| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
14 July 2006 : Column 2180W—continued
Departmental Staff
Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many disabled staff in his Department received support through the Access to Work scheme (a) in each of the last five years and (b) in 2006-07. [82226]
Barry Gardiner: Defra does not hold information centrally on the use of the Access to Work scheme. Managers access the scheme directly and liaise with their local service provider.
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2006, Official Report, column 152W, on departmental staff, how many members of staff in his Department had two or more periods of sick leave of less than five days in 2003 and 2004. [84030]
Barry Gardiner: Information on sickness absence in DEFRA in 2003 and 2004 at the level of detail requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Electrical Appliances (Stand-by Mode)
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his most recent estimate is of the annual level of UK carbon emissions resulting from electrical appliances being left in stand-by mode. [84073]
Ian Pearson: The most recent analysis of the energy consumption of equipment in households and commercial properties was undertaken by DEFRA’s Market Transformation Programme (MTP) last year. This estimated that the level of carbon emissions resulting from electrical appliances left in stand-by mode was just over one million tonnes of carbon per annum.
The report, “Estimated UK standby Electricity Consumption in 2004 (BNXS36)” can be found at: http://www.mtprog.com/ApprovedBriefingNotes/BriefingNoteTemplate.aspx?intBriefingNoteID=393
MTP is currently in the process of updating this information.
FIFA World Cup
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which matches (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department attended at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany in their Ministerial capacity; at what cost to public funds; and with what contributions from third party organisations. [83625]
Barry Gardiner: Neither the Secretary of State nor any Minister in Defra attended any matches at the FIFA World Cup 2006.
Fly-tipping
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimates for fly-tipping incidents recorded by Flycapture were for 2005-06. [85709]
Mr. Bradshaw: Results from Flycapture, the national fly-tipping database, for the first year 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 and will be published shortly. No estimates are available.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under what circumstances the biotechnology company, organisation or person holding a consent to market a genetically modified organism (GMO) would be considered an “operator” under the terms of the Environmental Liability Directive; and whether the marketing consent holder would be liable for environmental harm arising from the use of a licensed GMO by doctors, veterinarians or farmers. [84479]
Ian Pearson: The definition of an ‘operator’ in the Environmental Liability Directive means that a biotechnology company and an organisation marketing a genetically modified organism (GMO) would be regarded as an operator for the purposes of the Directive.
Under the Directive, operators are, in principle, liable for environmental harm caused by their own actions. However, the way that this liability will apply in practice will be dependent in part on decisions following the outcome of the consultation on transposition of the Directive, which the government will be conducting later this year.
Whether any individual marketing consent holder would be liable for environmental harm arising from the use of a licensed GMO would be dependent on the individual circumstances of the case, in particular the nature of the relationship between the consent holder and the user, and how the environmental damage occurred.
Ivory
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the (a) control of ivory stock piles and (b) reopening of the trade in ivory. [81928]
Barry Gardiner: The UK has been closely involved in the debate surrounding proposals for one-off sales of stockpiled ivory, through our involvement in the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES).
(a) CITES has placed a number of strict preconditions that have to be met before one-off sales of ivory stock can take place. In addition the proceeds have to be used exclusively for elephant and community conservation projects within, or near, the areas where the elephants reside. The UK will not support the proposed one-off sales if we are not entirely satisfied that the strict conditions have been met.
(b) The international ban on trade in ivory remains firmly in place and is fully supported by the UK Government. We remain clearly of the view that the illegal and unsustainable trade in ivory should not be permitted. We will not support any resumption in the commercial trade in ivory until we are satisfied that this will not result in an increase in the illegal killing of elephants, or undermine the conservation of elephant populations elsewhere in the world.
To assist any considerations I have asked the International Fund for Animal Welfare to prepare estimates of the cost of improving conservation measures to combat elephant poaching commensurate with ensuring that any stimulus that such one-off sales of stockpiled ivory might give to the black market trade would be more than offset by the improved conservation.
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the plans under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species for a one-time sale of ivory stocks. [82158]
Barry Gardiner:
The UK continues to be closely involved in the debate surrounding calls for one-off
sales of stockpiled ivory, through our involvement in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The convention has set a number of strict pre-conditions that have to be met before one-off sales of ivory could take place. In addition, parties to CITES have stated that the proceeds would have to be used exclusively for elephant and community conservation projects within, or near, the areas where the elephants reside.
The UK will continue to work with EU member states and CITES parties so that no decision to allow the proposed one-off sales can take place unless the strict conditions I have referred to have been met.
To assist any considerations I have asked the International Fund for Animal Welfare to prepare estimates of the cost of improving conservation measures to combat elephant poaching commensurate with ensuring that any stimulus that such one-off sales of stockpiled ivory might give to the black market trade would be more than offset by the improved conservation.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will oppose proposals for sales from the ivory stockpile at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Standing Committee meeting on 2-9 October 2006; and if he will make a statement. [84285]
Barry Gardiner: The one-off sales were agreed in principle back in 2002 at the 12th CITES Conference of Parties but the Parties set a number of strict pre-conditions that have to be met before one-off sales of ivory can go ahead.
