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5 Jul 2005 : Column 242W—continued
Devolution
9. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent devolution issues the Advocate-General has considered. [8173]
Mr. Darling: Since 7 June, the Advocate-General has had 55 devolution issues intimated to her. 43 of these were concerned with civil matters. Most of the civil cases concerned prison conditions. Of the 12 criminal matters raised, four concerned pre-trial delay. The Advocate-General has not considered it necessary or appropriate to intervene, at this stage, in any of the devolution issues intimated to her since 7 June.
Integrated Energy Policy
10. John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive regarding the development of an integrated energy policy for Scotland. [8174]
David Cairns:
Scotland Office Ministers and officials are in regular contact with the Scottish Executive on a wide range of energy-related matters.
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Identity Cards
12. Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Home Office and the Scottish Executive on the introduction of identity cards in Scotland. [8176]
Mr. Darling: I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and the First Minister on a number of issues.
Local Income Tax
13. David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the implications for the rest of the UK of the introduction of a local income tax in Scotland. [8177]
David Cairns: Scotland Office Ministers have regular discussions on a range of issues with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
G8 Summit
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure lasting beneficial effects for Scotland following the G8 summit. [8175]
Mr. Darling): The G8 Summit is a real opportunity for Scotland to showcase its many attractions to a world audience and demonstrate our expertise in hosting major events. I am also confident that, by the end of the UK's presidency of the G8, Scotland will have given a significant boost to the drives to make poverty history and to secure our environment for future generations.
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his assessment is of the implications for Scotland of the G8 summit to be held in Gleneagles. [8179]
Mr. Darling: Hosting the G8 Summit is a real opportunity for Scotland to showcase its many attractions to a world audience and to demonstrate our expertise in hosting major events. I am also confident that, by the end of the UK's presidency of the G8, Scotland will have given a significant boost to the drives to make poverty history and to secure our environment for future generations.
Economic Performance
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss Scotland's economic performance. [8178]
Mr. Darling: I meet my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer regularly to discuss a range of issues. The Scottish economy continues to benefit from the economic stability delivered by this Government.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Antibiotics (Animals)
Norman Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the use in animals of antibiotic
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substances also used in human medicine, with particular reference to (a) amoxicillin, (b) tetracycline and (c) clindamycin. [9479]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 4 July 2005]: In October 2003 VMD and the Department of Health prepared lists of all antimicrobial compounds authorised in the UK for use in humans and animals (species noted against each entry). The lists are available on the VMD website www.vmd.gov.uk.
With specific reference to the antimicrobial ingredients amoxicillin, and clindamycin, and the antimicrobial class of tetracyclines, the following table details the animal species in which these antimicrobials are also authorised for use.
The Government recognise that antimicrobials are essential medicines for ensuring the good health of both humans and animals. Controls are in place to safeguard the proper use of antimicrobials and to minimise the development of resistance that can make products less efficacious.
Antimicrobial veterinary medicinal products may only be used under the direction of a veterinary surgeon on animals in his care and this ensures they are used only when necessary and that advice on use is available to theanimal owner to minimise the development of antimicrobial resistance.
A Code of Practice on the Responsible Use of Animal Medicines on the Farm has been produced by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and is available at their website. There are also a number of guidelines available concerning the responsible use of antimicrobials in livestock that have been produced by the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA).
Carbon Emissions
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much carbon was emitted by (a) aircraft and (b) cars in the UK in the last period for which figures are available. [9032]
Mr. Morley: The answer is as follows:
(a) Emissions from aircraft in the UK in 2003 are shown for (1) carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in million tonnes carbon dioxide per year (MtCO 2 /yr), and (2) the Kyoto basket of greenhouse gases (GHG) in million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent per year (MtCO 2 eq/yr). These figures are from the most recent official UK greenhouse gas inventory.
The data cover emissions from all civil domestic passenger and freight traffic movements inside the UK. Under guidelines agreed internationally, emissions from international aviation taking off and landing at UK
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airports are not included in UK total emissions, but are estimated for information purposes. Emissions of CO 2 and all greenhouse gases from international aviation in 2003 are estimated to have been 29.7 and 30.0 MtCO 2 eq/yr respectively.
