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Single Farm Payments
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress has been made in making single farm payments to farmers in Northamptonshire. [72937]
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many single farm payments have been made in (a) England and (b) Shropshire in excess of entitlements; and, in each case, by what aggregate amount. [74175]
Barry Gardiner: As at 23 June 2006 104,230 payments had been made in respect of Single Payment Scheme applications. This figure consists of full and partial payments. Work is continuing by the Rural Payments Agency to pay as many claims as possible using a variety of methods by the end of the payment window on 30 June.
Payments have been calculated and paid based on the number of entitlements established, including a substantial number of partial payments, where the payment was calculated on the basis of an estimated number of entitlements.
Details of payments made in England up to 30 June 2006, including by constituency and county, are not presently available but will be published in due course.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the chief executive of the Rural Payments Agency will receive a financial bonus for the complete payment of single farm payments. [76182]
Barry Gardiner: The chief executive of the RPA was replaced after advising Ministers that, contrary to earlier assurances, the bulk of 2005 Single Payment Scheme (SPS) payments would not be made by the end of March. The current interim chief executive, who is now responsible for turning the system around, will be eligible for a bonus payment at the end of this financial year subject to the achievement of challenging targets. These will be set in the light of his plans to improve the RPA’s performance and will certainly cover the administration of the SPS.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what payments have been made to third parties in relation to administering the Single Payment Scheme. [74071]
Barry Gardiner: The main third parties whose services have been used to set up the administration of the Single Payment Scheme are Accenture, Infoterra and Black & Veatch. Payments made to date to each of these companies are detailed as follows:
| Main third party | £ million |
In addition, the Rural Payments Agency has employed agency staff and consultants.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission regarding EU fines for not paying all of the Single Farm Payment by 30 June 2006; whether the deadline will be extended; and if he will make a statement; [79894]
(2) how much the European Commission will fine the UK Government for missing the 30 June 2006 deadline for Single Farm Payment if (a) 85 per cent., (b) 86 per cent., (c) 87 per cent., (d) 88 per cent., (e) 89 per cent., (f) 90 per cent., (g) 91 per cent., (h) 92 per cent., (i) 93 per cent., (j) 94 per cent., (k) 95 per cent., (l) 96 per cent., (m) 97 per cent., (n) 98 per cent., (o) 99 per cent. have been paid by the deadline. [79895]
Barry Gardiner: The end of the regulatory payment window for the 2005 Single Payment Scheme (SPS) is 30 June 2006. Discussions with the European Commission suggest that a formal extension to that window is unlikely, but those discussions will continue, focussed on the application of separate regulatory requirements on the EU funding of payments. As things stand, those requirements are, in summary, that where payments made after 30 June in any member state amount to 4 per cent. or less of what was paid out before that date, no reduction in EU funding will be imposed. For any amounts outstanding after 30 June over and above the 4 per cent. threshold, reductions will apply as follows:
| Month | Percentage |
Furthermore, where the 4 per cent. threshold hasnot been used by 15 October, it will be reduced to2 per cent.
Whether there is any reduction in EU funding ofUK 2005 SPS payments and, if so, how much will, therefore, depend on the amount and timing of any payments made after 30 June deadline across the UK.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on computer training for the systems to implement the Single Farm Payment. [79897]
Barry Gardiner: The expenditure on training in the new business processes and IT systems in the implementation and ongoing delivery of the Single Payment Scheme was £1,342,296.
Sovereign Strategy
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2006, Official Report, column 165W, on Sovereign Strategy, on how many occasions (a) he, (b) his predecessor and (c) other Ministers in his Department met (i) Alan Donnelly, (ii) representatives of Alan Donnelly and (iii) others about whom he was informed that they were representatives of Sovereign Strategy, regardless of whether they were acting in that capacity at the meeting, in the last 12 months. [80252]
Barry
Gardiner: There is no departmental record of any meeting
in the last 12 months between the
Secretary of State, his predecessor, or other Ministers, and
representatives of Alan Donnelly or Sovereign Strategy.
