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Departments: Freedom of Information

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions special advisers have been consulted in replying to freedom of information requests to his Department; and what his Department's policy is on the role of special advisers in the answering of freedom of information requests. [119859]


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Barry Gardiner: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs does not keep such records. Special advisers carry out their duties in accordance with the requirements of the code of conduct for special advisers.

Floods: Hartlepool

Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the contribution of the Heugh Breakwater to coastal sea defences for Hartlepool and the North sea coast. [120354]

Ian Pearson: DEFRA has overall policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England, funds most of the Environment Agency's 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 within the framework of desired outcomes for the programme set by DEFRA. This Department does not carry out works directly, or direct the authorities on which specific individual projects to undertake.

DEFRA is grant aiding two studies to assess coastal risks to the Hartlepool area:

I understand both studies will include local consultation and that they are scheduled to report in 2007-08.

Inland Waterways

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have visited inland waterways since their appointment. [111516]

Barry Gardiner: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 January 2007, Official Report, column 593W.

I have also attended the meetings in the following table.

Location /Event Date Location Topic

Staffs and Worcester Canal

5 September 2006

Penkridge Wharf

BW operations and contribution to rural regeneration

Norfolk Broads

3 October 2006

Norfolk

Fact finding visit.


Internet

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact on environmental awareness and activity of the proposed closure of the Climate Challenge website; and if he will make a statement; [120410]

(2) what factors he took into account when deciding to close the Sustainable Development Commission’s website under the Transformational Government strategy; what plans he has for the future internet presence of the Commission’s services; and if he will make a statement; [120415]

(3) how many monthly users there were of the websites for (a) the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, (b) Climate Challenge, (c) the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management, (d) the Sustainable Development Commission, (e) the Drinking Water Inspectorate, (f)
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Sustainable Development, (g) Waste Matters, (h) Netregs, (i) Tomorrow’s England (climatechangeandme.net), (j) the National Non-Food Crops centre (nnfcc.co.uk), (k) the English Food and Farming Partnership (effp.org.uk) and (l) the Waste and Resources Action Programme (wrap.org.uk) in the last month for which figures are available; whether these figures were taken account of in the decision to close of sites under the Transformational Government Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [120416]

(4) which of the services provided by the websites for (a) the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, (b) Climate Challenge, (c) the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management, (d) the Sustainable Development Commission, (e) the Drinking Water Inspectorate, (f) Sustainable Development, (g) Waste Matters, (h) Netregs and (i) Tomorrow’s England which have been identified for closure under the Transformational Government strategy will (i) continue to be provided through alternative websites and (ii) be suspended; and if he will make a statement. [120417]

Ian Pearson: DEFRA fully supports the Transformational Government strategy and is taking a leading role in working with the Cabinet Office to deliver website rationalisation. DEFRA is taking a pragmatic approach to this complex process and has already begun to plan its delivery. The initial phase will review content and services of almost 50 websites for convergence on Directgov and Business Link, as outlined in the Transformational Government implementation plan.

DEFRA will be working closely with website stakeholders, including those of the Sustainable Development Commission, to ensure that online resources are delivered in the most appropriate manner in line with the principles of Transformational Government.

The aim is to retain and strengthen the availability and accessibility of the information and services which customers need via a smaller number of high quality websites, including Directgov and Business Link. We anticipate that the number of people benefiting from these services will increase as they become easier to find and use; we will not be closing any sites precipitously.

In the case of Climate Challenge, we believe that by making more use of sites like Directgov, which served almost 900,000 unique visitors in the week commencing 22 January, more people will visit and engage with the “Tomorrow’s Climate, Today’s Challenge” initiative.

DEFRA is in ongoing discussions with the Cabinet Office regarding the status of the sites listed and whether the Department has responsibilities for them in this context.

The numbers of unique monthly users for the websites listed are provided in the following table:


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Unique visitors Month for which stats available

Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution

(1)

(1)

Climate Challenge

6,383

December 2006

Committee on Radioactive Waste Management

(1)

(1)

Drinking Water Inspectorate

17,487

December 2006

English Farming and Food Partnership

(2)

(2)

National Non-Food Crops Centre

(2)

(2)

Sustainable Development Commission

15,594

January 2007

Sustainable Development

19,813

December 2006

Tomorrow’s England (climatechangeandme.net)

(2)

(2)

Waste Matters

(1)

(1)

NetRegs

(1)

(1)

Waste and Resources Action Programme

31,951

June 2006

(1) Not available
(2) Private company, not a Government website

Pet Travel Scheme

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the EU review of the movement of pet animals; and what steps he has taken to ensure that there will be no diminutions in the provisions of the UK pet travel scheme; [120921]

(2) if he will make an assessment of the current risk facing the UK from rabies. [120922]

Mr. Bradshaw: DEFRA is currently carrying out a review of rabies import policy to ensure that UK controls on all rabies-susceptible mammals are proportionate and sustainable. This will help to inform the UK’s response to the European Commission’s review of certain requirements of EU Regulation 998/2003 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals.

