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22 Nov 2006 : Column 132Wcontinued
To apply an offsetting cost figure to Departments, these initial assessment emissions totals were multiplied by £10. This is based upon the agreed price per tonne of CO2 in relation to offsetting the UKs G8 presidency.
The actual cost per tonne to be paid will depend on the offsetting fund procurement process, which is due to conclude at the start of December. Initial assessment emissions figures will be updated using actual departmental air travel data for 2006-07. Final calculations of CO2 tonnage and associated offsetting costs will be carried out in April 2007.
Each Department, except for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which operate their own schemes, will pay the amount owed for its emissions into the central Government Carbon Offsetting Fund.
Proceeds from the fund will be used to purchase Certified Emission Reduction credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that are based in developing countries and accredited under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Clean Development Mechanism.
The fund will seek to offset around 300,000 tonnes of CO2 by mid-2009.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Circus Working Group is expected to report; and how its terms of reference were agreed. [101448]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Circus Working Group is due to submit a report in the spring of 2007. The groups terms of reference are derived directly from my statement to the House on 8 March 2006, Official Report, column 61WS.
Further information about the groups work is available on the DEFRA website at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/bill/circus_wg.htm.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to local authorities of implementing in full each of the provisions of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005; what powers local authorities have to raise money to implement the provisions of the bill; and if he will make a statement. [101665]
Mr. Bradshaw: A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) published in July 2004 concluded that, taken as a whole, the measures introduced in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 do not involve significant additional costs for local authorities. Indeed, the RIA concluded they could well lead to overall savings in local authority costs through increased efficiency and effective, well publicised enforcement.
Local authorities themselves asked for these new powers to combat the minority who continue to fly-tip, drop litter and behave in an antisocial manner and the Government has now provided them.
Local authorities have indicated that they welcome the use of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) and recognise their value as an enforcement tool as an alternative to prosecution. In most cases, local authorities have the flexibility to set their own fixed penalty rates and, since November 2003, they have been able to retain receipts from FPNs issued for local environmental crimes. Most local authorities must re-direct this money into their street cleansing service, although those awarded an excellent or good rating are free to use the penalty receipts as they wish.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures is he putting in place to ensure that appropriate advice is available to individual households that wish to introduce energy efficiency or renewable energy measures. [101419]
Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 9 October 2006, Official Report, column 231W and 31 October 2006, Official Report, column 276W.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of (a) the effectiveness of the work of the Dart Estuary Environment Management Partnership and (b) the contribution made by the Cycleau Project to estuary management in each of the last three years; [100825]
(2) if he will finance the continuation of the Dart Estuary Environment Management Partnership by making available funds for the Dart Harbour Navigation Authority; [100826]
(3) what plan he has for the Dart Estuary Environment Management Partnership following the cessation of the Objective 2 Cycleau Project. [100827]
Ian Pearson: The responsibility for assessing the effectiveness of the work of the Dart Estuary Environment Management (DEEM) Partnership lies with the partnerships steering group. The good work the partnership has achieved for the local environment, through its participation in the Cycleau Project, has recently been recognised by its partners and supporters, who wish to see that work continue in the future.
In June 2006, DEFRA conducted a consultation on how we might promote a more integrated approach to coastal management in England. This consultation questioned how coastal and estuary partnerships are functioning and how they might be supported. The responses to the consultation are currently being reviewed.
Government policy is that ports are not eligible for public funding, on the grounds that subsidy is likely to cause market distortion in an otherwise free sector. The Dart Harbour Navigation Authority is a trust port and obtains its funding by way of charges levied on its users. It has a duty to use funds for the benefit of the management of the harbour, which can include participating in a voluntary partnership to help manage the estuary.
The DEEM Partnership was formed to implement the DEEM Plan, which is non-statutory. It is for the local partners to decide whether to continue voluntary financial contributions after December 2006 when Cycleau comes to an end. The South West Region of the Environment Agency has decided to continue to fund estuary partnerships where affordable, and it has recently agreed to provide funding for the River Dart for another year while it reviews the future of DEEM with the other local partners.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will discuss with the Chancellor of the Exchequer the provision of funding for the Environment Agency to implement flood defences in Shrewsbury. [101892]
Ian Pearson: Overall DEFRA funding up to 2007-08 was set by Her Majestys Treasury in the 2004 Spending Review. Funding for national flood and coastal erosion risk management after 2007-08 will be considered as part of the Governments 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, as will the level of the Departments spend across all areas.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on flood defences in each year since 2001. [101234]
Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 October 2006, Official Report, column 1506W.
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to strengthen the shore line to prevent further erosion at Hengistbury Head in Bournemouth. [101754]
Ian Pearson: DEFRA has overall policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England, funds most of the Environment Agencys flood related work and grant aids individual capital improvement projects undertaken by local authorities and internal drainage boards. The programme to manage risk is driven by these operating authorities; DEFRA does not carry out works, nor direct the authorities on which specific projects to undertake.
Bournemouth borough council are the coast protection authority responsible for Hengistbury Head and they have been monitoring coastal erosion at this location. DEFRA grant aided beach replenishment operations by the council along this stretch of the coast earlier this year. The council will consider options for Hengistbury Head in the longer term in their review of the Hurst Spit to Durlston Head Shoreline Management Plan (SMP). This review will allow the risk of erosion and options for managing it to be investigated, and it will include consultation with those affected in accordance with DEFRA published guidance on SMP revision.