(b) Similarly, CO 2 and GHG emissions for cars in 2003 are:
For all road transport the figures are:
Cetaceans
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations the Government have made to the (a) EU Council and (b) EU member states for increased levels of protection for cetaceans; and if she will make a statement. [8642]
Mr. Bradshaw: Following pressure from the UK for community wide action Council Regulation 812/2004 establishing measures to address the incidental bycatch of small cetaceans was adopted by the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in March 2004. Earlier this year Iasked the European Commission to extend the UK prohibition on pair trawling within 12 miles of the south west coast to vessels from other member states with historic rights of access to the 6–12 mile zone. I sought support for these measures from the French Minister for fisheries. This request was subsequently rejected by the Commission.
At the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in March 2004 I secured a commitment from the Commission to conduct a review this year of existing bycatch data to determine whether further action is needed. ICES (The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) has recently published its review of data at http://www.ices.dk, which will now be considered by the Commission.
I will continue to promote and support measures to protect cetaceans.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has commissioned into marine noise pollution, with particular reference to the impact on cetaceans; and whether she plans to address this issue in forthcoming legislation. [8904]
Mr. Bradshaw: The UK is a signatory to ASCOBANS (Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas). At the 4th Meeting of Parties in 2003, Resolution 4.5 invited Parties and Range States to conduct research into the effects on small cetaceans of acoustic disturbances.
In October 2004, the Department let a contract to the Zoological Society of London to assess the feasibility of researching induced anthropogenic acoustic damage to cetaceans in British waters through the detailed examination of the auditory apparatus of stranded or by-caught animals.
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As well as furthering the objectives of ASCOBANS, the work will also form a valuable contribution towards the UK's cetacean biodiversity action plans which call for studies into the effects of underwater sounds on cetacean species.
The Department also contributes to the Inter Agency Committee for Marine Science and Technology and a Crown Estate initiative which includes sound research and development in relation to piling noise for wind farms.
The Department would need to assess the results of research before considering whether legislation is the best mechanism to deal with any potential problems of marine noise pollution with regard to cetacean life forms.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of marine noise pollution on (i) marine mammals and (ii) other marine life; and if she will make a statement. [9104]
Mr. Bradshaw: The UK is a signatory to ASCOBANS (Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas). At the 4th Meeting of Parties in 2003, Resolution 4.5 invited Parties and Range States to conduct research into the effects on small cetaceans of acoustic disturbances.
In October 2004, the Department let a contract to the Zoological Society of London to assess the feasibility of researching induced anthropogenic acoustic damage to cetaceans in British waters through the detailed examination of the auditory apparatus of stranded or by-caught animals.
As well as furthering the objectives of ASCOBANS, the work will also form a valuable contribution towards the UK's cetacean biodiversity action plans which call for studies into the effects of underwater sounds on cetacean species.
The Department also contributes to the Inter Agency Committee for Marine Science and Technology and a Crown Estate initiative which includes sound research and development in relation to piling noise for wind farms.
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee has produced guidelines for minimising acoustic disturbance to marine mammals for seismic surveys (available from www.jncc.gov.uk). It is a legal binding condition of the consent issued for seismic surveys under regulation 4 of the Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001 by the Department of Trade and Industry that the JNCC guidelines must be followed at all times for all seismic surveys.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on marine noise pollution in UK waters. [9105]
Mr. Bradshaw:
The Department has recently received one representation on marine noise pollution in UK waters. The Department is involved in discussions on marine noise pollution at the international level through
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the agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS) and the Oslo Paris Convention (OSPAR).
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she plans to take through the International Whaling Commission to seek greater protection for cetaceans. [6825]
Mr. Bradshaw: We will continue to maintain our opposition to all forms of whaling other than some limited subsistence whaling. The UK strongly supports the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling and our major objective will be to resist any attempt to lift the moratorium.
The UK will support the creation of regional whale sanctuaries and the continuation of existing ones. We will also continue to oppose so called scientific" whaling and seek to raise welfare issues at every suitable opportunity, highlighting the cruelty involved in whaling.
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