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Written Ministerial Statements
Monday 24 October 2005
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Margaret Beckett): I have set the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) the following Performance Targets for 2005–06.
4. Achieve high standard of excellence based on indicators of scientific and technical quality with an overall score to exceed 75 per cent.
Further details are given in the CEFAS Business Plan for 2005–06, a copy of which has been provided to the Library of the House.
Central Science Laboratory
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Margaret Beckett): I have set the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) the following performance targets for 2005–06:
1. To recover the full economic cost of operation on a resource accounting basis, recognising the normal cost of operation.
2. To deliver the efficiency targets set out in the Business Plan, including the Gershon efficiency targets.
3. To make satisfactory progress with the Action Plan for enhancing science quality resulting from the 2001–02 Science Audit (including increase in SciSearch publications by 5 per cent.)
5. To manage the Agency in an effective manner, including delivery of e-Government and commercial exploitation or research outputs.
6. To achieve a minimum of 90 per cent. of project milestones in commissioned projects which supports DEFRA's objectives.
7. To achieve a mean score of 4.4 on a scale of 0 to 5 for the assessment of customer satisfaction using the revised methodology.
Further details are given in the CSL business plan for 2005–06, a copy of which has been provided to the Library of the House.
Pesticides Safety Directorate
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Margaret Beckett): I have set the Pesticides Safety Directorate the following Performance Targets for 2005–06.
2. To develop policy initiatives to reduce the negative impact of pesticides and to encourage alternative control measures.
4. To monitor actively pesticide use and limit illegal use by taking appropriate enforcement action.
6. To recover the full cost of operations from the industry and Defra, and achieve efficiency savings.
Further details are given in the PSD Business Plan for 2005–06, a copy of which has been provided to the Library of the House.
Veterinary Laboratories Agency
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Margaret Beckett): I have set the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) the following performance targets for 2005–06:
Further details are given in the VLA business plan for 2005–06, a copy of which has been provided to the Library of the House.
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Veterinary Medicines Directorate
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Margaret Beckett): I have set the Veterinary Medicines Directorate the following Performance Targets for 2005–06.
1. To authorise veterinary medicines efficiently, using good science, thus ensuring their safety, quality and efficacy, and in accordance with legislative requirements.
2. To ensure the field use of veterinary medicines is safe and effective by monitoring use by using best practice in pharmacovigilance.
3. To ensure the safe use of veterinary medicines authorised in the UK through surveillance of residues and follow-up action where misuse is detected.
4. To develop policy to ensure that veterinary medicines can be used effectively and safely and protect human health, animal health and welfare and the environment.
5. To seek to encourage the proper use of veterinary medicines and actively discourage improper use.
6. To develop the VMD to ensure it is fit for purpose and its vision and objectives are contributing to Defra's PSA Objective VI, as well as its overall vision and objectives.
Further details are given in the VMD Business Plan for 2005–06, a copy of which has been provided to the Library of the House.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Immigration Rules Change—Civil Partnerships
The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality (Mr. Tony McNulty): The Immigration (Procedure for Formation of Civil Partnerships) Regulations 2005 and the statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules [HC 582] will be laid today and copies will be placed in the Library.
The Civil Partnership Act 2004 comes into force on 5 December. At the same time as the Act comes into force, the immigration rules will be amended to ensure that civil partners and proposed civil partners are afforded the same treatment as spouses and fiancés.
Those subject to immigration control wishing to register a civil partnership will be required to demonstrate that they have:
In order to qualify for a certificate of approval applicants will normally need to have been granted over six months leave in the United Kingdom and have at least three months of that leave remaining.
To assist those wishing to give notice on 5 December the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will accept applications for certificates of approval and entry clearance for civil partnership from 14 November. Application forms will be made available on the IND website before this date. Applicants should not use the COA marriage application form as this will lead to their application being returned and may mean that we are unable to process the application on the correct form in time for them to give notice.
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We will aim to process and return applications received between 14 and 21 November ready for applicants to give notice at the earliest opportunity. However, we will provide this service only where the applicant qualifies for a certificate of approval.
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