Special Advisers
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role is played by special advisers in answering parliamentary questions asked of his Department. [80647]
Barry Gardiner: Special advisers conduct themselves in accordance with the requirements of the code of conduct for special advisers.
Uplands Rewards Scheme
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the Uplands Reward Scheme provides for (a) appropriate staffing levels and (b) appropriate levels and mix of stock to maintain the integrity of the Uplands. [80701]
Barry Gardiner [holding answer 27 June 2006]: The consultation on the future upland reward structure closed on 22 May. We are currently considering responses. A mixed stocking option will be added to the Entry Level Environmental Stewardship Scheme this summer. This will encourage a mix of stock.
Water Companies
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of whether each of the regulated water companies is making a reasonable rate of return on capital as defined in the relevant legislation; and if he will make a statement; [81085]
(2) what assessment he has made of whether water companies are making excessive rates of return. [81583]
Ian Pearson: The Government recognises that companies have to earn a return on their capital and Ofwat has a duty to enable them to reasonably do so. At each price review, Ofwat must make a judgement about what is a reasonable return on capital to be allowed in price limits. If companies outperform Ofwat's assumptions at the last price review, then customers will share the benefit in their bills from 2010.
Rates of return earned by water companies in 2000-05 were lower than 1990-95.
Woodland
Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place for the protection of woodland in (a) South Swindon constituency and (b) the Great Western Community Forest. [82415]
Barry Gardiner: A number of measures are in place to protect woodlands in England including South Swindon and Great Western Community Forest. In particular the felling of woodland is controlled through the felling regulations. Additionally, many woodlands are subject to further controls where they lie within designated areas such as sites of special scientific interest or special areas of conservation.
Local planning authorities also have wide powersto protect trees and woodland by means of Tree Preservation Orders.
Where it is intended to fell trees and use the land for another purpose the proposals will be assessed under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) Regulations and consent for felling under these regulations may also be required from the Forestry Commission.
Planning Policy Statement 9 says that, for areas of ancient woodland that do not benefit from statutory protection, planning permission should not be granted for any development that would result in its loss or deterioration unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that location outweigh the loss of the woodland habitat.
Electoral Commission Committee
Mayoral Referendum
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued on the classification of expenditure on (a) gathering signatures for a mayoral petition and (b) campaigning for or against a mayoral referendum. [82995]
Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not issue guidance on the classification of expenditure for mayoral referendums as it has no statutory remit in respect of such referendums.
Party Accounts
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission what steps the Commission is taking to ensure compliance with the law on publication of party accounts; and how many constituency parties or associations of (a) the Conservative party, (b) the Labour party and (c) the Liberal Democrats complied in the last year for which information is available. [82534]
Peter
Viggers [holding answer 4 July 2006]: The
Commission informs me that it regularly communicates with registered
political parties to ensure that both they and their registered
accounting units comply with the law on submission of accounts. This
includes the provision of information, sending out reminder letters and
arranging meetings wherever necessary. Where the Commission feels
further action is necessary, officers from the Commission work with
individual parties in enhancing their financial reporting systems to
improve their ability to comply with the law.
Any registered accounting unit whose gross income or total expenditure in a financial year exceeds £25,000 is required to submit a statement of accounts to the Commission within three months of the year end if these are not required to be audited, and six months if they are. The Commission has no means of knowing, in advance, which accounting units will exceed the £25,000 reporting threshold in any given year.
In the year to 31 December 2004 (the last year for which information is available), the number of constituency parties or associations that submitted accounts were:
| Total submitted | Submitted on time | Submitted late | |
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the composition is of the British Provisional Reconstruction Team in Helmand Province. [82476]
Dr. Howells: The UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, consists of representatives of UK armed forces, the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development, and our embassy in Kabul drugs team. In addition, there are UK-funded advisers working in the fields of governance, police reform, and justice/rule of law. Multinational elements include military and civilian elementsfrom Denmark and Estonia and the US Agency for International Development, US Department forAgriculture and US State Department officials. The Afghan Government is represented by an official from the Ministry of the Interior.
