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3 May 2006 : Column 1558W—continued
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Corporate Hospitality
David Simpson: To ask the Solicitor-General on how many occasions he has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months. [67517]
The Solicitor-General:
Paragraph 5.28 of the Ministerial Code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality.
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Vixen Tor Climbing Incident
John Mann: To ask the Solicitor-General when he expects the Crown Prosecution Service to report on the Vixen Tor climbing incident. [67928]
The Solicitor-General: CPS Devon and Cornwall discontinued this case on 25 November 2005, at Plymouth magistrates court. CPS Devon and Cornwall wrote to the complainants on 30 November 2005, explaining the decision. As a consequence of further correspondence, a further letter of explanation was sent on 28 April 2006.
WALES
Electoral Reform
11. Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on electoral reform in Wales. [66192]
Nick Ainger: My right hon. Friend and I receive many representations on electoral reform in Wales. The Electoral Administration Bill, currently being considered in another place, includes a wide range of measures aimed at improving the registration process, while also reducing the risk of electoral fraud and ensuring that elections are made more accessible to voters.
Police Force Restructuring
12. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on police force restructuring in Wales. [66193]
Mr. Hain: In line with HMIC's assessment, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I believe that an all-Wales strategic force is the most effective way of delivering a safe and secure Wales, protected against threats such as terrorism, serious and organised crime and drug trafficking.
Press Freedom
13. Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to ensure the freedom of the press in Wales. [66194]
Nick Ainger: Wales Office Ministers actively maintain contact with all sections of the media in Wales. We would obviously listen carefully to any concerns over press freedom that might be raised.
Engagements
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list his visits to Wales together with the purpose of each such visit since 1 January. [67598]
Mr. Hain:
On a weekly basis I meet with the first Minister and hold other ad hoc meetings in Cardiff. In addition to regular appointments and surgeries in my constituency, I have made the following visits:
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Olympic Delivery Authority
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and (b) the Welsh Assembly Government on the appointment of members of the Olympic Delivery Authority. [67912]
Mr. Hain: The Olympic Delivery Authority has a specific task, to deliver the Olympic Park, in Stratford, and associated infrastructure developments, in time for the 2012 Games.
Appointments were made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice.
The Nations and Regions Group has representatives from each nation and English region, and is charged with ensuring that the whole of the UK benefits from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Olympic Delivery Authority will be working closely with the Nations and Regions Group.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Agriculture (Sustainability/Climate Change)
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) the horticultural industry and (b) farmers on the environmental effects of their work. [65371]
Mr. Morley: The Department has had discussions with both the horticultural and farming industries on this subject.
The horticulture sector is making efforts on a number of fronts to reduce carbon emissions. Under the new Climate Change Agreement, growers will be entitled to an 80 per cent. discount on the levy provided they meet prescribed energy saving targets. Under the new Energy Scheme, it is possible for businesses to claim capital allowances on items such as thermal screens and insulation, variable speed pumps, certain heating equipment (including combined heat and power plant) and lighting. In addition, both Defra and the Horticultural Development Council carry out research
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into energy efficiency issues and the Carbon Trust (funded by Defra) provides advice and organises free energy services to assist in the identification of energy saving steps that can be implemented in nurseries.
The Government are very much aware of the link between farming and the environment. The Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food (SFFS) was launched in England in 2002 and sets out the basis for a new relationship in which Government works in partnership with the farming industry in England to make farmers more market, and less subsidy focused, while managing their businesses in more environmentally and socially responsible ways.
Achievements under SFFS include: CAP reform which, by breaking the link between subsidy and production, means there is no incentive to overproduce; the cross compliance element of the Single Payment Scheme where subsidies are linked to the delivery of environmental and animal welfare standards; the launch of Environmental Stewardship to which all farmers are eligible to apply to earn payments for undertaking environmental management of their land; and the launch of the Rural Developments Service Farm Advice Unit which oversees delivery of technical and environmental advice to farmers.
