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21 Jun 2006 : Column 1906W—continued
Badgers
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what trials of badger body snares are taking place; what the (a) objectives, (b) process and (c) procedures of the trials are. [76140]
Mr. Bradshaw: A study protocol for current work to assess the effectiveness and humaneness of a possible body snare designed to restrain badgers will be placed in the House Library. A full report of this work will be published following peer review.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many inquiries have been made to his Department about dealing with badgers causing damage in Castle Point in each of the last five years. [78181]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department keeps no central records of the number of inquiries it receives about badgers causing damage. However under section 10 of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, DEFRA has received 29 applications for licences to interfere with badger setts in the Castle Point area since 5 May 2001 when electronic recording of applications began.
These applications were received in the following years:
| Applications | |
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will visit Castle Point to examine the damage caused by the local badger population. [78182]
Mr. Bradshaw: I am grateful for the hon. Member’s invitation. However, I am already aware of concerns about damage caused by badgers in Castle Point. DEFRA wildlife advisers have advised on several occasions about the action which can be taken, and appropriate licences have been granted in some cases.
Bottle Production
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of how much energy is used to produce (a) plastic and (b) glass water bottles. [75563]
Ian Pearson: Neither Defra nor the Carbon Trust holds this information. Defra collects data on energy use by the food industry. However it is not possible to break down the data to the level needed to estimate the energy used to produce plastic or glass bottles for packaging spring or mineral waters. Energy use in producing bottles is, in any case, only one factor that needs to be taken into account—along with others such as transport, and re-use or re-cycling of materials—when assessing which type of packaging is the best sustainable option.
Bovine TB
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the specificity was of the gamma interferon test using the (a) standard purified protein derivative, (b) ESAT6 and CFP10 peptides and (c) ESAT6 and CFP10 peptides in combination with the standard purified protein derivative in research undertaken by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency; and what the confidence limits were in each case. [78918]
Mr. Bradshaw: The results of the trial to determine the specificity of the gamma interferon test undertaken by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, for the conditions listed above, were as follows:
(a) PPD-B minus PPD-A: 96.7 per cent. (95 per cent. Cl: 95.6 - 97.8)
(b) ESAT-6/CFP-10 peptides: 97.0 per cent. (95 per cent. Cl: 95.9 - 98.1)
(c) PPD-B minus PPD-A AND ESAT-6/CFP10 peptides combined: 99.2 per cent. (95 per cent. 01:98.6-99.8).
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what date the Gamma Interferon Working Group has been asked to report to Ministers; and what discussions members of the group have had with the Independent Scientific Group. [78305]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Gamma Interferon Working Group will provide Ministers with a progress report later this month. It will outline proposals for, and the scope of, the wider roll-out of the test later this year. In the meantime, Defra continues to apply the gamma interferon test in a range of prescribed circumstances.
Members of the Gamma Interferon Working Group have held various discussions with the Independent Scientific Group (ISG). The ISG has endorsed the group's proposals.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether the Gamma Interferon Working Group has been provided with the results of research by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency into the specificity of the gamma interferon test using the ESAT6 and CFP10 peptides in combination with the standard purified protein derivative; [78306]
(2) when research was completed by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency into the specificity of the gamma interferon test using ESAT6 and CFP10 peptides in combination with the standard purified protein derivative; and what reports have been produced on the subject. [78343]
Mr. Bradshaw: The study by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency into the specificity of the gamma interferon test in GB cattle was completed on 31 March 2006. A report was submitted to Defra and the Independent Scientific Group Secretariat on 19 April 2006.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department was first advised by the Independent Scientific Group to consider using the gamma interferon tuberculosis test in combination with the standard intra dermal skin test to identify bovine tuberculosis in the national herd. [78307]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) first advised the Department of the need for improved diagnosis, and of the potential value of the gamma interferon test to complement the tuberculin test, during the first half of 2000.
The ISG proposed a programme of study on gamma interferon to provide essential laboratory and field information. The Department subsequently sponsored a small feasibility study into the practicalities of using the gamma interferon test, and a pilot field trial was undertaken between October 2002 and October 2005.
Defra uses the gamma interferon test on an ad hoc basis in identified problem TB herds. About 9,000 tests were undertaken in 2005.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what cost-benefit assessment his Department has made of employing a gamma interferon test using ESAT6 and CFP10 peptides in combination with the standard purified protein derivative. [78344]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department has not conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the use of ESAT6 and CFP10 in combination with the standard purified protein derivative (PPD). Although the use of these more specific antigens may reduce the small numbers of false positive diagnoses, there is also some loss in sensitivity, that is, the chances of detecting truly infected animals. The available standard commercial assay uses PPD alone.
Carbon Emissions
John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel sources produced by (a) a gas-fired power station, (b) a coal-fired power station, (c) an oil-fired power station, (d) an electricity-only waste to energy incinerator and (e) a combined heat and electricity waste to energy incinerator. [77252]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 15 June 2006]: The amount of carbon dioxide generated by different types of power station, per kilowatt hour of electricity produced, is given in the following table.
