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3 Sep 2007 : Column 1785W—continued
Agriculture: Subsidies
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of (a) administration of and (b) payments under the Single Payment Scheme has been since its introduction. [148722]
Jonathan Shaw:
The cost of administering the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) in financial years 2005-06 and 2006-07 was £67.6 million and £75.1 million
respectively. Costs include payroll, accommodation, travel and corporate overheads. IT investment costs have been excluded.
Payments to farmers under the scheme for the period to 30 June 2007 are as follows:
| £ million | |
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department expects to pay to farmers in North Yorkshire in 2007 in common agricultural policy payments; and how many farms will receive payments. [151516]
Jonathan Shaw: I am unable to make predictions about common agricultural policy payments this year. As far as the main CAP scheme, the single payment scheme (SPS) is concerned, the Rural Payments Agency has paid as at 18 July a total of £1.49 billion. Detailed analysis of all the payments made under the SPS is not yet available. Once the remaining scheme payments have been completed, a decision will be taken on the level of detail that will be published. The validation of claims under the 2007 SPS is at an early stage.
Agriculture: Wastes
Dr. Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incentives are in place to encourage farmers to work with the Government to provide renewable sources of energy from agricultural waste. [150607]
Joan Ruddock: A specific technology that the Government are keen to promote is anaerobic digestion (AD). This is an effective source of renewable energy that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by capturing methane from manures and slurries, as well as from the decomposition of other organic materials, such as food wastes. The UK Biomass Strategy and the Waste Strategy for England include details of how we will work with stakeholders to drive a faster growth in the use of AD by local authorities, businesses and farmers.
The electricity derived from anaerobic digestion is eligible for market support through Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs). Alongside the Energy White Paper, the Government launched a consultation on differentiated support levels for different renewables technologies. Under these proposals, anaerobic digestion of agricultural wastes would receive additional support in the form of 2.0 ROCs/MWh. We are also examining the case and prospective mechanisms for long term support for the renewable heat sector and possible means to support the development of local infrastructure and supply chains.
The treated liquid from anaerobic digestion plants, known as digestate, has the potential for use as a fertiliser and soil conditioner. The Environment Agency and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) aim to develop a standard and protocol for digestate by spring 2008. These would
provide regulatory clarity and confidence in its recovery on land. WRAP will support the development of the market for digestate alongside its work to establish markets for waste-derived compost.
Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take in response to the June 2007 report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle Tuberculosis. [151568]
Jonathan Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 July 2007, Official Report, columns 505-06W.
British Waterways Board
Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what extra work has been carried out by British Waterways as a result of the recent floods; and what estimate he has made of the extra costs of this work to British Waterways over the last two months. [153710]
Jonathan Shaw: Additional work carried out by British Waterways during the recent floods included keeping gullies, weirs and spillways clear to ensure that flood waters could disperse more easily and lowering of water in some canals to enhance capacity to take flood water from some of the more severely affected rivers.
British Waterways is still estimating the costs of repairs associated with the most recent flooding in the West Midlands and South West. Assessments of costs incurred in repairs, dredging and staff time for the floods that affected parts of Yorkshire and the East Midlands at the end of June currently stand at approximately £1.5 million.
Carbon Emissions: Electricity Generation
Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will reconcile the carbon emission factor for grid electricity shown in the Carbon Dioxide Calculator, Public Trial Version, Data, Methodology and Assumptions Paper of June 2007 of 0.527 Kg carbon dioxide/KWh and that shown in the Government's Standard Assessment Procedure for Energy Rating of Dwellings 2005 edition of 0.422 Kg carbon dioxide/KWh. [152968]
Mr. Woolas: There is no current intention to reconcile these two factors as they have been produced for different purposes.
In general terms, the carbon emission factor for grid electricity will vary from minute to minute as the fuel mix (e.g. renewables, gas, oil, coal, nuclear) and availability varies. To derive a factor for the purpose of calculations, it is therefore necessary to determine a period over which to average.
For the Act On CO2 calculator, the purpose is to get as accurate a measure as possible for current CO2 emissions. The factor of 0.527 kg carbon dioxide/kWh is the most recently available figure based on 2005 data
from the DTI DUKES electricity supply data for major power producers and CO2 emissions from the UK greenhouse gas inventory.
For the Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure for Energy Rating of Dwellings 2005 edition consistency of comparison over a longer period of time is important. A longer averaging period has been used. The factor of 0.422 kg carbon dioxide/kWh is based on the 2000 DTI projections for expected mix of electricity supply for the average of the Central Growth/Low Price and Central Growth/High Price scenarios between 2000 and 2010.