In addition, the Department is working closely with the agricultural industry to reduce it's contribution to climate change. The Department has set up the Agricultural Change and Environment Observatory to monitor, and where possible anticipate, changes in agriculture and at farm level, and to asses consequent implications for the environment. A Stakeholder Advisory Group has been set up with the aim of advising priorities for the work of the programme, providing feedback on emerging results and their implications, identifying new and emerging areas on which the Observatory could usefully focus their work and to provide a channel of communication with a wider stakeholder community. Further information can be found on Defra's website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/observatory/background.htm
A vital element of Defra's policy on agriculture and climate change is to raise awareness within the industry of the issues and possible actions to be taken. The Rural Climate Change Forum has been established to provide a high level forum for dialogue with Government, and authoritative advice and leadership to rural stakeholders.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the contribution made by (a) farmers and (b) horticulturalists in reducing UK carbon emissions. [65372]
Mr. Morley:
The agriculture and forestry sector contributes 7 per cent. of UK greenhouse gas emissions. The major focus is on non-CO 2 gases, with, in 2004, this sector accounting for 46 per cent. of methane and 66 per cent. of nitrous oxide emissions, but only 1 per cent. of the carbon dioxide. Annual total emissions fell by 22 per cent. between 1990 and 2004, with methane emissions reducing by 13 per cent., and nitrous oxide emissions by 17 per cent.
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The new UK Climate Change Programme, published March 2006, has assessed the role of the agriculture and forestry sector in addressing climate change and seeks to raise awareness of the issues across the sector and develop measures for the sector to allow it to play a full part in tackling climate change. Substantial savings are expected, assuming the proposed measures are implemented to their full potential.
The horticulture sector is also making efforts on a number of fronts to reduce carbon emissions. Under the new Climate Change Agreement, growers will be entitled to an 80 per cent. discount on the levy provided they meet prescribed energy saving targets.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken by her Department to work with farmers to reduce the impact of climate change on British agriculture. [65747]
Mr. Morley: On 7 February 2005 Defra held a seminar to help raise awareness in the stakeholder community, and identify potential practical adaptation strategies within UK agriculture to tackle the impacts of climate change. The outcomes from this event were fed into the first ever Joint Informal Council on Environment and Agriculture, held in September 2005 under the UK presidency of the EU. The joint meeting focused on the significant challenges and opportunities that climate change presents to European agriculture.
A vital element of Defra policy on agriculture and climate change is to raise awareness within the industry of the issues and possible actions to be taken. The Rural Climate Change Forum has been established to provide a high level forum for dialogue with Government, and authoritative advice and leadership to rural stakeholders.
The new UK Climate Change Programme, published on 28 March 2006 signals a step change in the recognition we are giving to the agriculture sector in addressing climate change. The new programme has assessed the role of the agriculture and forestry sector in addressing climate change and seeks to raise awareness of the issues across the sector and develop measures to allow it to play a full part in tackling climate change.
The UK National Adaptation Policy Framework is currently being developed. It will help to provide a more strategic approach to adaptation, identifying key risks and opportunities common across a number of policy areas and to coordinate approaches where possible. The first phase of the framework will be structured on a sectoral basis, and these sectors will include Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry as well as water resources, biodiversity and nature conservation. As the framework develops it will also reflect cross-cutting issues.
We are also committed to continuing to develop a robust evidence base in order to be able to support policy development and inform land managers of the best technologies and information available to help them adapt to climate change.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken by her Department to ensure the sustainability of British agriculture. [65748]
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Jim Knight: British farming is valued for the contribution it makes to the economy and to the environment, through producing our food, safeguarding and enhancing our landscapes, and increasingly to contribute to tackling the problems of a changing world—such as meeting our energy needs. Through the strategy for sustainable farming and food, the Government have put in place a comprehensive and long-term plan to deliver a profitable and sustainable future for farming in this country.
Key to successful delivery of the strategy is the partnership between Government and industry, based on a commitment to shared goals. Through this partnership much has already been achieved, including: the delivery of CAP reform which, by breaking the link between subsidy and production, will help bring farmers closer to their markets; the cross compliance element of the single payment scheme through which subsidies are linked to the delivery of environmental and animal welfare standards; the launch of environmental stewardship, for which all farmers are eligible to apply to earn payments for undertaking environmental management of their land; and launch of Partners for Success" a regulation and charging strategy for the farming sector, through which Government will continue to work with industry to regulate better and smarter.
An independent delivery group chaired by Sir Don Curry will continue to oversee and drive forward delivery of the strategy over the next three years.
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