In view of public concerns about the potential impact of a breach at Hengistbury Head on flood risk to Christchurch, the Environment Agency are investigating this further. The draft consultants report is currently being reviewed.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a reduction in the tax levy on ethanol. [101896]
Ian Pearson: DEFRA and Treasury Ministers have frequent discussions on a wide range of issues.
The Government are currently promoting the production of bioethanol and biodiesel through a 20 pence per litre duty incentive. In addition, the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation will require 5 per cent. of all UK fuel sales to come from renewable sources by 2010.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to bring forward new regulations on pet fairs. [101450]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Government proposes to introduce secondary legislation regulating pet fairs, to be made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, in 2008.
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he expects research project VM02126 to be completed on time. [100619]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 20 November 2006]: The research project entitled A case-controlled study of neuropsychological and psychiatric functioning in sheep farmers exposed to organophosphate pesticides was commissioned in two parts, with University College London.
VM02126 was the recruitment phase of the work and this was completed in January 2006.
The second phase of the project (VM02302), to gather and analyse data, started in February 2006. In the project proposal the contractors stated that they intended to study three groups of farmers. In the event, the contractor was unable to identify one of the proposed groups originally envisaged to act as the controls for the project; these individuals were the sheep farmers who had retired on the grounds of ill health but had never dipped sheep. As an alternative, the contractor proposed to study members of the police as a substitute control group. Given the profound nature of the change to design of the project, advice on the scientific validity of including the police force as a control groups was sought from the Medical and Scientific Panel.
This advice is currently being considered and a decision on the future of the project will be made shortly.
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of sheep were treated with organophosphate sheep dip in each year since 1976. [100618]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 20 November 2006]: The Government do not hold these figures.
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to make a decision on (a) banning and (b) lifting the suspension on cypermethrin sheep dip. [100620]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 20 November 2006]: The Marketing Authorisations for the three cypermethrin dip products were suspended on 21 February 2006 following reports of serious environmental pollution arising from the routine use of the products. The Environment Agency had prosecuted ten farmers for polluting waters courses with cypermethrin dip. As a consequence the Government suspended the products as a precautionary measure.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Environment Agency have jointly set up a stakeholder group to take forward a Pollution Reduction Programme for sheep dips. The first meeting of the stakeholder group took place on 21 August. The key elements of the programme are four actions aimed at reducing the risk of pollution caused by dipping sheep. The actions include:
1. Raising farmers awareness of the environmental risks associated with the use of sheep dip products. The NFU has launched the Stop every drop campaign in England and Wales as a part of this action. In Scotland similar messages are being developed.
2. An analysis to identify the most appropriate response to the risks and impacts associated with the use of sheep dips and cypermethrin in particular.
3. Targeted risk-based monitoring of rivers and streams for pollution in England and Wales.
4. Research to provide further advice on the associated risks. This includes a joint EA/VMD research project looking at the possible pathways for sheep dip into the environment around the farm.
Further data on how these dips can be used in an environmentally sustainable way have also been requested from the product Marketing Authorisation holders.
When all of this information has been received, we will be able to review the suspension of the sheep dip marketing authorisations and consider whether the products can be allowed back on to the market.
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidelines (a) he and (b) his Department have received from the European Commission regarding the (i) health and (ii) environmental impact of using (A) organophosphates and (B) cypermethrin in sheep dips. [100621]
Mr. Bradshaw
[holding answer 20 November 2006]: The authorisation of veterinary medicines in the UK is regulated by European Commission Directive 2001/82/EC (as amended). The directive provides a
harmonised framework for the authorisation of veterinary medicines throughout the European Union. All veterinary medicines must satisfy the required criteria of quality, safety and efficacy before they are granted a marketing authorisation. While the directive provides the framework by which veterinary medicines are authorised detailed guidelines have been issued by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) to cover in more detail the requirements for quality, safety and efficacy. Guidelines on how to carry out a risk assessment for the user of the product, the consumer and the environment have all been issued by the CVMP and are followed by the UK licensing authority. These guidelines are available on the European Medicines Agencys website at:
www.emea.europa.eu.
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to consider the written submission of evidence by Clifford Ayling presented on 27 October 2006 in response to the report of the Committee of Inquiry independent investigation into how the NHS handled allegations about the conduct of Clifford Ayling. [101840]
Andy Burnham: The Government will shortly be publishing a joint response to the recommendations of the Ayling Inquiry and to the recommendations of the Shipman Inquiry's fifth report, the Neale Inquiry and the Kerr-Haslam Inquiry. In preparing this response the Department will be considering the evidence submitted on behalf of Dr Ayling on 27 October, to the extent that it is relevant to the question of possible improvements in the procedures which national health service organisations should follow on receiving concerns or complaints about the conduct of health service professionals.
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many delayed discharges there were from hospitals in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area in each of the last six months for which figures are available. [101500]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The following table shows the number of delayed transfers of care from acute beds at Mid Essex Hospitals Services National Health Service Trust.
Month | Delayed transfers of care |
Note: Numbers of delayed transfers of care are collected as a snapshot at midnight Thursday each week. These data are for the final week in each of the last six months. Source: Department of Health SitReps |
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