Carbon Emissions: Equipment
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make an estimate of the annual carbon emissions produced by (a) lawnmowers, (b) trimmers, edgers and bush cutters, (c) leaf blowers and vacuums, (d) chain saws of less than four brake horse power, (e) shredders of less than five brake horse power, (f) lawn and garden tractors, (g) wood splitters, (h) snow blowers, (i) wood chippers and tree stump grinders, (j) other lawn and garden equipment and (k) other small two and four stroke petrol engine fuelled machinery. [153741]
Mr. Woolas: My Department does not currently have estimates for emissions attributable to the energy used by these types of products. The Market Transformation Programme covers the most significant products in terms of electricity and gas consumption and there are no plans to widen its coverage into these areas. Similarly, there are no estimates of the quantities of liquid fuels used by these types of products, as distinct from the major uses attributable to road transport.
Carbon Emissions: Manufacturing Industries
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on (i) the balance of carbon emissions of UK imports and exports and (ii) the effect on the carbon intensity of UK economic activity of relocating manufacturing processes overseas. [153746]
Mr. Woolas: My Department is currently undertaking a research project considering the development of an “Embedded Carbon Emissions Indicator”. This will enable more accurate measurement of embedded carbon emissions in supply chains outside the UK.
The work is not yet complete and the potential application of an indicator is still to be considered. The data development needed for a full evaluation model would be substantial, as much of the necessary data do not exist in a compatible form, especially outside the European Union.
Carbon Emissions: Power Stations
Jenny Willott:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of carbon dioxide was emitted in the UK by (a) coal, (b)
oil, (c) gas and (d) nuclear power stations in 2005-06; and if he will make a statement. [152929]
Mr. Woolas: In 2005, 173 million tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted from UK power stations. This accounted for 31 per cent. of the total carbon dioxide emissions in the UK in that year. A more detailed breakdown of emissions by fuel is included in the table as follows.
| Fuel | CO 2 Emissions (Mt) |
There are no direct emissions of carbon dioxide from nuclear power stations.
Cereals
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the weight in tonnes was of the UK grain reserves in each of the last 12 quarters for which data are available. [153538]
Jonathan Shaw: The amounts of grain held in storage in the UK under Regulation (EC) No. 824/2000 and stored by the Rural Payments Agency as a result of market intervention measures under the common agricultural policy are set out in the following table:
| Quarter ending | Grain Levels( 1) |
| (1 )Rounded to nearest tonne. | |
Common Land: Devon
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to settle the outstanding annual payment due to the Holne Commoners for the year ending 31 August 2007 in accordance with the Environmentally Sensitive Agreement 1999. [153660]
Joan Ruddock: I can confirm that the outstanding annual payment due under the Holne Commoners’ Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) agreement was processed on 9 July 2007.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has made to the European Commissioner responsible for environmentally sensitive schemes on the EU’s financial obligations to commoners in Dartmoor National Park. [153661]
Joan Ruddock: None. The financial arrangements for the Rural Development Programme for the period 2007-13 were announced on 29 March 2007. This provides for £2.9 billion for agri-environment schemes, over double the expenditure spent in the last programme. This will enable all existing agri-environment agreements, including those for Dartmoor Commoners, to be maintained, and in addition allows for new agreements under Environmental Stewardship to be set up when the existing agreements expire.
Dartmoor National Park
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received on the growth of bracken in Dartmoor National Park and the lack of provision of access for ramblers and riders in accordance with the Dartmoor National Park Act 1983. [153662]
Jonathan Shaw: My officials have informally discussed bracken encroachment on occasion with stakeholders, including Dartmoor commoners, along with other uplands land management issues. The Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 provides land management powers to deal with vegetation such as bracken. In addition, voluntary agri-environment schemes provide options for bracken control measures.
Departments: Air Conditioning
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [151744]
Mr. Woolas: The Department is unable to provide figures for the last five years but can provide figures for financial year 2005-06 and spend to date for financial year 2006-07.
| Amount (£) | |
All air conditioning units used now conform to the following Government environmental standards:
<12 kW—EU Energy Label class C or better
>12 kW—coefficient of performance of 2.85, or better (EGA)
Legislation prohibits the use of CFCs and HCFCs as refrigerants.
Departments: Aviation
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by his Department on (a) first class and (b) business flights in the last 12 months. [153095]
Jonathan Shaw: From information held centrally, the core-Department spent (a) £34,690 on first class and (b) £1,100,623 on business flights between July 2006 and June 2007.
All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the Ministerial Code.
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