Emissions from a combined heat and power (CHP) plant will be the same per unit of electricity generated as that of a conventional plant. However the heat generated by a CHP plant may be used to offset emissions that would otherwise be generated by additional energy used for heating. Good quality CHP plants typically offer an additional carbon saving of between 25 and 30 per cent. of that generated by conventional plants.
| Type of power plant | CO 2 (kg)/kWh electricity generated |
|
Unprocessed municipal solid waste to electricity and CHP (30 per cent. additional efficiency) | |
| (1 )Non-biogenic fraction only. | |
Electrical Goods
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to encourage electrical manufacturers to incorporate more recyclable materials in household electrical goods. [76750]
Mr. Bradshaw:
The waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directive is a producer responsibility directive, which aims to reduce the quantity of waste from electrical and electronic equipment and increase re-use, recovery and recycling. It requires member states to ensure that producers (or third parties acting on their behalf) set up systems to provide for the collection,
treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of WEEE. The directive sets out treatment requirements and recovery targets and it is the producer who is responsible for meeting these.
On 15 December 2005, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced a review of the policy on implementation of the WEEE directive. This review has now concluded, and the DTI will be consulting on the draft regulations and accompanying guidance shortly.
Additionally, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is currently completing a major research project to develop a process capable of removing brominated flame retardants from WEEE plastics. Under the requirements of the directive, brominated flame retardants containing plastics have to be treated separately from those not containing them. The project was led by Axion Recycling and has built on technology initially developed by the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany.
Fly-tipping
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Environment Agency has made of the change in the level of fly-tipping since 2001. [78248]
Mr. Bradshaw: No national data were previously available before Flycapture, the national database for fly-tipping incidents, was launched in April 2004. Every waste collection authority in England has now registered to submit data to the Environment Agency, with around 90 per cent. submitting regular returns. Results from the first year's data showed that an average of over 88,500 fly-tipping incidents per month were reported in the period April 2004 to March 2005. Data for 2005-06 are currently being analysed.
The Flycapture database should help us build up a more accurate picture of illegally dumped waste, as well as providing a useful management tool for local authorities in tackling the problem.
Local Authority Statistics
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what statistics his Department collects from local authorities on (a) litter, (b) fly-tipping and (c) clean streets. [78243]
Mr. Bradshaw: All local authorities (excluding county councils) submit annual data on the cleanliness of their areas through Best Value Performance Indicator 199a. Data are also collected through the Local Environmental Quality Survey of England run by ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns).
Waste collection authorities are required to submit data on fly-tipping via Flycapture, the national fly-tipping database established in April 2004.
Flycapture gathers summary data on the number of fly-tipping incidents dealt with by local authorities and the Environment Agency, as well as actions taken to deal with the problem. Every waste collection authority in England and Wales has now registered to submit data, with around 90 per cent. regularly submitting returns.
In addition, the internet-based system, WasteDataFlow, collects data on the amount of municipal waste collected by local authorities on a quarterly basis. This includes the amount of municipal waste arising from street cleaning and fly-tipping where this is collected under the control of the local authority: http://www.wastedataflow.org/
Renewable Energy
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether energy generated as a by-product of a mass-burn incineration plant is classed as a renewable energy source. [78245]
Mr. Bradshaw: The EU renewables directive classifies the biodegradable element of waste as a renewable energy source.
TB Losses (Compensation)
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the compensation level payable to farmers for lost stock due to tuberculosis is; how this has changed recently; and if he will make a statement. [78966]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 20 June 2006]: On 1 February 2006, a new table valuation-based compensation system was introduced for cattle owners in England, whose cattle are affected by bovine TB, brucellosis or Enzootic Bovine Leucosis.
Compensation in England is now determined primarily using table valuations, based on average market prices for 47 pre-determined cattle categories; these are based on the animal’s age, gender, type (dairy or beef) and status (that is, pedigree or non-pedigree). The relevant new procedures are covered in the Cattle Compensation (England) Order 2006.
Further information on compensation for bovine TB can be found on Defra’s website at: http://www.defra.gov. uk/animalh/tb/control/compensation.htm
Waste Management
Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the impact on waste management of (a) the introduction of recycling facilities and (b) mandatory bottle return and recycling schemes in supermarkets. [77522]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has been leading a £1.2 million project to help retailers pilot new ways of encouraging householders to recycle their waste at supermarkets. The project has looked at whether these new approaches, including the use of new technology in bring banks and incentives such as discount vouchers, could help bolster recycling rates and attract new recyclers.
A report on the success of this project will be available soon.
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of waste was recycled in each local authority in Yorkshire and Humber in each year since 2003-04. [78946]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 20 June 2006]: The percentages of household waste recycled and composted(1) by local authorities in the Yorkshire and Humber region in 2003-04 and 2004-05 are provided in the following table.
| Household waste recycled and composted in Yorkshire and Humber region | ||
| Percentage | ||
| Authority | 2003-04 | 2004-05 |
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