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27 Nov 2006 : Column 283W—continued
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animal Disease Control
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to deliver cost sharing between Government and the private sector for animal disease control; and if he will make a statement. [101414]
Mr. Bradshaw: We are committed to working in partnership with industry on finding ways to share the responsibilities and costs of animal disease.
The Government intend to publish a consultation document on the principles of responsibility and cost sharing for animal health and welfare in December. This consultation follows on from the work of the Joint Government and Industry Group which informed the debate on how to share the responsibilities and costs of exotic animal disease outbreaks.
Average Temperatures
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the annual average temperature of the UK has been in each year since 1976; [103415]
(2) what the average annual temperature of the UK was in each year for which his Department holds records. [104220]
Ian Pearson: The following table shows the mean temperatures in the UK for each year from 1976 to 2005.
These data were provided by the Met Office. Temperature data for each year from 1914 onwards, broken down by month and season, are available on the Met Office website at:
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/seriesstatistics/uktemp.txt
| UK Mean Temperature (( o) C) | |
Avian Influenza
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was (a) planned for and (b) spent on dealing with avian influenza in 2005-06; and what the figures are for 2006-07. [101076]
Mr. Bradshaw: In 2005-06, approximately £9 million was spent on the prevention and control of avian influenza (AI).
For 2006-07, DEFRA anticipates spending up to £19 million on the prevention and control of AI. This includes preparedness measures and outbreak costs. However, this figure is subject to on-going review. To the end of October 2006 we had spent £9 million.
Bonus Payments
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria a civil servant in his Department must fulfil (a) to be considered for a bonus on top of their regular salary and (b) to be awarded a bonus. [101029]
Barry Gardiner: Separate performance bonus arrangements operate for staff in the senior civil service (SCS) and those at Grade 6 and below.
The performance management, pay and reward arrangements for the SCS are centrally determined.
Non-consolidated cash payments, otherwise known as bonuses, reward in-year performances in relation to agreed objectives, or short term personal contribution to wider organisational objectives. Bonuses are paid in addition to base pay increases and do not count towards pension.
Bonuses are allocated by Departments from a ‘pot’ expressed as a percentage of the SCS salary bill, which is agreed centrally each year following the senior salaries review board recommendations. The intention is that bonuses are awarded to people who have delivered priority business objectives.
For Staff at Grade 6 and below
The high performance bonus awards scheme introduced in April 2005, provide DEFRA staff with recognition and reward for delivery of an outstanding outcome or performance that significantly exceeds normal expectations. The process should provide staff at all grades with an opportunity to earn a bonus, and ensure that achievements in operational, policy and corporate services areas are recognised as being of equal esteem.
In-year high performance bonuses paid to individuals or teams in recognition of “one-off” achievements during the year; and
Annual high performance bonuses which are paid to the top 10 per cent. of performers in each Directorate General for delivery of an outstanding outcome or performance “sustained throughout the whole year”.
These arrangements apply to staff covered by core-DEFRA pay arrangements (core-DEFRA, State Veterinary Service, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Marine Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Service). DEFRA’s other agencies and non-departmental public bodies operate separate pay and bonus arrangements.
Bovine TB
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans his Department has to review the amount of compensation paid to farmers for cattle of high genetic value slaughtered under bovine tuberculosis control measures. [100907]
Mr. Bradshaw: We are working with interested industry parties, through the Cattle Compensation Advisory Group, to monitor the cattle compensation arrangements introduced early this year and consider possible enhancements.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when results will be announced for the evaluation of changes in pre-movement testing of cattle for bovine TB. [101411]
Mr. Bradshaw: Monitoring of the impacts of pre-movement testing is ongoing and key statistics are updated monthly and published on the DEFRA website at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/premovement/monitoring-data.htm
No evidence has emerged to date that alters the decision to extend pre-movement testing to younger animals in March 2007 as already set out in legislation.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the evidential basis is for the view that human interference with badger setts is a causal factor in the transmission rates of bovine tuberculosis. [102373]
Mr. Bradshaw: If by human interference my hon. Friend means culling, the evidence suggests that culling, as carried out in the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, causes a decrease in TB incidence in the area culled and an increase around the site of a cull. The Independent Scientific Group suggests this is due to perturbation following culling.