Regulation 998/2003 requires the European Commission to submit a report to the European Parliament and Council, based on experience gained and risk evaluation. The report must be submitted, together with proposals for the future rabies regime for pets, by February 2007. The UK has already submitted scientific and field information to assist this process.

The UK’s own review of national rabies import controls is nearing completion. The evidence received so far from Government vets, officials and veterinary risk assessments indicates that our current controls may no longer be proportionate to the risk of rabies entering the UK and we may need to consider modernising processes and regulation in this area. Our controls must also be consistent with current thinking on better regulation. I am seeking further views before reaching conclusions.

Rabies

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government’s policy is on the use of vaccinations to contain rabies. [120923]

Mr. Bradshaw: In order to move freely around the European Community, and into the Community from certain other countries, pet dogs, cats and ferrets must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of EU Regulation 998/2003 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals. One of the requirements is for the animal to be vaccinated against rabies with a vaccine authorised for use in the qualifying country of use and administered in accordance with the vaccine manufacturer's
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data sheet recommendations. Booster vaccinations must be given within the time interval specified in the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet in order for the animal to retain its eligible status to travel.

Retail Trade: Energy

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Trade and Industry on encouraging the retail industry to reduce energy use. [121169]

Ian Pearson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly meets the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to discuss a range of issues, including encouraging energy efficiency, where DTI and DEFRA both have a key role to play in their successful delivery.

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage retail outlets to reduce energy use, particularly on lighting outside opening hours. [121170]

Ian Pearson: The Department funds the Carbon Trust, a not-for-profit company that works closely with business to encourage sustainable use of energy, establish energy efficient practices and systems, and develop low carbon technologies.

The Carbon Trust’s products and services for the retail sector include helpline and web advice, an interest-free loan scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises to purchase energy-efficient equipment, site surveys for companies with energy bills over £50,000 a year, and a strategic carbon management programme for large, multi-site companies. DEFRA’s enhanced capital allowance scheme lists 68 lighting technologies for which businesses can claim 100 per cent. capital allowance in the year in which the investment is made.

The Carbon Trust also holds free lighting workshops, and produces a number of publications specifically focused on lighting in the retail sector. These include the ‘Retail Sector Overview’, which contains advice on reducing lighting outside opening hours, such as through use of occupancy sensors, low energy bulbs, light switch labelling and a ‘switch off’ policy.

Tyndall Centre

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have provided to the Tyndall Centre for research projects in each of the last five years. [119599]

Ian Pearson: Funding provided by DEFRA to the Tyndall Centre to carry out research projects from 2001-02 to 2005-06 is shown in the following table:


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Financial year April-March Project Amount (£)

2001-02

GA01001 2001 Climate change scenarios for UKCIP

56,665

2002-03

GA01001 2001 Climate change scenarios for UKCIP

64,771

2003-04

GA01068 Scoping Study for a Research Programme on Stabilisation

17,940

2004-05

GA01077 Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation: Cross Regional Research Programme—Linking Adaptation Research and Practice

51,616

GA01068 Scoping Study for a Research Programme on Stabilisation

35,190

2005-06

None


Information is not held centrally on funding provided by DEFRA’s executive agencies to the Tyndall Centre for research projects. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research (a) his Department, (b) its executive agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies which it sponsors have (i) carried out and (ii) commissioned into variable waste charging. [120776]

Mr. Bradshaw: DEFRA has commissioned an independent research project examining the international evidence on variable charging for household waste and the potential impact of such schemes in England.

England's waste strategy is also currently being reviewed. In this context, DEFRA is considering the full range of tools that could encourage producers and consumers to change their behaviour regarding waste and recycling in general. The use of financial incentives, such as recycling rebates, is only one of a number of options being considered and any decisions would be made in light of the results of Sir Michael Lyons' inquiry into local government.

Getting people to change their behaviour is a challenge, and recycling is no exception. While there are millions of dedicated recyclers, there are still too many families and people who are not engaging with local waste reduction, recycling and composting schemes.

Those in favour of financial incentives argue that they would reduce waste and increase recycling rates, which would help tackle climate change (by diverting waste from landfill) as well as reducing the costs of managing waste.

By minimising waste and recycling or home composting as much as possible, householders can help to keep down waste costs and, therefore, help reduce pressures on council tax bills.


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