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20 Oct 2005 : Column 1104W—continued
Avian Influenza
20. James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on avian influenza. [19621]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Government have taken a number of steps and put in place new arrangements to detect avian influenza and to stop it spreading. We have a well developed contingency plan and controls in place to deal with any outbreak of avian influenza.
We currently assess the risk of AI entering the UK as low. However it is a developing situation and we are monitoring it closely as well as stepping up our work on surveillance , biosecurity and emergency preparedness.
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish her contingency plans to be implemented in the event of an outbreak of H5NI virus; what research her Department is funding to assess the pathogenicity of avian influenza; and if she will make a statement. [19230]
Mr. Bradshaw: DEFRA has recently reviewed and updated its contingency plans and, following a period of public consultation, the Exotic Animal Disease Generic Contingency Plan, which includes a section dealing specifically with an outbreak of avian influenza, was laid before Parliament on 21 July 2005. It is also available on the DEFRA website. In the event of an outbreak in GB the plan would be invoked immediately.
DEFRA supports a wide ranging programme of research on avian influenza (AI), costing approximately £460,000 per annum. The research is undertaken at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency which is the European Union reference laboratory for Al.
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The current programme of work includes studies to better understand pathogenesis and transmission of the virus. Some of the work is being taken forward to provide basic information about the virus and how it behaves in poultry; infectious dose, dynamics of transmission between birds and the influence of prior immunity are all being studied.
More fundamental studies are also in place to examine the role of viral genetics, that is how changes in the genetic structure of the virus may allow it to adapt to a new species or cause it to become more pathogenic or virulent. Other areas of study include the development of improved diagnostic tests, and work on viral survival better to inform risk assessments for trade and disease control purposes.
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to prevent the spread of avian influenza to the United Kingdom. [19608]
Mr. Bradshaw: We monitor the global situation in respect of outbreaks of notifiable diseases such as avian influenza. When a new outbreak is confirmed we carry out an assessment of the risk to the UK and liaise closely with the European Commission and other member states to decide what action is necessary to protect the UK. We act promptly in line with Community decisions to ban imports of animals and products from countries or parts of countries that represent a risk.
Climate Change
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research the Government have commissioned to ascertain whether recent severe weather conditions have been due to climate change as a result of carbon emissions. [19128]
Mr. Morley: An important part of DEFRA's Climate Prediction Programme at the Hadley Centre is specifically directed towards better understanding of how the frequency and intensity of severe weather events may be changing in response to changes in global climate, as a result of increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Recent research by Hadley Centre has shown for example that the European hot summer of 2003 was up to four times more likely to have happened because of the increased levels of greenhouse gases. Studies also suggest that the frequency of droughts and extreme rainfall events may increase overall in response to global warming although there will may well be local and regional variations. The effect of global warming on storminess is less clear but the Hadley Centre has recently published work indicating a significant increase in the number of severe storms over the UK as a whole since the 1950s, which may be at least partly related to global warming.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the Contraction and Convergence strategy for combating climate change. [19681]
Mr. Morley:
Certain aspects of Contraction and Convergence are appealing, including the identification of a fixed level for stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations, and comprehensive global participation. However, one key element of any future regime must be
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its workability and one particular concern with contraction and convergence is the question of how globally acceptable, and in consequence how workable, it would prove to be.
First, we do not yet see evidence that other key Annex I countries are likely to support this approach. The US has already indicated that it is opposed to a per-capita approach, and as the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, their inclusion will be vital if we are to solve the problem. Australia, Canada and New Zealand would also need to take on much more stringent targets under this regime. Many of the major developing countries, such as China, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil are approaching, or have passed the level that would be permissible for per-capita emissions, and would be forced to take reductions in the short-term if the scheme were implemented. They would be very unlikely to support the proposal as it would be seen as a curb on their development. Experts from these countries have shown some interest in alternative frameworks including an element of historical responsibility and capacity to act.
Second, the approach requires upfront agreement to a global stabilisation target, but many countries outside the EU are reluctant to discuss this. Logically, it would make sense to agree a stabilisation level and then from this the respective responsibility of each country would flow. However, the complexity of the issues and political reality is such that a sequential approach is unlikely. The UK is therefore pursuing a two-pronged approach—pressing for agreement on a long-term stabilisation limit while simultaneously maintaining pressure on countries to take ambitious short-term action to mitigate emissions.
