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Priority axis—England
Priority axis

1.

Adaptation of the Community fishing fleet

Low priority

(e.g. decommissioning and other fleet restructuring/effort management measures as well as skills development, retraining for alternative occupations and early retirement. Also vessel modernisation and engine replacement).

Target: more stocks within safe biological limits year by year, during 2007-13.

2.

Aquaculture, inland fishing, processing and marketing of fisheries and aquaculture products

Low priority

(e.g. investment in aquaculture, inland fishing, and processing and marketing. Consideration is given to the environment, safety, working conditions and both public and animal health).

Target: to increase profitability and sustainability and improve environmental standards in the UK aquaculture sector between 2007-13.

3.

Measures of common benefit

High priority

(e.g. measures of common interest with a broader scope than those normally undertaken by private enterprises. So this can include protection and development of the marine environment, promotion of port facilities, new markets and pilot projects including partnerships between scientists and industry. Also covered are improving quality, promoting more selective fishing methods and upgrading skills).

(Emphasis on marine protection and partnership projects rather than capital works).

Target: to encourage responsible fishing that helps to safeguard the marine environment.

4.

Sustainable development of fisheries areas

Medium priority

(e.g. assistance for the sustainable development of fisheries areas and improvements to the quality of life in such areas. Areas eligible for funding are being selected and have to implement a local strategy which seeks to implement the objectives of the CFP taking particular account of socio-economic effects. Funding can support measures taken to maintain economic and social prosperity, develop jobs, promote the coastal environment and promote co-operation between fisheries areas).

(Measures under axis 1-3 are applicable under axis 4 for the selected fishing areas and for Convergence areas will be given a high priority).

Target: employment diversification in fishing areas consistent with regional policy priorities.


These will be finalised in light of responses to the consultation on the draft UK Operational Programme.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the UK Strategic Plan in relation to the European Fisheries Fund for the period January 2007 to December 2013. [157252]

Jonathan Shaw: The UK National Strategic Plan for Fisheries describes the UK fisheries sector and UK objectives and priorities for fisheries between 2007 and 2013. It covers catching, aquaculture, inland fishing, processing and marketing. The UK has to draft this document to demonstrate to the European Commission that it has clear strategic objectives for managing fisheries and on which to base its priorities under the European Fisheries Fund.

We are planning to submit the UK National Strategic Plan to the European Commission as soon as possible, pending its finalisation.

Flood Control

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what frequency was assigned to the recent floods in the Thames and Severn catchments on the basis of the existing modelling; what changes have been made to the flood frequency modelling since those events; and if he will make a statement. [157234]

Mr. Woolas: The Environment Agency’s Midlands and Thames Regions are working to assess the frequency of the flooding at key locations. It is expected that final results will be available in the Midlands Region by mid-December.

The Environment Agency’s initial findings are that the July 2007 flooding at Gloucester had an annual probability of 0.5 per cent. in any one year (1 in 200 year return period).

The return period (or frequency of flooding) has yet to be calculated for the recent floods on the Thames. However, tributaries of the River Thames such as the River Evenlode, the River Windrush, the River Ock
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and the River Loddon, experienced the highest recorded river levels. It is too early to determine the impact of these floods on future probability analysis, but they will be fully accounted for in any new river modelling work.

Floods

Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) sea level rise, (b) storm occurrence and (c) subsiding land mass on calculations of flood risk. [154413]

Mr. Woolas: The Government’s 2004 Foresight Future Flooding report took a long-term view of national flooding and coastal erosion risks to 2100. It estimated that future climate change, together with increased economic wealth which increases losses, could lead to potentially significant increases in future risk by the end of this century.

The Government advise the operating authorities to factor climate change effects into the design of present-day river and coastal defences. An allowance should be made for acceleration of sea level rise, as a result of climate change already locked in to the global system, from the current 2.5-4 millimetres (mm) a year to 13-15 mm a year by the end of the century, depending on location. As part of a precautionary approach, this advice also includes predicted land level changes as very gradually the south east of England has been lowering and the north of the country rising since the last ice age. Such guidance for flood and coastal erosion risk management activities has been provided since 1989 and is kept under review (most recently revised in October 2006).

Sensitivity tests are also recommended for a 20 per cent. increase in the river flows as a result of climate change. Increases in rainfall intensity are also recommended in planning guidance (PPS25) for new urban drainage.

On storm occurrence, the scenarios to be published by the UK Climate Impacts Programme in 2008 are expected to provide further insight into changes that may occur over the next century and these will be taken into account in future guidance.

Hares: Conservation

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will hold discussions with the Game Conservancy Trust on plans to conserve the mountain hare. [155944]

Joan Ruddock: The new list of UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species and Habitats contains 65 habitats and 1,149 species, including the mountain hare. A large number of groups, and in excess of 500 individual experts in total, were involved in the production of this list. It is impossible, therefore, for me to meet with specific conservation groups to discuss individual species. Instead, the UK Biodiversity Partnership as a whole is considering how to take forward the conservation of species and habitats on the new list.


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Inland Waterways: Pollution

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 July 2007, Official Report, column 1380W, on Inland Waterways: pollution, what records, other than those relating to consented discharges, the Environment Agency keeps of the potential sources of pollution. [154078]

Mr. Woolas: The Environment Agency holds a range of information on potential sources of pollution. These include the Pollution Inventory which covers information from approximately 2,000 industrial sites on chemical releases, including those to controlled waters.

