catch has only been witnessed by SMRU in the pair trawl fishery for bass. From 1 January 2002 to the end of the last fishing season for bass in spring 2004, observations were made covering 352 hauls in which a total of 207 dolphin casualties were observed. It is not possible to provide a list of voyages.
The full details of this research are set out in the following reports produced by SMRU for Defra, available via the Defra website:
A video was produced by SMRU as part of the work on the development of a dolphin exclusion device, reported above.
Full details of the results of this research were also summarised in the evidence presented by Defra to the House of Commons EFRA Committee Inquiry into cetacean by-catch and contained in the report published by this Committee in January 2004.
Chemicals (EU Authorisation)
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to discuss REACH during its EU Presidency; and if she will make a statement. [221788]
Mr. Morley: REACH is a priority for the UK Government's forthcoming EU Presidency. The Government are working very closely with the Luxembourg Presidency to ensure that substantial progress is made in the negotiations in 2005. Building on the work conducted to date both in the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, the two Presidencies will invest major efforts on the REACH Regulation with the aim of reaching political agreement by the end of 2005 based on an effective balance between economic, social and environmental considerations.
Climate Change
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2005, Official Report, column 1639, to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Tony Lloyd) on climate change, what the results were of her discussions with newly developing countries, with particular reference to those with substantial and growing energy needs; and if she will make a statement. [222461]
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Mr. Morley: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, together with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry jointly hosted a round table for the energy and environment Ministers from 20 countries, including the emerging economies, on 15–16 March.
This was an innovative event which enabled us to explore common ground and begin to build a shared agenda to tackle issues of access to energy for development, energy security, and environmental protection.
A summary of proceedings will be placed on the Defra and DTI websites shortly.
Countryside Stewardship Scheme
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Countryside Stewardship payments for 2004 have been paid. [221799]
Mr. Morley: Latest figures show that there have been 25,908 Countryside Stewardship Scheme payments made during the scheme year 2003–04. This figure represents some 97 per cent. of claims received.
Emissions
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons industries subject to the requirements of the National Allocation Plan are not exempt from the requirements of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. [220720]
Mr. Morley: Directive 2003/87/EC established the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Article 9 requires each member state to develop a National Allocation Plan (NAP) stating the total quantity of allowances that it intends to allocate and how it intends to allocate them to installations. The NAP is therefore an integral part of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Installations which are covered by the Directive must be listed in the NAP and cannot be exempted from the scheme unless they are temporarily excluded from the scheme under Article 27 of the Directive.
Fallen Stock
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have (a) signed up to and (b) withdrawn from the National Fallen Stock Collection Scheme since it was established. [221463]
Mr. Bradshaw: The National Fallen Stock Company Ltd. reports that in the first three months of the scheme operating just over 25,000 members had signed up to the scheme. In the corresponding period just under 500 members initially applied to join the scheme but withdrew their application before payment of the subscription fee was processed.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of the Fallen Stock Collection Service in Lancashire; and how many farmers are using the scheme. [221692]
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Mr. Bradshaw: The National Fallen Stock Company Ltd. reports that there are currently eight collectors registered to collect fallen stock under the Scheme in Lancashire.
Further information on the scheme as it applies to Lancashire is not available. However, the National Fallen Stock Company Ltd. reports that after just over three months of operation it already has over 25,000 members. Whilst acknowledging there have been teething problems with collection of fallen stock in some parts of the country, the National Fallen Stock Company reports that it is pleased with the response and that the scheme is generally working well.
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