| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
15 Jan 2007 : Column 767W—continued
Fisheries
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely impact of ECJ Case C-184/06 on (a) UK total allowable catch and (b) fish stocks. [108292]
Mr. Bradshaw: No such assessments have been made.
Fox Hunting
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the numbers of foxes (a) hunted by dogs then shot and (b) hunted using a bird of prey since the introduction of the Hunting Act 2004; and if he will make a statement. [114320]
Barry Gardiner: The Government have not made any assessment of the number of wild mammals being hunted within the law.
Gasplasma Process
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of gasplasma process technology in treating domestic waste; and if he will make a statement. [110361]
Mr. Bradshaw: No assessment of gasplasma process technology as a mechanism to treat domestic waste has been made by this Department.
However, the Department is aware of the technology and my officials have recently attended a demonstration of its use.
Recycling
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) mobile telephones, (b) printer cartridges and (c) MP3 and other music players he estimates were (i) recycled, (ii) reused overseas and (iii) disposed of within the England and Wales waste stream in each year since 2000. [113365]
Mr. Bradshaw: This Department does not collect information specifically on the recycling or reuse of mobile phones, printer cartridges or music players. The mobile phone industry estimates that around 18 million handsets are replaced every year and that in 2003 and 2004, about 5 million handsets were collected by mobile phone recycling and refurbishment companies in the UK. The industry estimates that about 60 per cent. of these were refurbished and the remaining 40 per cent. were sent for materials recycling.
Accurate information regarding materials collected for recycling and exported overseas is not available. All exported waste must be of a certain quality and be for recycling or reuse. It is for producers, local authorities
and their waste management contractors to ensure that their waste is properly managed through all the steps in the recycling chain, including its final destination.
The Environment Agency detects and prevents the illegal export of waste at major UK ports through intelligence-led, targeted inspections. Enforcement action is taken where evidence of illegal activity is found.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been conducted (a) by and (b) for his Department on the recycling and reuse of (i) mobile telephones and (ii) printer cartridges.[113366]
Mr. Bradshaw: No research has been conducted by or for DEFRA specifically on the recycling and reuse of mobile phones and printer cartridges. We are, however, aware of a number of businesses and charitable organisations that currently collect mobile phones and printer cartridges for reuse and recycling.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations, which transpose the EU WEEE Directive, will make producers financially responsible for the treatment and recycling of electronic equipment, including mobile phones, when it becomes waste from 1 July. DEFRA is responsible for the regulations transposing the treatment and permitting requirements of the directive, which are intended to improve the environmental performance of operators directly involved in the treatment of WEEE.
DEFRA has also worked closely with the Department of Trade and Industry on the development of the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) Directive from 1 July 2006, and has restricted the use of six hazardous substances in the manufacture of mobile phones and other electrical and electronic equipment, meaning that they will be easier to treat and recycle when they become waste.
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the environmental and climate change implications of transporting large amounts of recovered paper to China. [114190]
Mr. Bradshaw: No specific assessment has been made. However, the environmental impact of exporting waste paper to China for recovery is likely to be minimal since it is often transported on otherwise empty container ships which are returning to China after delivering manufactured goods to the UK.
Snares
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to review the legality of using snares. [115919]
Mr. Bradshaw: When DEFRA published its code of good practice on the use of snares in fox and rabbit control in October 2005, it also published the DEFRA Snares Action Plan. A copy of the Action Plan can be found on the DEFRA website at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/snares/pdf/snares-actionplan.pdf
The action plan clearly sets out DEFRA’s commitment for research to be undertaken to monitor the voluntary uptake of the code, its practical application and impact. A research project will be procured in the near future. DEFRA will aim to review the code of good practice by the end of 2008 in the light of research findings and of its impact on snaring practices and results. Following the review of the code, DEFRA will consider giving it a higher legal status if appropriate.
Waste Resources Action Programme
David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made by the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) in setting up a stand-alone organisation which will take over the management of the Real Nappy Programme when WRAP funding ends in April 2007. [115058]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Waste and Resources Action Programme intends to hand over the work on real nappies to other interested parties during the course of this financial year. They are currently considering options for the future management of the Real Nappy Programme.
Defence
Consultants
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on consultants in each year since 1997. [114390]
Derek Twigg: Summaries of Ministry of Defence expenditure on external assistance, of which consultancy is a part, are available in the Library of the House for the years 1995-96 to 2005-06.
Flying Hours
Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flying hours on (a) aircraft and (b) simulators is required for each grade and type of RAF flying instructor; and what the equivalent required hours were in (i) 2000 and (ii) 1990. [114187]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 11 January 2007]: The recommended minimum number of flying hours, on frontline aircraft types, to be considered for entry on to a Central Flying School (CFS) instructor training course is 500 hours. On passing the course pilots will be awarded a B2 (On Probation) Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI)/Qualified Helicopter Instructor (QHI) qualification.