Under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 it is illegal to interfere with badgers or their setts unless under licence.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidences of bovine TB there were in 2005. [102602]
Mr. Bradshaw: There were 3,653 new bovine tuberculosis (bTB) herd incidents in Great Britain in 2005. Reports on bTB statistics for Great Britain are published on the DEFRA website at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/stats/index.htm.
British Waterways
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Government funding has been provided to British Waterways in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what funding is planned for each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [104286]
Barry Gardiner: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers given on 23 October 2006, Official Report, column 1607W; and 2 November 2006, Official Report, column 572W.
Following devolution, the Scottish Executive became responsible for British Waterways’ activities in Scotland. The table shown in the answer given on 23 October gives the grant paid from 2001-02 by DEFRA for waterways in England and Wales.
Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the likely impact on remainder waterways of the proposed reduction in the budget of the Environment Agency and British Waterways; [102369]
(2) if he will make a statement on maintenance obligations in relation to the remainder waterways. [102370]
Barry Gardiner: It is for British Waterways (BW) to prioritise its activities in the light of competing demands for available resources and its statutory obligations. The Environment Agency has no remainder waterways.
Section 107 of the Transport Act 1968 places a duty on BW to maintain retained remainder waterways in the most economical manner possible consistent with the requirements of public health and the preservation of amenity and safety. This is qualified by section 22 of the British Waterways Act 1995 which requires BW to take into account the desirability of protecting remainder waterways for future use as cruising waterways, or as areas for other public recreational use, where they have suitable potential. In practice, BW maintains navigable remainder waterways to standards which reflect their use and prospects of use, using contributions from third parties to help fund this work.
Cathode Ray Tubes (Recycling)
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the capacity in the UK for recycling of televisions and computer monitors containing cathode ray tubes. [103238]
Mr. Bradshaw: There are an increasing number of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recovery plants, opening in anticipation of the UK’s implementation of the WEEE Directive, which are capable of dealing with waste televisions and computer monitors. These plants are regulated by the Environment Agency under a waste management licence.
Climate Change
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what response he has made to the proposals made on 15 November by the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan for an investment fund to combat climate change in Africa. [103048]
Ian Pearson: Driving the take-up of low carbon energy technology over the coming decades is vital—particularly in developing countries. We have welcomed United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s announcement about launching a “Nairobi Framework” to support developing countries, particularly in Africa, to participate in the Clean Development Mechanism. The UK will be playing its part by linking London-based carbon market experts with those developing projects in Africa.
Dairy Industry
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made by the Dairy Supply Chain Forum; and if he will make a statement. [101703]
Barry Gardiner: The Dairy Supply Chain Forum has been instrumental in bringing together all parts of the supply chain to discuss issues where collaboration can benefit all, thereby also increasing transparency and trust. The Forum has improved the evidence base for Government and industry policy-making. For example it has commissioned a number of studies which have examined the impact of Common Agricultural Policy Reform on the sector, looked at barriers to innovation, and assessed skills and training needs. These studies have helped inform the debate within the industry about its future prospects, dispelled some myths, and challenged thinking. The Forum has also discussed issues of concern to the supply chain, including competition and the environmental agenda.
The future structure and objectives of the Forum are currently under consideration, as we wish to ensure that it continues to be relevant and tightly focused.
Departmental Budget
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the shortfall in his Department’s budget on (a) the performance of Natural England and (b) his Department’s biodiversity targets. [101269]
Barry Gardiner: We have been working with Natural England to avoid impacts on key priorities and outcomes, including DEFRA’s biodiversity targets.
Natural England’s start-up costs were protected so there is no question of it being established as anything other than “fit for purpose”. The programmes which contribute to the Sites of Special Scientific Interest and farmland birds Public Service Agreement targets, and the England Biodiversity Strategy, will be delivered in full. Natural England is also giving priority to the delivery of agri-environment schemes.
To enable the highest priority work areas to continue to be delivered, it has been necessary to delay or reduce the scale of some other programme work this year, for example, slowing down some research work.
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