Belarus
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial assistance the UK Government are giving to establish a free Belarus radio. [81847]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 4 July 2006]: Since1 November 2005, the UK, together with EU partners, has funded independent radio broadcasts into Belarus. The most recently launched project by the European Commission is to last for two years at the cost of€2 million. The project comprises TV and radio broadcasts from Poland, Lithuania and Germany into Belarus. It also provides funding for internet print media and training of journalists.
Bulgaria/Romania
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions Ministers from her Department have visited (a) Bulgaria and (b) Romania in the last 12 months. [82119]
Mr. Hoon: My right hon. Friend the then Minister for Europe (Mr. Alexander) visited Bulgaria and Romania on 5-6 February and visited Bulgaria again from 27-28 April to attend the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs also visited both countries on 8-10 May. I hope to visit later this year.
Burma
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of the percentage of the world’s uranium supplies which are in Burma. [82538]
Dr. Howells: The International Atomic Energy Agency online database of world uranium deposits lists no entries for Burma. The Burmese Government have identified five sites of uranium ore deposits, located at Magway, Taungdwingyi, Kyaukphygon (Mogok), Kyauksin, and Paongpyin (Mogok). Their official reporting can be found at: www.energy.gov.mm. The total quantity of uranium is unknown, but is likely to be very limited.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of whether the uranium produced and exported by Burma is the kind that can be used in the development of (a) nuclear weapons and (b) dirty bombs. [82539]
Dr. Howells: We are not aware of any exports of uranium from Burma. Burma maintains that its limited uranium production is for ongoing studies into the peaceful use of nuclear power.
Any uranium ore would have to be processed before it could be used in a nuclear facility. In particular, to be used in a nuclear weapons programme, uranium would have to be enriched to more than 90 per cent. U235. We are not aware of any enrichment facilities being operational in Burma.
Uranium is not an effective material to use inthe construction of a radiological weapon, or “dirty bomb”.
Corporal Gilad Shalit
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government’s policy is on Israel’s actions to secure the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit; and if she will make a statement. [82621]
Mr. McCartney: Israel has the right to take steps to secure the release of Corporal Shalit. Any military steps taken should avoid civilian casualties, abide by international law and observe the principle of proportionality. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the current situation in Gaza with Palestinian President Abbas and Israeli Foreign Minister Livni on 25 June. We are in regular contact with the Palestinian President and his office. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Corporal Shalit.
As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said on 25 June
“I was very disturbed to learn of this serious terrorist attack at Sufa. I send my condolences to the families of those Israeli soldiers who have died. Such continued violence makes the prospect of a negotiated, peaceful resolution more distant”.
Correspondence
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 16 May 2006 on Afghanistan and Iraq. [81452]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs(Mr. McCartney), replied to the hon. Member’s letter of 16 May on 29 June.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the UN peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [82058]
Mr. McCartney: The UN peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), MONUC, is the largest and most complex mission that the UN has managed to date. Its key tasks are to facilitate political transition and power sharing arrangements, deal with armed groups outside the political process and to protect civilians.
MONUC chairing aided the peace process since 2002 by brokering cease-fires and peace deals and the International Committee in Support of the Transition, which engages with the Congolese Government. Following MONUC’s support for a successful referendum last December, the country is set to hold its first elections since the 1960s. UN expertise and MONUC’s logistical support for this process have been crucial to making this possible.
MONUC operates in a dangerous and complex environment and has been mandated by the UN Security Council, under chapter VII of the UN charter, to support the Congolese Army to disarm those groups that are a threat to the peace process and to protect civilians from rebel attack. There has been considerable progress in dealing with armed groups, but attacks on civilians remain at an unacceptable level.
In 2004 a number of cases of sexual abuse and exploitation by UN peacekeepers and staff in the DRC came to light, raising serious concerns about MONUC’s management. After a thorough investigation by the Secretary-General’s special representative on the issue, a series of measures were introduced to combat the problem of sexual abuse and exploitation by UN peacekeepers across all UN missions. MONUC has stringently imposed these measures on UN staff and peacekeepers. We continue to keep MONUC’s performance under close review in all areas of its activity, through our Embassy in Kinshasa and through regular Security Council discussions.
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