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10 Jan 2008 : Column 740W—continued
Departmental Redundancy
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of redundancies in his Department in the 12 months preceding (a) 30 June 2004, (b) 30 June 2005 and (c) 30 June 2006. [175342]
Jonathan Shaw: Information is not readily available to provide an accurate and timely answer to this question in line with the periods requested. I can confirm that for the most closely aligned financial years the cost of redundancies within my Department were:
| As at 31 March each year | £ |
Departmental Sustainable Development
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) new build and (b) refurbishment projects in 2005-06 met the targets under the Framework of Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. [175950]
Mr. Woolas:
In its 2006 annual report on Sustainable Development in Government, the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) reported 15 new build and 16 refurbishment projects incorporated a full
range of Sustainable Development considerations. The information was compiled from information returned by Departments. The SDC’s report is available on its website at:
Dredging: Norfolk
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of offshore aggregate dredging on sea defences and erosion along the East Anglian coastline on the Norfolk economy; what his policy is on the future of offshore aggregate dredging; and if he will make a statement. [175602]
Jonathan Shaw: Dredging of marine minerals in English waters is carefully controlled under the Environmental Impact Assessment and Natural Habitats (Extraction of Minerals by Marine Dredging) (England and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2007. Currently, the area licensed for extraction in the UK is only 1 per cent. of the sea bed. The actual area dredged is even smaller, equating to less than 15 per cent. of the licensed area.
All marine minerals dredging proposals are subject to an environmental impact assessment and must be accompanied by an environmental statement and coastal impact study. Dredging will only be permitted if conservative modelling and assessments indicate that no significant harm will occur to the marine environment and the coastline. As the dredging proceeds, such assessments are routinely checked through monitoring.
The recently published Marine Aggregate Extraction summary report (Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund, 2007) concluded that, based on recent research, modelling and field studies, almost all marine aggregate extraction areas are too far offshore to have any effect on the coastline.
The Government wish to see indigenous mineral resources developed and utilised within a framework of sustainable development. Marine dredging of sand and gravel makes a significant contribution to the supply of aggregate to the construction industry, and is important for beach nourishment as well as flood and coastal defence schemes, particularly along the north Norfolk coasts. In 2006 the total marine aggregate production from the UK was 24.3 million tonnes, with 33 per cent. (8 million tonnes) derived from the east coast.
Early Retirement
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 29 November, Official Report, column 616W, on early retirement, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the early retirement schemes being offered to staff; and if he will make a statement. [173413]
Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 11 December 2007]: The total cost of early departure schemes being run by this Department during financial year 2007-08 is estimated at £47 million.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 29 November, Official Report, column 616W, on early retirement, what the grades are of those members of staff who have (a) been offered and (b) accepted early retirement. [173414]
Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 11 December 2007]: Pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007, Official Report, column 616W:
(a) (i) the grades of staff to whom voluntary early retirement (VER) was offered in the six months to 27 November 2007 are as follows:
| Number | |
(ii) of those listed at (a) (i), the grades of staff who accepted VER offers are as follows:
| Number | |
(b) (i) the grades of staff to whom voluntary early severance (VES) was offered in the six months to 27 November 2007 are as follows:
| Number | |
(ii) of those listed at (b) (i), the grades of staff who accepted VES offers are as follows:
| Number | |
Figures on acceptances have been amended to reflect acceptances which have taken place since the date of the reply on 29 November 2007, Official Report, column 616W, referred to.
EU Emissions Trading Scheme
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his estimate is of the revenue which will be obtained from auctioning of allowances under Phase II of the European Emissions Trading Scheme in each year over the period of the scheme; what proportion of this revenue he expects will be spent on schemes (a) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and (b) to mitigate the effects of global warming; and if he will make a statement. [175650]
Mr. Woolas: Under the terms of the EU ETS Directive 2003/87/EC the total number of allowances auctioned cannot exceed 10 per cent. of the number allocated during Phase II. We plan to auction 7 per cent. of allowances in Phase II of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), amounting to approximately 85 million allowances, plus those allowances from installations that close during Phase II and any unused surplus from the New Entrant Reserve (NER).
The Government’s spending priorities are not in general, determined by the way in which the money is raised. The spending review process ensures that resources are allocated efficiently to deliver Government objectives and ensures priorities receive
the increased levels of funding, as set out in the comprehensive spending review (CSR).
The CSR increases DEFRA’s budget by 1.4 per cent. in real terms, from £3,508 million in 2007-08 to £3,960 million. This increase allows the Government to allocate substantial resources to tackle climate change including the Environmental Transformation Fund, and increased resources for flood defences to help the UK adapt.
Farmers: Copeland
Mr. Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of farmers in Copeland who have diversified into other business areas in the latest period for which figures are available. [175932]
Jonathan Shaw: Results from the Survey of Labour, Machinery and Diversification on Agricultural and Horticultural holdings 2005 for diversification in Copeland are given in the following table. These exclude businesses independent from the farm which do not use farm resources.
| Farms which undertook diversification activity in 2005 | |
| Percentage | |
The survey sample consisted of around 40 thousand farms in England, of which around 100 farms were from Copeland.
Note, these figures are likely to underestimate the levels of diversification since farmers tend to only record large diversification activities and may not record some activities due to the complexities of defining diversification.
Fisheries: Quotas
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2007, Official Report, column 865W on Fisheries: Quotas, on what Quota Management Change Programme proposals his Department was prepared to consult in autumn 2007; if he will place a copy of drafts in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [176139]
Jonathan Shaw: As noted in my answer of 21 November to the hon. Member, DEFRA and the devolved fisheries administrations had been planning to consult on the findings of the Quota Management Change Programme (QMCP) in autumn 2007. When the Scottish Executive announced its withdrawal from the QMCP in June 2007, the draft consultation document was incomplete, with some further work required which would have been carried out before the planned autumn consultation. Subsequent developments have in any case overtaken certain aspects of the draft proposals. In these circumstances, the publication of the draft document in its present form would be misleading and unhelpful.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to make changes to the management and quota arrangements for the 10 metre and under fleet; and if he will make a statement. [176144]
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