Community Programmes
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on how the Community Action 2020 programme will be implemented in Oxfordshire. [17582]
Mr. Morley: Community Action 2020 (CA2020) aims to build on the good work many communities and their local authorities have carried out under the Local Agenda 21 initiative. It is part of the Together we can" programme for communities launched by my right hon. Friend Hazel Blears MP on 28 June this year.
CA2020 will enable and encourage wider community action by improving access to information, advice and assistance. This will enable local community groups to identify ways they can make a difference in delivering sustainable development.
We are exploring the best ways in which the information, advice and assistance given to communities on sustainable development can be improved. We are working closely with experts in the sustainable development and community sectors to explore this. We hope to work jointly with national and local bodies to provide new tools and methods of support for community groups. These will be applied across England and their take up will very much depend on the interest among local organisations.
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We are working closely with voluntary and community sector bodies nationally to strengthen support for local communities on sustainable development.
Our website offers helpful information and ideas which community organisations may like to use www.sustainable-development.gov.uk, and further details of the Community Action 2020 programme will be publicised here.
Departmental Expenditure
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total spending by her Department on (a) staff, (b) accommodation and (c) procurement in the (i) Moray constituency and (ii) Highland Region was for the most recent year for which figures are available. [14845]
Jim Knight: The staff employed in the Highland region 1 , which includes the Moray constituency, are not based in a DEFRA building. The costs of these staff, estimated on a standard cost basis, are shown in the following table, together with an estimate of accommodation overheads are based on a regional specific percentage of the staff costs. It is not possible to isolate procurement costs by constituency.
| (i) Moray | (ii) Highland region(1) | |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Staff | 135 | 1,749 |
| (b) Accommodation | 1 | 17 |
| (c) Procurement | n/k | n/k |
(1)The Scotland parliamentary constituency map was divided into three regions"; Highlands and Islands, Central Scotland and Borders. The Highlands and Islands region" that was used for this answer covers the following parliamentary constituencies:
Aberdeen North
Aberdeen South
Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine
Angus
Argyll and Bute
Banff and Buchan
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Dundee East
Dundee West
Fife North East
Gordon
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
Moray
Na h-Eileannan an Iar
Ochil and Perthshire South
Orkney and Shetland
Perth and Perthshire North
Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Stirling
Information on regional distribution of staff at 1 April 2004 is available in the Libraries of both Houses, and also at, http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_ information/statistical_information/statistics/contents_ for_civil_service_statistics_2004_report/index.asp.
Figures relating to 1 April 2005 will be published next year.
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Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total spending by her Department on (a) staff, (b) accommodation and (c) procurement in (i) Banff and Buchan and (ii) the North East of Scotland was for the most recent year for which figures are available. [14883]
Jim Knight: The Department does not employ any staff in the Banff and Buchan constituency. The staff employed in North East Scotland are not based in a DEFRA building. The costs of these staff, estimated on a standard cost basis, are shown in the table, together with an estimate of accommodation overheads are based on a Regional specific percentage of the staff costs. It is not possible to isolate procurement costs by constituency.
| (i) Banff and Buchan | (ii) NE Scotland(2) | |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Staff | 135 | 1,749 |
| (b) Accommodation | 1 | 17 |
| (c) Procurement | n/k | n/k |
(2)The Scotland parliamentary constituency map was divided into three regions"; Highlands and Islands, Central Scotland and Borders. The nearest approximation to NE Scotland was the Highlands and Islands region". This was used for this answer and covers the following parliamentary constituencies.
Aberdeen North
Aberdeen South
Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine
Angus
Argyll and Bute
Banff and Buchan
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Dundee East
Dundee West
Fife North East
Gordon
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
Moray
Na h-Eileannan an Iar
Ochil and Perthshire South
Orkney and Shetland
Perth and Perthshire North
Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Stirling
Information on regional distribution of staff at 1 April 2004 is available in the Libraries of both Houses, and also at, http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_ information/statistical_information/statistics/contents_ for_civil_service_statistics_2004_report/index.asp.
Figures relating to 1 April 2005 will be published next year.
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