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16 July 2007 : Column 11Wcontinued
The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) is studying the court transcript and will be responding to the judges comments about the differential in prices between pesticides
in the UK and similar pesticides in other member states. The Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food (the Curry Commission) recommended in 2002 a move towards a more harmonised system for approvals of pesticides across the EC. Proposals from the European Commission for amendment of the approvals regime, which are currently under negotiation, will help to achieve that objective.
Meanwhile to secure safety of operators, consumers, bystanders, residents and the environment, only pesticides approved as safe under UK conditions may be stored, sold or used in the UK. In the case of pesticides imported from other member states, approval is given, subject to a fee to cover administrative costs, if it is demonstrated firstly that the imported product is not materially different to one approved for UK use, and secondly that the label bears the necessary safety information, in English. Some 145 such approvals for parallel imports are issued each year. They are not time limited.
Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to encourage small businesses to improve their recycling rate. [147390]
Joan Ruddock: Waste Strategy for England 2007, published on 24 May 2007, sets out a range of measures which will help businesses of all sizes to improve their recycling rates.
These measures include: a higher and faster rate of increase in the landfill tax escalator, which will make it cheaper for businesses to separate waste materials for recycling; and continued advice and support through the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme.
BREW is funded through the landfill tax, and is aimed at reducing the amount of waste that businesses produce and improving their resource efficiency, including through increased rates of recycling. Results from the first year of the programme suggest that businesses have saved over £4 for each £1 invested through BREW, as well as increased environmental benefits.
In the strategy, the Government encourage local authorities to take on a wider role to help local, particularly smaller, business to reduce and recycle their waste. A joint Local Government Association/National Industrial Symbiosis Programme/Oxfordshire county council project, funded through BREW, is piloting work on what local authorities can do to contribute effectively to business waste management and resource efficiency (including trade waste recycling collection services). In addition, the Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) is running pilots of recycling collection services for smaller to medium sized enterprises (SME) waste.
Further details on these and other measures aimed at improving small business recycling rates are available in the strategy, which is available on the DEFRA website and in the Library of the House.
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of waste emissions from eco-centres and recycling plants; [149347]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to prevent recycling plants and eco-centres emitting noxious smells. [149348]
Joan Ruddock: All establishments and undertakings carrying out waste management activities need to hold a waste management licence or register for an exemption from the need for one.
Sites operating under a waste management licence, or an exemption, have an overarching requirement to recover or dispose of waste without causing harm to human health or pollution of the environment. This includes not causing a nuisance through odour. The Environment Agency is the competent authority responsible for carrying out regular inspections of such sites to assess compliance with licence conditions.
Under section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities can also serve nuisance abatement notices for sites emitting nuisance odours.
11. Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Defence Export Services Organisation. [149383]
Des Browne: Following the recent capability review of the Ministry of Defence, we are reviewing the function of the head office better to align with recent changes elsewhere in the Department, such as the creation of Defence Equipment and Support and the merger of the single service headquarters. This review includes the Defence Export Services Organisation. The review is due to make recommendations later this year.
17. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Defence Export Services Organisation. [149389]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable).
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received on the future of the Defence Export Services Organisation. [149319]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 12 July 2007]: We regularly discuss with industry the support provided to defence exports.
12. Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who will undertake his ministerial responsibilities in his absence on other official duties; and if he will make a statement. [149384]
Des Browne: I remain in charge of the Department when absent from the Department on official duties. In accordance with the ministerial code, appropriate arrangements are made for ministerial cover when any Minister is absent.
13. Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on mental health support services for members of the armed forces. [149385]
Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mr. Crabb).
14. Mr. Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of levels of force protection in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [149386]
Des Browne: Force protection levels are constantly assessed and reviewed by military commanders in theatre as well as at the UK permanent joint headquarters in order to meet the evolving threat that troops face in Iraq. A range of new capabilities have been deployed in response to these assessments including new intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance systems, new and upgraded armoured vehicles and base protection measures.
21. Mr. Mackay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Iraq. [149393]
Des Browne: The security situation in Iraq varies from province to province. In Baghdad, violence perpetrated by sectarian and insurgent groups remains a serious problem, although recent action by Iraqi and coalition forces as part of Fardh al Qanoon, has led to some reduction in violence against civilians.
