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16 Apr 2007 : Column 92W—continued
Pesticides
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what form and in which publications and other media he plans to make available the spray records of individual farmers in the Midlands region following the recent announcement by the Pesticides Safety Directorate. [130713]
Ian Pearson: The pilot study being carried out by the Pesticides Safety Directorate will enable individual members of the public to get the names of those pesticides a farmer has used on his land where it has not been possible for them to get this information directly from the farmer. We expect that in the majority of cases farmers will pass this information to the enquirer upon request. We anticipate that members of the public will receive this information direct, rather than having to access it in a published form.
Polyethylene Terephthalate: Recycling
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken to encourage the use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in manufacturing food and drink packaging; and what assessment has been made of the availability of recycled PET in the UK. [130645]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is working to maximise the amount and quality of recyclate used in UK manufacturing operations, including uses of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
The demand for recycled plastic is very strong, both from UK manufacturers and overseas markets. WRAP has a number of projects over the next two years which aim to switch manufacturing processes from virgin to recycled materials, including a target to support the recycling of an additional 16 kilo tonnes of plastic bottles—an increase of 30 per cent. from current levels.
WRAP has carried out recent trials with a number of major brands using recovered PET to make new packaging for food and household products. The trials showed that using recovered PET for this kind of packaging is a viable option for manufacturers.
The UK’s first plant to recycle plastics into materials for food packaging was announced at the beginning of March, following the signing of a £12 million joint private and public sector funding agreement. The
35,000 tonne capacity London plant will increase the UK’s ability to recycle PET, which might otherwise be exported for recycling or sent to landfill.
The UK currently recycles or recovers approximately 19 per cent. of all plastic consumed, and this is set to increase to over 25 per cent. by 2010.
Rats
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the extent of the problem of rats at the London Olympics site at Stratford; and what plans there are for measures to be taken to tackle any potential problem; and if he will make a statement. [129018]
Barry Gardiner: My Department has made no assessment of the extent of any problem of rats at the London Olympics site at Stratford and has no plans to do so as this is a matter for the local authority.
Recycling: Standards
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made towards meeting his Department’s Waste Strategy 2000 targets on recycling and recovery. [130628]
Mr. Bradshaw: This is a devolved matter and, in Scotland, is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive. However, in England, good progress has been made towards the targets to improve rates of recycling and recovery set out in Waste Strategy 2000. The key targets were to recycle or compost at least 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005 and to recover value from 40 per cent. of municipal waste by the same date.
Figures for 2005-06 show that we exceeded the recycling and composting target, with 27 per cent. of household waste either recycled or composted in England. This is nearly four times the amount that was recycled or composted in 1997. In 2005-06, value was recovered from 37 per cent. of municipal waste.
Following consultation on a review of the Waste Strategy, we intend to build on these improvements and are planning to publish our revised Waste Strategy for England in May.
Reservoirs
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2007, Official Report, columns 982-83W, on reservoirs, what the latest information is on reservoir levels. [126586]
Ian Pearson: In January, overall storage for reservoir storage in England and Wales rose by 3 per cent. to 95 per cent. It remained unchanged in February. As of 6 March, overall storage rose to 97 per cent. Two reservoirs or reservoir groups are below normal.
The Environment Agency publishes monthly water situation reports, including information on reservoir
storage. The report is supplemented by a weekly update during dry periods. This information is available on the Agency's website.
Round Up Ready Alfalfa
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of international evidence on risks associated with Monsanto’s Round Up Ready Alfalfa; if he will list the evidence he has considered; and if he will make a statement. [130790]
Ian Pearson: We have not made any assessment of the Monsanto Round Up Ready Alfalfa. No application has been made to approve its commercial use within the European Union (EU). If such an application were made, a detailed assessment would be undertaken of the potential risks for human health and the environment, as required by EU legislation.
Seals: Canada
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Canadian Government about seal hunting; and if he will make a statement. [130769]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Canadian Government is fully aware of the UK Government’s opposition to the seal hunt and we continue to raise our concerns with them at every appropriate opportunity. Most recently, on 28 March, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade (Ian McCartney), met a delegation from Canada to discuss the UK’s announcement that we intend to press for an EU-wide extension of the existing import ban of all harp and hooded seals’ skin products.
State Veterinary Service
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why the State Veterinary Service is being rebranded as Animal Health; and what form the new organisation will take. [130667]
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of changing the name of the State Veterinary Service to Animal Health. [130523]
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the expected cost is of changing the name of the State Veterinary Service to Animal Health; and how much is expected to be accounted for by (a) replacement signs, (b) headed notepaper, (c) other branded stationery, (d) website redesign and (e) other costs; [131192]
(2) which of his Department's executive agencies and other connected bodies has changed its name since 2003; and what the associated cost was in each case of (a) replacement signs, (b) headed notepaper, (c) other branded stationery, (d) redesign of website and (e) other costs. [131226]
Mr. Bradshaw: Animal Health (AH) will be an executive agency, sponsored by, and working on behalf of DEFRA. It also works on behalf of the Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly in implementing animal health and welfare policies, including the regulation of trade in endangered species.
