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Dogs
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) American pit bull terriers, (b) Staffordshire bull terriers and (c) American Staffordshire terriers are owned by residents in (i) the constituency of Hammersmith and Fulham and (ii) England; and if he will make a statement. [88056]
Mr. Bradshaw: The terms “American pit bull terrier” and “American Staffordshire terrier” are sometimes used to describe pit bull terriers which are prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Some people have been allowed to keep these dogs by adding them to the list of exempted dogs set up under the 1991 Act. Figures for legally held pit bull terriers, which have been described as American pit bull terriers and American Staffordshire terriers are available. However, no records are kept on the numbers of Staffordshire bull terriers as they are not a specified dog for the purposes of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
The following table gives the numbers:
| Legally held dogs under section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 | ||
| Number | ||
| Hammersmith and Fulham | England | |
| (1)
For the purposes of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, an American
Staffordshire terrier is a pit bull terrier type dog. The figures
reflect the type names as provided by the
owners. | ||
Mr. Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will undertake (a) an assessment of and (b) a public consultation on the merits of (i) encouraging and (ii) requiring dogs to have identifying microchips implanted at birth for the purposes of improving animal welfare. [87760]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Local Government Act 1988 repealed the old dog licence on the grounds that it cost more to administer than the revenue it produced. Recent information shows that there has been very little change in the population of dogs and the number of straying dogs since 1988. There is no evidence to suggest that the opinion of dog owners has changed and that any new scheme introduced would be adopted.
We currently have no plans to reintroduce a dog licence, or to introduce requirements for dogs to be microchipped. Responsible dog owners voluntarily undertake having their pets permanently identified and registered on nationwide databases. We also continue to support voluntary identification. The effectiveness of dog licensing was also limited by the fact that in the last year licenses were administered, only 44 per cent. of owners applied for their licence.
Energy Crops
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many tonnes of each category of energy crop were cultivated in (a) 1999, (b) 2002 and (c) 2005; and what estimate he has made of production of each energy crop in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2012; [89161]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to promote the cultivation of energy crops. [89162]
Paddy
Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent
estimate he has made of the level of energy crops available for biomass
energy generation; and what steps he is taking to increase it.
[88438]
Ian Pearson [holding answers 25 July 2006]: Information on the cultivation of energy crops is only available for crops planted under DEFRA’s Energy Crops Scheme. The first plantings were in 2001 for short rotation coppice (which is harvested on a three-year cycle) and 2002 for miscanthus (harvested annually from the second year). Based on actual plantings from 2001-05 and forecasts prepared in 2005 for plantings in 2006-09, based on industry estimates at that time, and assuming average yields of 9 and 14 tonnes per hectare for short rotation coppice and miscanthus respectively, the estimated yields are as follows:
| Estimated yields | ||
| Oven dried tonnes | ||
| Short rotation coppice | Miscanthus | |
However, actual planting will depend on commercial decisions by growers and is likely to be influenced by the nature of contracts and support which are available.
The Government currently provides support to help establish energy crops, develop supply chains, and create end-use markets. The Government set up a Biomass Task Force in 2004 to identify the barriers to developing biomass energy, including energy crops, and to recommend ways to overcome the problems. The Government’s response to the Task Force report was published in April 2006 and sets out 12 key initiatives and over 60 associated actions to help realise optimum use of biomass as a resource. These measures include agreement in principle to support energy crops under the new Rural Development Programme for England, further grant support for biomass supply chains, a capital grant scheme for biomass boilers, a commitment to consider using biomass in the Government estate, and the establishment of a new biomass energy centre to provide expert information and advice to industry and the public. We also intend to publish a UK Biomass Strategy in the coming year.
Support for miscanthus under the new Rural Development Programme for England is subject to clarification of issues with the European Commission which remain to be resolved.
EU Food Designations
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many successful applications for the European Union's (a) Traditional Speciality Guaranteed designation, (b) Protected Geographical Indication designation and (c) Protected Designation of Origin status have been made by (i) the UK and (ii) each of the European Union member states since the designation's inception. [88777]
Barry
Gardiner: The number of successful applications made by
(i) the UK and (ii) each of the
EU member states for the three designations under the European Union's
Protected Food Names Scheme since its inception is as
follows:
| (a) Traditional speciality guaranteed | (b) Protected geographical indication | (c) Protected designation of origin | |
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps have been taken to encourage UK food producers to apply for the European Union's (a) Traditional Speciality Guaranteed designation and (b) Protected Designation of Origin status. [88779]
(2) what steps have been taken to encourage UK food producers to apply for the European Union's Protected Geographical Indication designation. [89060]
Barry Gardiner: For a number of years now we have been actively seeking to raise awareness about the European Union's Protected Food Name Scheme and encourage more UK applications. The scheme provides a means for farmers to add value to their produce and market it in a more imaginative way, particularly given consumers' growing interest in food with a clear regional provenance. Promotion of the scheme forms part of our wider strategy of support for the quality regional food sector.
DEFRA has written to a large number of trade associations and producers to remind them of the economic benefits to producers of achieving protected name status. We have also written to a large number of trade associations and producers to remind them of the economic benefits to producers of achieving protected name status.
In addition, the Department has held positive meetings with a number of key organisations including the National Farmers Union, the Country Land and Business Association, the Meat and Livestock Commission, the British Pig Association and the Milk Development Council to discuss possible applications.
We have also commissioned research to determine the awareness, perception, and attitudes towards, the EU protected food name schemes among UK retailers available on the DEFRA website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodrin/foodname/reglocal/adasresearchpdo.pdf and contributed to press articles promoting the scheme.
Finally, we have tasked Food from Britain with working with the Regional Food Groups and producers to raise awareness of the scheme and encourage more applications.
I am pleased to say that all this effort is bearing fruit. There are currently 36 UK products registered including Stilton Cheese (PDO), Scotch Beef (PGI), Welsh Lamb (PGI), Cornish Clotted Cream (PDO) and Arbroath Smokies (PGI). A further 24 applications are currently being considered.
EU Directives
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department are employed on implementing and administering EU directives, regulations and policies. [86750]
Barry Gardiner: The number of full-time equivalent staff employed on implementing and administering EU directives, regulations and policies is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost
Farm Livestock
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance the Health and Safety Executive has issued on the acceptable minimum and maximum temperatures for the rearing and transportation of farm livestock. [89047]
Mr. Bradshaw: Responsibility for the welfare of farm animals rests with my Department.
DEFRA’s welfare codes for the main farmed livestock, include advice on maintaining temperatures within limits which are not harmful to farm animals. These are available on the DEFRA website at: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/farmed/on-farm.htm#welfarecodes Similarly, DEFRA has issued guidance on the welfare of animals in hot weather. This guidance is available on the DEFRA website at: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/heat/index.htm
There is an obligation on those looking after animals to avoid causing them unnecessary suffering. It is an offence if the welfare of an animal is compromised as a result of a failure to take appropriate action in response to extremes of temperature.
Fisheries Grant
Bill
Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the
fisheries grant was for each year between 2000 and 2006.
[84675]
Mr. Bradshaw: The amount of fisheries grant for each of the years between 2000 and 2006 was as follows
| £ | |
This covers payments of grant made in England under the Fisheries Instrument for Financial Guidance (FIFO) and the former Harbour Grants scheme.
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