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17 Nov 2005 : Column 1375W—continued
Bottled Water
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the number of litres of bottled (a) sparkling and (b) still water consumed in the United Kingdom in each year since 2002; and what percentage was supplied in (i) plastic, (ii) glass and (iii) other materials. [27887]
Jim Knight: It is estimated that 736 million litres of mineral water were consumed in the UK in the 12 month period starting in April 2003. This estimate is based upon records of consumer purchases from the Expenditure and Food Survey.
DEFRA does not collect statistics which distinguish between sparkling and still waters or the way water is packaged. However, figures published by Mintel in its Bottled Water Report of June 2003 indicate that 75 per cent. of bottled water in 2003 was still and 25 per cent. sparkling. In addition, 79 per cent. was packaged in plastic bottles, 20 per cent. in glass bottles and 1 per cent. in cans.
Bypasses (Aylesbury Vale)
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact of building bypasses upon the rural environment in Aylesbury Vale. [25937]
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Jim Knight: None. The responsibility for assessing the environmental impacts of proposed road schemes rests with the relevant transport planning authority, in this case either the local authority or the Highways Agency.
Cattle Passports
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on cattle passport fraud. [25308]
Jim Knight: The evidence we have on the incidence of serious offences committed under the Cattle Identification Regulations 1998 (as amended) concerning cattle passports is that it is low.
In order to ensure a high level of compliance with the Regulations, 10 per cent. of cattle farms are inspected annually by the Rural Payments Agency. In England, around 6,000 farms and around 960,000 animals are examined for their compliance with tagging, passport, database registration and record-keeping rules. The results show a continuing improvement in compliance with the rules-there were 4 per cent. fewer errors made in 2004–05 than in the previous year.
Local Authorities also undertake enforcement activities covering cattle, including unannounced inspections on farms, at livestock markets and during transport (by undertaking spot roadside stops). At slaughterhouses, the Meat Hygiene Service undertake checks on identification of cattle to ensure that only properly identified and traceable cattle enter the human food chain.
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Inspections are carried out on the basis of risk, with higher risk activities being inspected most. When non-compliance with the cattle identification rules is found, appropriate enforcement action is taken. This can range from advice, warning letters and restrictions on movements through to full prosecution resulting in prison sentences or fines. So far in 2005, 19 convictions have been obtained.
Education is as important as enforcement, and this year the Rural Payments Agency has sent two statements to all registered cattle keepers of their Cattle Tracing System (CTS) database records to encourage them to keep their records accurate and up-to-date. In April 2005, they issued clear and comprehensive guidance to all keepers in their Cattle Keeper's Handbook". The response to the CTS statements has been encouragingly high, all the more so for being voluntary, and taken together with the improvements shown in inspections, indicates to us that the cattle industry is keen overall to ensure that their animals are fully traceable and that compliance is good.
Common Agricultural Policy
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will release data relating to individual recipients in (a) Scotland and (b) Wales of payments under the Common Agricultural Policy. [27062]
Jim Knight: RPA released information on CAP payments relating to individual recipients in March 2005, supplemented by a further regional analysis in July 2005. The information covers those payments for which RPA is responsible and includes payments made under Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) schemes in England and under non IACS schemes throughout the UK. It did not include information about payments made under IACS schemes by the EU Paying Agencies in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
The disclosure of information held by other countries within the UK is a matter to be considered and decided upon by their devolved assemblies.
Departmental Estates
Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the director of building and estate management is in her Department; what relevant specialist qualifications he or she holds; and what the details are of her career to date. [26318]
Jim Knight: Defra's head of estates division is Michael Watkins. He joined Defra on 1 March 2004.
Michael Watkins holds a BSc in land administration and is a member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Prior to joining Defra Michael Watkins was employed by BAA Plc as head of asset management at Heathrow airport. He was formerly employed by a firm of managing agents in Westminster, by the Royal borough of Kingston upon Thames, Waverley borough council and the Metropolitan Police Service in varying property roles.
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Departmental Staff
Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the director of human resources is in her Department; what relevant specialist qualifications he or she holds; and what the details are of his or her career to date. [26320]
Jim Knight: Defra's director of human resources will be Francesca Okosi. She joined Defra on 3 February 2003 as director of the improvement and delivery group and will take up post as director of human resources on 1 December 2005.
Francesca Okosi holds an HMD in business studies and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and of the Institute of Directors. Prior to joining Defra Francesca Okosi was employed as director of human resources and consultancy services at the London borough of Brent, chief executive's department; and was formerly assistant chief executive of human resources and equalities, London borough of Merton and head of human resources strategy, London borough of Havering.
Endangered Species
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions have been brought in each of the last three years for illegal imports of endangered species, broken down by species. [28153]
Jim Knight: In 2002 there were two prosecutions:
Two defendants were found guilty of illegally importing 23 birds of prey; the species involved were:
Another defendant was found guilty of illegally importing 15 reptiles; the species involved were:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Tegu lizards | 4 |
| Uromastyx's | 2 |
| Varanus lizards | 4 |
| Pythons | 4 |
| Egg Eating snake | 1 |
There was one prosecution in 2004, the defendant pleaded guilty to the illegal import of seven primate skulls and one turtle skull.
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Farm Subsidies
Mr. Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements are in place to deal with full payments due to farmers under the Single Payment Scheme in 2005 not being made by the 30 June 2006 deadline. [24736]
Jim Knight: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is responsible for implementing the Single Payment Scheme and making payments in England. RPA is currently validating around 120,000 claims received to the 2005 scheme. RPA remains on course to commence payments in February 2006 and complete 96 per cent. of payments by the end of March, in line with announcements made at the start of the year. RPA's objective remains to complete payment on all valid claims by the end of the payment window on 30 June 2006. Any claims that cannot be resolved by 30 June 2006 will be paid as soon as possible after that date, once eligibility has been confirmed.
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will agree to the National Farmers Union proposal to increase the budget of the hill farm allowance to £50 million; and if she will make a statement. [28281]
Jim Knight: The current Hill Farm Allowance is due to finish at the end of the current England Rural Development programming period in 2006.
The Secretary of State gave a commitment on 22 April 2004 to consider how upland communities could receive appropriate support from rural development funds. Future arrangements are currently being reviewed in the context of the new EU Rural Development Regulation which will come into effect in 2007. The budget for the next ERDP is currently under negotiation in Brussels.
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