AH will also work on behalf of the Food Standards Agency in England and Wales to protect public health by ensuring that dairy hygiene and egg production standards are met.
The Hampton Review recommended the consolidation of DEFRA inspection and enforcement functions into seven thematic regulators, one being a new executive agency for Animal Health and Welfare, with the State Veterinary Service (SVS) at its core. DEFRA Ministers subsequently determined to merge the Dairy Hygiene Inspectorate, the Egg Marketing Inspectorate, and the Wildlife Licensing and Registration Service (WLRS) with the SVS to create such a body. The Dairy Hygiene Inspectorate joined the SVS in October 2006, and the Egg Marketing Inspectorate and WLRS will join on 1 April 2007.
The organisation undertakes a wide range of tasks (over 600) in animal health and welfare and related areas. The joining organisations have congruent roles relating directly or indirectly to animals, animal health and welfare and public health. As the role of the organisation expands to embrace new partners, responsibilities and enforcement powers, the veterinary-focus of the current SVS brand would not adequately communicate the remit of the organisation.
It is not possible to accurately estimate the cost of this work, or break it down as requested, since it is still ongoing. However, we expect that in total the work will cost less than £60,000.
Veterinary Services: Rural Areas
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to improve 24 hour veterinary cover in rural areas. [130668]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) sets guidelines for the provision of 24 hour veterinary coverage in the UK. According to these guidelines, emergency cover requires that a veterinary surgeon deals promptly at any time with first-aid and emergencies either directly or by alternative means (for example, by cooperation with other practices). The veterinary surgeon retains discretion to assess what constitutes an emergency need and may in some ceases delay seeing a case until the next day. There is no statutory requirement for veterinary surgeons to provide 24 cover.
The RCVS has reconvened its working party on 24 hour cover, to review the current guidelines and in particular, consider how these should be applied in more remote areas.
DEFRA is not aware of any instances where 24 hour cover is declining or not currently being met in rural areas. The recent case reported to us in relation to general veterinary cover in the Scilly Isles has been resolved. We have been working closely through the Vets and Veterinary Services working group to address a number of issues, including the provision of 24 hour
cover in rural and remote areas of the country. The group includes representatives from the British Veterinary Association (BVA), the RCVS and the National Farmers Union.
We are continuing to work with the RCVS and the BVA to develop the necessary information base to assess whether there are any areas which may be at risk as a result of the changing agricultural base or changes in the rural/urban landscape. This year, we have included specific questions in DEFRA’s Farm Practices Survey to assess the farmer experience of accessing veterinary services.
Some rural practices are making greater efforts to co-ordinate their out of hours services in the same way that small animal practices have done for some time. The BVA has indicated a willingness to develop more information on improved business methods for rural practice, which will help many practices to improve the way they provide 24 hour cover.
In relation to the welfare of animals, the Government stress the statutory requirement for keepers of livestock in rural and remote areas to provide appropriate husbandry for animals in their care. We are working, through our Farm Health Planning team, to support initiatives which will enable veterinary surgeons to provide more managed farm health planning and reduce the reliance on care only in emergency situations.
In order to assure greater transparency and to enable a clearer plan of work in relation to Vets and Veterinary Services, DEFRA has agreed to relinquish chairmanship of this working group and we hope to be able to announce an independent chairman shortly.
Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to introduce legislation to amend the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 through Orders in Council. [129280]
Mr. Bradshaw: Section 21 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (VSA) provides power to make Orders in Council to give effect to any agreement between Ireland and the UK concerning veterinary surgeons. There are currently no plans to introduce any such Order.
The VSA has previously been amended by Order in Council under section 2(2) European Communities Act 1972 (ECA). Such Orders in Council may be made for the purpose of implementing EC obligations. DEFRA plans to make such an Order shortly concerning the mutual recognition of professional qualifications as between EC member states.
Other than the forthcoming mutual recognition Order, DEFRA does not intend to amend the VSA by Order in Council. My officials recently held a very constructive and helpful meeting with the President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to discuss proposals from the RCVS Council to modernise the Veterinary Surgeons Act. We are currently considering these proposals and will continue to work closely with the RCVS on this issue.
Warm Front Scheme: East Sussex
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes in (a) Eastbourne and (b) East Sussex used the Warm Front scheme in each year since 2001. [130925]
Ian Pearson: The following table shows the number of households in Eastbourne and East Sussex assisted by the Warm Front Scheme in each scheme year since 2001.
| Eastbourne | East Sussex | |
Waste Disposal
Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulation of the manufacture and consumption of lumpwood charcoal is undertaken under the terms of the Waste Incineration Directive. [129939]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Waste Incineration Directive will only apply in the following circumstances:
(i) the plant manufacturing charcoal uses wood waste that may contain halogenated organic compounds or heavy metals as a result of contamination with wood preservatives or coatings
(ii) and the wood waste originated from construction or demolition waste
(iii) and the plant burns any of the pyrolysis products.
Waste Disposal: Schools
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate has been made of the amount of municipal waste produced by schools. [130629]
Mr. Bradshaw: This is a devolved matter and, in Scotland, is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.
A total of 28.7 million tonnes of municipal waste was generated in England in 2005-06. No reliable estimate is available of the proportion of this which was produced by schools.
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