Instructors can then progress to Bl, A2 and Al instructional categories as they gain experience. Recategorisation can take place when instructors complete the recommended minimum number of hours of instructional duties as set out in the following table.
| QFI/QHI instructional category | Recommended minimum instructional hours( 1,2) |
| (1 )Instructors who gain a distinguished pass on a CFS Instructor course have reduced minimums. (2) At any time the Commandant Central Flying School may permit recategorization before the instructor has reached minimum instructional hours stated above based on written assessment of performance. | |
There is currently no minimum simulator hours requirement. These flying hours requirements have remained unchanged since 1990.
Gibraltar
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the reason was for the delay in holding the first Joint Consultative Committee meeting between the Gibraltar Services Police Staff Association and the Local Command. [113707]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 10 January 2007]: The inaugural meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee, between representatives of the Gibraltar Services Police Staff Association (GSPSA) and MOD management in Gibraltar, was held on 11 December 2006; this was the earliest date that was agreeable to all interested parties.
Joint Strike Fighter
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out details of the assurances given by the United States in connection with the transfer of technology on the Joint Strike Fighter; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Washington on 11 December. [113322]
Mr. Ingram: [holding answer 8 January 2007]: I am withholding the details of the assurances obtained from the United States in connection with information access to Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) data as their release would, or would be, likely to prejudice international relations. I can assure the hon. Member that the assurances we have received fully meet the requirements we set out to deliver operational sovereignty on JSF. A copy of the unclassified Production, Sustainment and Follow-On-Development MOU is available in the Library of the House.
Letters of Condolence
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2006, Official Report, column 1096W, on letters of condolence, how many letters of condolence have been sent by his Department to the next of kin of personnel who died in service in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) January to July 2003. [114393]
Des Browne:
Letters of condolence have always been sent to the next of kin of deceased service personnel by commanders. Prior to the formation of the Joint
Casualty and Compassionate Centre in April 2004, no central record was kept of all condolence letters sent by the Department and to collect this information retrospectively would incur disproportionate costs.
Ministry of Defence Police: Colchester
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the establishment of Ministry of Defence police is in Colchester; and whether he has any plans to reduce this establishment. [114374]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 11 January 2007]: The official complement of Ministry of Defence police (MDP) at Colchester is one inspector, five sergeants and 16 constables.
A review of MOD policing requirements at Colchester, as part of a wider Army study, is currently under consideration but no decision has been taken.
Navy Vessels: State of Readiness
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels are (i) being held in and (ii) under consideration for consignment to a reduced state of readiness; and what length of time would be required for the reactivation of each such ship to rejoin the fleet. [114286]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 11 January 2007]: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Nuclear Submarines
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for ensuring an adequate supply of highly enriched uranium to fuel four replacement ballistic missile submarines; and what the projected cost is of these plans. [108860]
Des Browne: We are considering options to ensure the supply of highly enriched uranium to fuel replacement ballistic missile submarines. The broad-order cost of such a requirement is reflected in the overall estimate of £15 billion-20 billion indicated in the White Paper (CM 6994) published on 4 December. At this very early stage in the procurement process, we are not in a position to break down these estimates in the way requested.
Nuclear Weapons
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what differences there are between the Trident warhead and the US W76 warhead. [114896]
Des Browne: I am withholding details of warhead design as the disclosure of such information would, or would be likely to, prejudice the security of the United Kingdom. I can, however, assure the hon. Member of the UK's independence in respect of our nuclear deterrent.
Official Cars
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cars run by his Department were manufactured (a) in the UK and (b) abroad. [104822]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence currently leases the majority of the cars it uses. The requirement for these vehicles is specified in output terms rather than by vehicle model and a breakdown by country of manufacture is not maintained.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will provide an answer to question (a) 105967, on helicopter pilot flying hours, (b) 103359, on ministerial visits and (c) (i) 101077 and (ii) 101069, on mental welfare of discharged personnel, tabled by the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper). [110300]
Derek Twigg: I replied to the hon. Member as follows:
(a) Question 105967—18 December 2006, Official Report, column 1476;
(b) Question 103359—8 January 2007, Official Report, columns 94-96W;
(c) Question 101077—18 December 2006, Official Report, columns 1478-83W;
(d) Question 101069—14 December 2006, Official Report, columns 1256-57W.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will answer question 101406, on Colombia, tabled by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 20 November 2006. [115941]
Des Browne: I replied to the hon. Member on 23 November 2006, Official Report, column 169W.
Red Arrows
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are plans to change the colours of smoke used by the RAF's Red Arrows Display Team. [113703]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer10 January 2007]: There are currently no plans to change the colour of the smoke used during Royal Air Force Acrobatic Team (the Red Arrows) displays.
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget is of the RAF's Red Arrows Display Team in 2006-07; and what the planned budget is for 2007-08. [113704]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 10 January 2007]: The budget for the Royal Air Force Acrobatic Team (the Red Arrows) in financial year 2006-07 is £5.2 million and for financial year 2007-08 the planned budget is £5.5 million.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |