23 Jun 2005 : Column 1119W
 

Written Answers to Questions

Thursday 23 June 2005

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Aquatic Environment

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what work has been carried out (a) by and (b) on behalf of her Department to establish the background levels of fluoxetine in the aquatic environment. [4448]

Mr. Bradshaw: During 2002–03 the Environment Agency carried out a desk based ranking exercise on the 500 pharmaceuticals most commonly used in England and Wales in order to prioritise those of environmental significance. This exercise included fluoxetine, more commonly known under the trade name Prozac. A short, targeted monitoring programme was then set up for 12 pharmaceuticals. Fluoxetine was not included because no analytical method suitable for use on environmental samples existed and development of one would be difficult.

The top ranked antidepressant was lofepramine and this was included in the monitoring survey. Lofepramine was not detected in any of the five sewage works effluents or receiving watercourses monitored. However, it does not necessarily follow that the same would be true for fluoxetine.

The Environment Agency have developed a Position Statement on Pharmaceuticals—which can be found on the agency's website, www.environment-agency.gov.uk (search-pharmaceuticals). This elaborates further on the work done and includes a recommendation to the pharmaceutical industry to do more on the development of analytical methods for environmental monitoring. I am pleased that the Environment Agency is in discussion with the industry on the development of a work programme to cover the recommendations to industry listed in the Position Statement.

Fisheries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to preserve fish stocks in UK waters. [5396]

Mr. Bradshaw: There are a range of policies in European Union and UK legislation to protect fish stocks. The Government's response to the "net benefits" report which made a wide-ranging series of recommendations to secure sustainable fisheries in the waters around the UK will be published on 28 June 2005.

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have been prosecuted for fishing without a licence in London in each year since 1997. [5149]


 
23 Jun 2005 : Column 1120W
 

Mr. Bradshaw: The Environment Agency administers and collects the rod licence fee for England and Wales. Due to the constraints of their databases and the historic data recorded we cannot answer the specific questions, and have provided figures for the Thames region.

The Fisheries Offence Processing System (FOPS) database has only been live since the year 2000. Data prior to this date, for prosecutions was sourced from regional legal Departments.
Historic data sourced from the Environment Agency's regional legal Departments for all rod and line related offences prosecuted

Successful prosecutions in the Thames region
1997–98722
1998–99830
1999–2000883




Source:
The Environment Agency





Recent data sourced from the FOPS database for rod and line licence offences—fishing without a licence

Successful prosecutions in the Thames region
2000–01764
2001–02851
2002–03604
2003–04722
2004–05805




Source:
The Environment Agency




Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was collected in fines from people fishing without a licence in London in each year since 1997. [5259]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Environment Agency administers and collects the rod licence fee for England and Wales. Due to the constraints of their databases and the historic data recorded we cannot answer the specific questions, and have provided figures for the Thames region.

The fisheries offence processing system (FOPS) database has only been live since the year 2000. Data prior to this date, for prosecutions was sourced from regional legal departments.

Historic data sourced from regional legal departments for all rod and line related offences prosecuted.
Fines awarded by the court in Thames region (£)
1997–9830,200
1998–9937,936
1999–200042,517




Source:
The Environment Agency




Recent data sourced from the FOPS database for rod and line licence offences—fishing without a licence.
Fines awarded by the court in Thames region (£)
2000–0140,237
2001–0246,182
2002–0334,076
2003–0442,133
2004–0549,755




Source:
The Environment Agency





 
23 Jun 2005 : Column 1121W
 

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fishing licences have been issued in London in each year since 1997. [5278]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Environment Agency (EA) administers and collects the rod licence fee for England and Wales. Due to the constraints of their databases and the historic data recorded we cannot answer the specific questions, and have provided the figures for the Thames region.

The rod licensing administration database (RAD) database has only been live since the year 2000. The EA cannot source information for rod licence sales prior to this date.

Data sourced from the RAD for rod licence sales.
Rod licence sales in the
Thames region (£)
2000–01175,954
2001–02187,249
2002–03199,545
2003–04210,610
2004–05204,194




Source:
The Environment Agency




Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to tackle the poaching of fish. [5336]

Mr. Bradshaw: In 2003–04, the Environment Agency carried out a review of enforcement with respect to the more serious fisheries offences (those excluding the more straightforward acts associated with angling without a licence). It also spent £3.2 million on enforcement against serious fisheries offences.

In 2004 the Environment Agency issued 350 warrants to officers to enforce fisheries laws as per the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, which provides that an officer warranted by the Environment Agency as a water bailiff holds the powers and duties of a police constable.

The Environment Agency has established good relationships with police forces, having signed a memorandum of understanding with the Association of Chief Police Officers. This covers such matters as the sharing of intelligence, access to databases and mutual working arrangements. Contacts are also well established with the relevant Sea Fisheries Committee and, as locally appropriate, with the Sea Fisheries Inspectorate, HM Customs and Excise and/or the Department of Defence. Arrangements include cross-warranting of officers, sharing of equipment, exchange of intelligence and collaborative operations.
 
23 Jun 2005 : Column 1122W
 

Flood Zone Maps

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) discussions she has had with and (b) representations she has had from local authorities on the new Environment Agency maps of zones susceptible to flooding; and if she will make a statement. [6363]

Mr. Morley: Improved flood risk maps were published by the Environment Agency in October 2004 as part of a five-year programme of development and refinement.

Flood risk mapping is an important part of the our public awareness strategy, to ensure that flood risk is better understood by all concerned including people living and working in the floodplains and those responsible for development control and emergency planning.

We recently sought the views of a wide range of stakeholders on issues relating to flood and coastal erosion risk management as part of our "Making Space for Water" consultation. Local authorities responded on a wide range of issues including flood risk mapping. In general recent improvements to the flood risk maps were welcomed and suggestions were made on how they could be improved further. These views will be considered as part of the ongoing "Making Space for Water" programme. The responses are summarised on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/waterspace/index.htm.


Next Section Index Home Page