Outside Baghdad and its environs the security situation is better.
In Basra the violence is a result of a struggle between Shia Militia groups vying for power and money.
15. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to increase the protection of British armed forces deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. [149387]
Des Browne: A number of new capabilities have been deployed to each theatre in recent months including intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance systems, new, better protected armoured vehicles and additional base protection measures. More are due to arrive before the end of the year.
18. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in development and reconstruction in Helmand province. [149390]
Des Browne: The Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team has implemented over 130 projects to provide tangible benefits to local Afghans, often with engineering support from the military. Examples include the building, extending or refurbishing of 12 schools, the construction of three new parksincluding a womens parksix projects improving local healthcare facilities, including the construction of a 20-room midwifery hostel, and five projects improving the rivers and irrigation canals that enable local farmers to earn a living.
20. Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to discuss with military commanders the helicopter lift requirements for operations in Afghanistan. [149392]
Des Browne: I meet frequently with military commanders to discuss operations in Afghanistan and we keep our force levels and equipment requirements under constant review. We have sufficient helicopters to undertake the key tasks required of them but we all recognise that operational commanders would be able to do more with additional resources. For that reason, we have announced the purchase of six additional Merlin helicopters and the conversion and earlier availability of eight Chinooks.
19. Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will increase the level of compensation his Department provides for hill livestock farmers within the Dartmoor National Park when live firing takes place; and if he will make a statement. [149391]
Derek Twigg: The compensation payment levels are enshrined in an agreement with the Commoners Associations. These are reviewed every three years with the next one being due this coming September. For obvious reasons I would not wish to pre-empt the outcome of the discussions with the Associations.
22. Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the UK armed forces have played in assisting people during the recent floods in England. [149394]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The armed forces provided valuable assistance during recent floods in Yorkshire and Humberside, and were available to provide further assistance elsewhere in the country if requested.
23. Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many destroyers and frigates are required by the fleet. [149395]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond).
24. Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role his Department will play in securing further overseas orders for the Eurofighter Typhoon. [149396]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence continues to co-ordinate Government support to UK industry to help win export orders for Eurofighter Typhoon.
25. Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support he has provided to the African Union Mission to Darfur. [149397]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The UK has, over the last three years, provided significant assistance to the African Union Mission in Darfur. This includes vehicles and other equipment, technical military advice and training to a number of troop-contributing countries and airlift for Nigerian soldiers. Over and above this ongoing effort, we currently have six specialist military officers in key positions, ensuring our military contribution is focused in those areas where we can have best effect. We will consider future requests for support from either the African Union or the United Nations.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the impact of the events held to mark the 25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict. [149377]
Derek Twigg: The veterans, widows and families involved in the events held both in the UK and in the Falkland Islands considered them to have been a tremendous success. They appreciated the opportunity to reflect on their experiences and the courage, sacrifice and professionalism of all those, both military and civilian, who contributed to the liberation of the islands in 1982. The commemorations also helped to educate a new generation about the conflict and underlined the professionalism of our armed forces both then and now.
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Future Aircraft Carrier Programme to gain main gate approval. [148267]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on 22 May 2007, Official Report, column 1181W, to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnorshire (Mr. Williams).
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are stationed in (a) Europe, (b) Africa, (c) the Middle East and (d) Asia. [147489]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 5 July 2007]: The strength of UK regular forces posted outside the UK is available in Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 6Global Location of UK regular forces. However, due to the introduction of a new Joint Personnel Administration System (JPA) the latest publication for the numbers of Naval Service and Army personnel was on 1 October 2006 and are available at:
The most recent data for the Royal Air Force (RAF) (which are provisional also because of JPA) were published on l April 2006 and are available at:
Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA) are currently validating JPA RAF location data and expect to publish provisional RAF figures for 1 July 2006 and 1 October 2006 by the end of July 2007.
Copies of TSP 6 are available in the Library of the House of Commons.
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average employment cost was of (a) an officer, (b) a member of another rank, (c) a non-industrial civil servant and (d) an industrial civil servant in the (i) Army, (ii) Navy, (iii) Air Force and (iv) Royal Marines in each year since 1997. [147355]
Derek Twigg: The information is not available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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