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16 Feb 2006 : Column 2272W—continued
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Agriculture Budget
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the agricultural budget from the EU for the UK reached UK farmers in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005. [50685]
Jim Knight: The major category of budgetary expenditure, under pillar I of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), paid to producers is direct payments. Direct payments are paid directly to producers whose entitlement (prior to decoupling) was typically based on area of cropland or numbers of livestock.
According to the EU Commission's FEOGA—Garantie: Depenses documents total CAP expenditure in the UK was £4.0 billion in the 2004 budget year and £4.2 billion in 2005. Using the definition of 'direct payments' in the Commission's provisional draft budget for 2006, the share going on direct payments to producers was estimated to be approximately 82 per cent. in both 2004 and 2005.
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In addition producers gain from expenditure on market price support (largely export refunds and intervention purchasing and storage costs). Expenditure on market price support measures is paid to intervention agencies or exporters, however, producers benefit from the higher market prices generated by these market interventions.
Producers also receive expenditure on CAP pillar II measures (agri-environment schemes and rural development).
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the total agricultural budget of the EU reached farmers in the EU in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005. [50686]
Jim Knight: The major category of budgetary expenditure, under Pillar 1 of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), paid to producers is direct payments. Direct payments are paid directly to producers whose entitlement (prior to decoupling) was typically based on area of cropland or numbers of livestock.
According to the EU Commission's Provisional Draft Budget for 2006, total expenditure under the CAP was €43.3 billion in the 2004 budget year and €48.8 billion in 2005. Using the definition of 'direct payments' in the same source the share going on direct payments to producers was estimated to be 69 per cent. in 2004 and 68 per cent. in 2005.
In addition producers gain from expenditure on market price support (largely export refunds and intervention purchasing and storage costs). Expenditure on market price support measures is paid to intervention agencies or exporters, however, producers benefit from the higher market prices generated by these market interventions.
Producers also receive expenditure on CAP Pillar II measures (agri-environment schemes and rural development).
Animal Welfare Bill
Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2006, Official Report, column 298W, on the Animal Welfare Bill, if she will list the dates of each meeting held; who attended; and what matters were discussed. [51646]
Mr. Bradshaw: Since 2001 the Department has held numerous meetings on the Animal Welfare Bill with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the British Veterinary Association. Representatives of the Council of Docked Breeds have attended meetings relating to the docking of dogs' tails. It would not be practical to list the dates, attendees and matters discussed.
Avian Influenza
Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what precautions she recommends should be taken by owners of flocks of fewer than 50 birds to minimise risks associated with the spread of avian influenza; [52139]
(2) what mechanisms she is using to inform owners of avian flocks under 50 birds of their responsibilities in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza in the UK; and what advice she has provided to them. [52140]
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Mr. Bradshaw: Owners of all poultry flocks should follow the guidance on strengthening biosecurity measures set out in the leaflets, posters and advertisements that Defra has issued very widely.
We also recommend that owners of less than 50 birds should register their flocks under the GB Poultry Register. In the event of an outbreak, this will help us to communicate with them more effectively, to alert them and provide them with necessary guidance.
Bass Fishing
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect on charter boats in the South West of her proposal to increase the minimum length of bass that can be landed. [52333]
Mr. Bradshaw: Defra's Consultation on measures to increase the number and size of bass closed on 8 February 2006. The partial Regulatory Impact Assessment issued as part of the Consultation set out our assessment of the costs and benefits of the proposed measures and sought comments on this assessment.
There have been a large number of responses from stakeholders to the consultation, including from charter boat interests. Once an analysis of responses and the information provided has been completed, I will make an announcement on next steps.
Blueberries
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what was the total cost of imports of blueberries in (a) 2002 and (b) 2005. [51271]
Jim Knight: Blueberry trade is not recorded separately, it is recorded under the category 'other berries' which also includes, amongst others, blackberries, mulberries and loganberries. In 2002 the total value of imports for this category was £2.0 million. For the period January to November 2005 the total value of imports for this category was £5.0 million.
Bovine TB
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual Government expenditure on (a) farmer compensation and (b) testing and veterinary costs for bovine tuberculosis has been since 1998. [46732]
Mr. Bradshaw: The information is as follows.
(26) Testing was suspended due to foot and mouth disease
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Burma
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Government have spent on projects promoting wild bat surveys in Burma in the last five years. [52465]
Jim Knight: Defra's Darwin Initiative has funded one project on bat surveys in Burma in the last five years. This project was to provide a national database for bats from limestone karst areas, an action plan for cave bats, and management plans for key karst areas. The Darwin Initiative committed a total of £120,000 to this project, spread over three years to March 2005.
Climate Change
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2006, Official Report, column 1350W, on climate change, if she will list the other Government Departments with whom her Department has been working closely. [52637]
Mr. Morley: We have been working closely with other Government Departments through a number of ministerial groups, including; the Sustainable Energy Policy Network, the Ministerial Committee on Energy and Environment (EE) and the sub committee on Sustainable Development (EE (SD).
The Departments represented on these groups are:
Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her assessment is of the most cost-effective way to mitigate the projected climate change set out in the document Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change, published by her Department on 30 January. [50224]
Mr. Morley: The most effective way to mitigate the effects of climate change described in Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change is by a response as broadly based as possible. This needs to involve adaptation as well as emissions reduction. Emissions reduction should address all anthropogenic greenhouse gases and all economic sectors, including reduction of emissions from deforestation, and there should be enhancement of the uptake and storage of carbon by forests and soils. It will be most cost effective if action to limit and reduce emissions extends to the greatest possible number of countries, consistent with the principle of common but differentiated responsibility set out in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. The framework provided by the Convention and the Protocol will facilitate function of market mechanisms which promote cost effectiveness.
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