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14 Feb 2006 : Column 1809W—continued
Citizens Juries
Mr. Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions her Department consulted citizens' juries on departmental policies in the last five years; in how many of those consultations the recommendations of the citizens' jury differed from existing departmental policy; and on how many occasions departmental policy was changed to reflect the recommendations of the citizens' jury. [46243]
Jim Knight: As part of the 'GM Nation?' public debate on genetically modified crops and food, a number of organisations set up citizens' juries to consider the issues and contribute to the debate. The outcome from such juries and hundreds of public meetings informed the advice from the independent GM debate steering board set up by the Government. This advice was taken into account in determining the Government's GM policy statement published in 2004.
In 1999 there was a national consensus conference organised by UK CEED to discuss a way forward with radwaste management which included expert witnesses, including Defra, giving evidence to a Citizen's Panel of 12. The panel then produced a report called Final Report of the UK National Consensus Conference on Radioactive Waste".
Climate Change Consultation
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the consultation responses received by the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions following the publication of the draft UK Climate Change Programme 2000. [51749]
Mr. Morley: A summary of responses to the consultation on the draft UK Climate Change Programme 2000 can be found on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/pubs/ukccp/draft/response/01.htm.
Common Agricultural Policy
Daniel Kawczynski:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her French counterpart to ensure that
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British and French farmers are treated equally in (a) monetary and (b) commercial terms under the common agricultural policy. [50105]
Jim Knight: The CAP exists in the context of the single market. It functions according to rules fixed for the EU as a whole and negotiated collectively when periodical reviews and reforms occur. Such reforms took place in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and are scheduled for 2006 and 2008–09. We held and will hold discussions with the French Government as part of these reforms.
Departmental Assets
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the items of departmental property worth over £100 that have been reported as (a) lost and (b) broken in the last 12 months. [47683]
Jim Knight: It is the policy of DEFRA its agencies, non-departmental public bodies and, where appropriate, its sponsored organisations to make financial redress in accordance with the guidance set out in Chapter 18.7 and Annexes 18.1 and 18.2 of Government Accounting.
The information you requested is set out in the following table:
For information on thefts of items valued over £100 from DEFRA buildings, for the period 1 January to 31 December 2005, I refer the hon. Member to my earlier response on 1 February 2006, Official Report, column 519W.
Departmental Catering Budget
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much and what proportion of her Department's catering budget was spent on fair trade produce in the last period for which figures are available. [49914]
Jim Knight: From information held centrally, total turnover through Defra's catering facilities was £1,636,300 for the period January 2005 to December 2005 inclusive. Of this amount, £459,000 (28 per cent.) is accounted for by fair trade produce.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on the procurement of fair trade produce for consumption on its premises. [49925]
Jim Knight:
The department policy on the procurement of fair trade produce is that farm assured produce, organic food and fair trade products should be promoted and all feature on the menu on a daily basis.
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Contracts are measured against this requirement. All hospitality beverages (teas, coffees and chocolate) served within Defra premises is fair trade produce.
The hon. Member may wish to refer to the Defra website where further detail can be found in the Catering Services Food Procurement Toolkit": which is designed for the use of Public Sector organisations. http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/toolkit.htm. Pages: 6, 16, 37, 38, 79, 93, and 129. refer to fairly traded produce.
Departmental Regulations
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many regulations from her Department came into force in each year since 1996–97. [49169]
Jim Knight: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) was formed in June 2001 as a result of the merger of the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. Relevant agencies and non-departmental public bodies were also absorbed into the new organisation.
The following table identifies the number of statutory instruments which fall within scope of Defra's activities and that came into force between 8 June 2001 and 31 December 2005. The figures include new regulations and amending regulations which concern technical or clarifying amendments to existing regulations.
| Number of Defra SIs coming into force | |
|---|---|
| 2001(4) | 54 |
| 2002 | 128 |
| 2003 | 115 |
| 2004 | 146 |
| 2005 | 153 |
(4) 8 June to 31 December
From 2006 Departments are required to publish an annual list of forthcoming legislation it expects to introduce in that year. Defra published its 2006 list on 31 January and this can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/regulat/regulat.asp-forthcoming.
Digital Television (Energy Efficiency)
Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she has issued to digital television (a) broadcasters, (b) manufacturers and (c) retailers on the energy efficiency of digital television appliances. [50223]
Mr. Morley: Defra has worked closely with the Department for Trade and Industry and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport—who have lead policy responsibility for digital switchover—through the Digital TV Group to identify the projected increases in energy consumption arising from digital switchover and to identify actions for mitigating these increases.
My Department, via the Market Transformation Programme (MTP), by proactively working with the European Commission and service providers to develop and encourage sign up to the EU Code of Conduct for Digital TV Services which sets energy efficiency
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standards for digital TV equipment, has been able to help mitigate projected increases from service providers such as BskyB, by around 400,000 TC per annum.
I have also written to all the major digital TV broadcasters, service providers and retailers urging them to sign up to the EU Code of Conduct, including for terrestrial digital TV equipment.
Defra, via MTP, has also been working closely with the Energy Saving Trust to extend it's successful Energy Saving Recommended product labelling scheme to include Integrated Digital Television (IDTVs) sets. To be endorsed, IDTVs have to conform to a challenging set of energy performance criteria in both standby and on-mode functions. In addition, purchase of an IDTV now will negate the necessity to install a set top box, thus achieving additional energy savings. In its first month, three manufacturers have registered a total of 20 products with the scheme.
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