Operator Pollutant Risk Appraisal information is used to assess the environmental risk of Environment Agency regulated sites. The Compliance Classification scheme shows the sites which have failed to comply with permit conditions.

Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) for what reasons the (a) Marine Bill and (b) Draft Marine Bill was not included in the 2006 Queen’s Speech; and if he will make a statement; [157238]

(2) whether a (a) Marine Bill and (b) Draft Marine Bill will be included in the 2007 Queen’s Speech; and if he will make a statement; [157239]

(3) what discussions he has had with (a) the Prime Minister and (b) Cabinet colleagues on the inclusion of a (i) Marine Bill and (ii) Draft Marine Bill in the 2007 Queen’s Speech; and if he will make a statement; [157240]

(4) what priority he has given to the inclusion of a (a) Marine Bill and (b) Draft Marine Bill in the 2007 Queen’s Speech; and if he will make a statement. [157242]

Jonathan Shaw: The Government are firmly focused on meeting their commitment to introduce a comprehensive Marine Bill in this Parliament. Proposals have been developed for a Bill that covers a broad and complex set of marine issues spanning many different interests and which, in some cases, break completely new ground.

The Government’s draft legislative programme states that we are considering publishing a draft Marine Bill in the next session of Parliament—we are working to do this in early 2008. Publishing the Marine Bill in draft will allow us to get the legislation right and lead to a better Bill.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Hilary Benn) has regular discussions on a range of issues with the Prime Minister and Cabinet colleagues.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on (a) the issuing of offshore consents and (b) a Marine Bill; and if he will make a statement. [157241]


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Jonathan Shaw: My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn) and the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Mr. Hutton) meet regularly to discuss matters of mutual interest, including the Marine Bill. Discussions about offshore consents took place during the preparation of “A Sea of Change: a Marine Bill White Paper”.

Home Department

Trafficked Children

16. Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional resources she plans to make available to those local authorities offering refuge provision and special support to child victims of trafficking uncovered by Pentameter II. [157292]

Mr. Coaker: Children rescued within Operation Pentameter will be referred to the local authority which has duties to safeguard all children who are at risk of harm and accommodate those in need. The NSPCC and ECPAT will be on hand to offer specialist advice on the needs of child trafficking victims.

Inward Migration

17. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her estimate is of the number of (a) legal and (b) illegal immigrants arriving in the UK in the last 12 months. [157294]

Mr. Byrne: The latest information on non-EEA nationals granted leave to enter the United Kingdom relates to 2006 and shows that a total of 12.9 million such persons were granted leave to enter the United Kingdom by immigration officers. The majority of these persons, around 94 per cent. (12.1 million), were either: visitors, both ordinary and business; passengers in transit; or passengers returning after a temporary absence abroad.

No Government has ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who have entered the country illegally. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately, and that remains the case.

Remembrance Day

18. Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make a statement on her negotiations with the Royal British Legion on arrangements for Remembrance Sunday parades in 2007. [157296]

Mr. Coaker: The Home Office has not had any negotiations with the Royal British Legion on arrangements for Remembrance Sunday Parades in 2007. However I can assure the Royal British Legion of our support should they encounter any obstacles in making arrangements.


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People Trafficking

19. Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to tackle human trafficking. [157297]

Mr. Coaker: We have published the UK Action Plan to tackle Human Trafficking which contains 64 action points as part of the UK's end to end strategy to combat this terrible crime. Strategic oversight of the plan's progress will be discussed at the meeting of the Inter Departmental Ministerial Group of which I am chair and on which the Scottish Executive sit.

We have also launched the operational phase of Pentameter 2 to tackle those responsible for trafficking people for the purposes of sexual exploitation, and are implementing the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Human Trafficking.

Police Priorities

20. Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to give local communities a greater role in the determination of local policing priorities. [157298]

Mr. McNulty: Neighbourhood policing already gives local communities a role in determining local policing priorities. In addition, monthly local crime information will be provided to allow people to understand better their local community safety issues, and hold the police to account for the way in which they tackle the communities' local priorities. We have also asked Sir Ronnie Flanagan to look at how we can improve both local involvement and local accountability and he will be reporting on this early in 2008.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

21. Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department has issued to police forces on the use of antisocial behaviour orders in respect of persons under the age of 18. [157299]

Mr. Coaker: Revised comprehensive guidance on antisocial behaviour orders was published in August 2006. This is part of the toolkit we have provided to all antisocial behaviour practitioners in England and Wales to tackle antisocial behaviour. ASBOs are just one of those important tools.

Police Numbers: Bournemouth

22. Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make a statement on police manning numbers in Bournemouth. [157300]

Mr. McNulty: At 31 March 2007, there were 315 police officers and 36 police community support officers in Bournemouth. Total staffing levels in Dorset have increased by 35 per cent. since 1997.

Community Policing

23. Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to further develop community policing. [157301]


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Mr. McNulty: We remain committed to Neighbourhood Policing—which is very much a shared endeavour between the police service, local agencies and the community. We have already signalled our intention to put Neighbourhood Policing at the heart of Neighbourhood Management and as part of that we will also consider pooled and participatory budgets.


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