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25 July 2007 : Column 1090W—continued
Nature Conservation: EC Action
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 May 2007, Official Report, column 887W, on nature conservation: EC action, if he will list the information on compensatory measures supplied to the European Commission as required under Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive. [150920]
Joan Ruddock: According to our records there have been several habitat compensation schemes secured as compensatory measures, under Article 6(4) of the EU Habitats Directive. This is to ensure that the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network is protected. These are as follows.
In addition, there were two consents granted subject to compensatory measures being secured as and when ongoing monitoring identified adverse effects on the European sites concerned. These are as follows:
| Project | Year consent given | Type of consent | European site affected |
|
MOD Remote Ammunitioning Facility in the Tamar Estuary Plymouth |
Planning consent under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 | ||
A review of the relevant records reveals some uncertainty as to the schemes in respect of which information has been sent to the Commission formally in accordance with Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive. We are therefore in the process of sending them information on all those listed.
Nature Reserves: Gloucestershire
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the monies for the recently opened Cranham National Nature Reserve in Gloucestershire will be paid. [151084]
Joan Ruddock [holding answer 19 July 2007]: I understand that this money was released by Natural England to the landowner on 17 July.
Organic Farming: Yorkshire and Humberside
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid to farmers in Yorkshire and the Humber to convert to organic farming in each year since 2003; how many acres of land were farmed organically in Yorkshire and the Humber in 2004; and how many are now. [151564]
Jonathan Shaw: Please see the following table showing the conversion aid payments made to farmers in Yorkshire and the Humber, under the Organic Farming Scheme, since 2003.
There were 9,754 hectares of land farmed organically (organic and in conversion) in 2004 and according to the latest figures available, 11,319 hectares in January 2006.
| Sum of total amount paid | ||
| Calendar year paid | Holding county | Total |
Potatoes: Supermarkets
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage British supermarkets to buy British potatoes. [150457]
Jonathan Shaw: The sourcing of food is a matter for the commercial judgement of retailers. It is against international trade rules for the Government to promote only British produce.
Potatoes: Weather
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much of the potato crop has been destroyed by the recent adverse weather conditions; and if he will make a statement; [150452]
(2) what provisions are in place to provide compensation for potato farmers who have suffered losses as a consequence of the recent flooding; and if he will make a statement; [150461]
(3) what discussions he has had with the British Potato Council on levy relief for potato farmers who have lost crops during the recent flooding; and if he will make a statement. [150462]
Jonathan Shaw: It is estimated that less than 1 per cent. of the national potato crop has been destroyed by the recent adverse weather conditions.
Compensation will not be available for farmers who have lost crops as a result of the recent flooding. Farmers who have taken out insurance for such damage should, of course, make a claim against their policy. We have great sympathy for those who are uninsured but there is no general right to compensation, since that would undermine the decision of those who did take out insurance and in the longer term undermine the competitive insurance market in this area that the UK currently benefits from.
I have held no discussions with the British Potato Council about levy relief for potato farmers who have lost crops during the recent flooding. I understand however that the BPC look sympathetically at situations where individual growers are suffering genuine hardship.
Research: Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will list the published papers resulting from research funded by his Department at Woodchester Park into aspects of (a) badgers and (b) bovine tuberculosis; in which journal each was published; and on what date. [150634]
Jonathan Shaw: DEFRA funds a range of research work with the Central Science Laboratory's (CSL) research team based at Woodchester Park. CSL have published 104 research papers following from their research into aspects of badgers and/or bovine tuberculosis. A full list of the published papers from 1979 to July 2007 has been placed in the Library of the House.
Slaughterhouses: Transport
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the average distance that (a) pigs, (b) sheep, (c) cows and (d) poultry travel between farm and abattoir. [150874]
Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 19 July 2007]: The average ‘as the crow flies’ distance from an agricultural holding to an abattoir in 2006 in Britain can be found in the following table:
| Animal | Batched distance (Kilometres) | Individual distance (Kilometres) |
These figures have been derived from the Animal Movements Licensing System (AMIS) which records batch movements of sheep and pigs in England and Wales.
In November 2002 and October 2003, the median estimated distance travelled by cattle from agricultural holdings to abattoirs was 55.42 km. This figure was derived from a Veterinary Laboratories Agency research project which analysed data from the Cattle Tracing System of Great Britain and represents distance travelled along the road network.
Information on poultry is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Wales
Departments: Air Conditioning
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by his Department and its agencies on the hire of mobile air conditioning units in each of the last five years. [151979]
Departments: Flint Bishop Solicitors
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have made payments to Flint Bishop solicitors since 1997. [151374]
Mr. Hain: There were no payments made to Flint Bishop solicitors by the Wales Office, and we do not have any agencies.
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