This will be discussed at the next CITES Standing Committee in October and the UK will continue to work with EU member states and CITES parties so that no decision to allow the proposed one-off sales can take place unless the strict conditions I have referred to have been met.
To assist any considerations I have asked the International Fund for Animal Welfare to prepare estimates of the cost of improving conservation measures to combat elephant poaching commensurate with ensuring that any stimulus that such one-off sales of stockpiled ivory might give to the black market trade would be more than offset by the improved conservation.
Levy Boards
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he will make a formal announcement on the reconstitution of the UK levy boards. [84098]
Ian Pearson: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement made by my noble Friend, Lord Rooker, the Minister for Sustainable Farming and Food on the levy boards on 28 June 2006, Official Report, column 61WS.
Morecambe Sea Defences
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been allocated to Morecambe Sea Defence Scheme for the latest phase of work. [85035]
Ian Pearson: The final two phases of the Morecambe Sea Defence Scheme were approved in October 2005. The approved grant eligible cost is £13.8 million.
North Sea (Carbon Sequestration)
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the potential for carbon sequestration within abandoned North Sea fields; and if he will make a statement. [84275]
Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 50W.
Nuclear Waste
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the burial of nuclear waste on the environment around the site of burial. [84235]
Ian Pearson: The independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), which was appointed by the Government in November 2003, has considered existing research into the environmental effects of the disposal of nuclear waste. The options CoRWM is considering include the geological disposal of radioactive wastes. It will publish its report at the end of July.
Palm Oil
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will carry out a study into the feasibility of producing an emblem to show which foods are not being produced using palm oil. [83093]
Barry Gardiner: Defra actively encourages manufacturers and retailers to improve the use of claims and labels to cover the environmental impact of their products.
However, as palm oil is used in a very wide range of goods, from food to personal care products, and each of these products falls under a different and complex piece of labelling law, it is currently not practical to demand individual products to be labelled. Instead we are focusing on the level of wholesale suppliers and supporting initiatives such as the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) which has developed criteria to assess sustainable palm oil production.
For information on the RSPO go to: http://sustainable-palmoil.org/
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many parliamentary questions tabled to his Department were
awaiting a reply on 10 July 2006; which of those had been waiting longer than (a) two and (b) three weeks for a reply; and what the reason for the delay was in each case. [85204]
Ian Pearson: At 10 July Defra had received 5,031 parliamentary questions:
4,035 were ordinary written;
747 were named day; and
249 were Commons orals.
We had 141 questions awaiting reply, of which 126 had been waiting longer than two weeks and 15 were waiting longer than three weeks.
We aim to give Members a substantive response to any named day question on the named day and to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of them being tabled. This is not always possible, but Ministers are keen to hold the Department to these levels of performance in general.
Patio Heaters
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will estimate the (a) carbon dioxide and (b) greenhouse gas emissions created by outdoor patio heaters in (i) the most recent year for which information is available and (ii) each of the next five years. [84065]
Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 6 June 2006, Official Report, column 500W to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans).
Pet Fairs
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to change the regulations relating to the sale of pets at pet fairs and other informal markets. [84415]
Mr. Bradshaw: Our proposal to license pet fairs is detailed in the Regulatory Impact Assessment which was published alongside the Animal Welfare Bill. The Bill is currently being considered by Parliament.
The Department will consider any implications that the findings of the recent Judicial Review may have on our proposals to regulate pet fairs. We also intend to undertake a full public consultation before any regulations in this area are made.
Poultry Farmers
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) market conditions for the poultry industry in the UK and (b) the level of consumer confidence in poultry. [82713]
Barry Gardiner: Sales of poultry remain high in this country and the market is recovering generally across the EU. The Government and particularly their relevant agencies, continue to reassure the consumers of the food safety aspects of poultry products. Consumers have been rational in terms of consumption of poultry and eggs, helped by clear advice from the Food Standards Agency.
Regulatory Simplification
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulatory simplification proposals his Department has received since the start of the initiative; which stakeholders have been consulted on each proposal; and if he will make a statement. [81032]
Ian Pearson: Since the launch of the Government's regulatory simplification initiative on 15 September 2005, the Department has received 44 proposals from 21 organisations including the National Farmers Union, Construction Products Association and GlaxoSmithKline. Of these, 28 relate to or have implications for environmental regulations. Where appropriate, the Department has carried out further consultation with stakeholders on these proposals.
The Government are engaging with stakeholders from private, public, and voluntary sectors as part of a radical programme of reform to reduce unnecessary and burdensome regulation. The Government welcome suggestions from stakeholders for regulatory simplification.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |