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7 Feb 2008 : Column 1338W—continued
Influenza
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2008, Official Report, column 1935W, on influenza, what elements of the food industry sector's business continuity plans were tested in the cross-Government pandemic influenza exercise; whether any lessons were learned as a result of the exercise; and if he will make a statement. [184464]
Jonathan Shaw: A range of food sector manufacturers, retailers, primary producers and wholesalers tested their business continuity plans in the cross-Government pandemic influenza exercise. The Government have published a lessons learned document, available on the UK Resilience website, after discussions were held with the sector.
National Fallen Stock Collection and Disposal Scheme
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to review the ban on on-farm burial. [184869]
Jonathan Shaw: There are no plans to review the ban on on-farm burial.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms his Department has in place to monitor the effectiveness of the ban on on-farm burial in reducing the incidence of disease amongst livestock. [184870]
Jonathan Shaw: None. The ban on burying on-farm fallen stock was introduced by the EU Animal By-Products Regulation 1774/2002. It is there to protect public and animal health from any potential risks associated with the burial of fallen stock.
The regulation was made on a precautionary basis influenced by the evidence provided in a number of scientific opinions from the EU’s scientific steering committee (SSC).
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the cost to the livestock industry of removal of fallen stock and the effects of those costs on competitiveness. [184967]
Jonathan Shaw: No such assessment has been made. However, the independent review of the national fallen stock scheme carried out in 2006 did an analysis of such costs and the impact on producers of the costs of fallen stock disposal. The report is available on the DEFRA website.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what percentage of livestock producers were members of the National Fallen Stock Scheme in each of the last three years. [184862]
Jonathan Shaw: The national fallen stock scheme has had around 40,000 members for the past three years. The independent review of the scheme, carried out in 2006, estimated this constituted between 55 per cent. and 61 per cent. of the potential total membership in the UK.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress his Department has made in implementing the recommendations of the independent review of the National Fallen Stock Scheme and Company. [184868]
Jonathan Shaw: The Government response to the independent review was published in February 2007 and a copy of that response is available on the DEFRA website. It noted that the Government was in the process of considering the National Fallen Stock Company business plan and wished to discuss it further with the company, with the aim of agreeing a joint way forward which could be put to the livestock industry.
Since then, the Government have endorsed the company’s business plan and is providing assistance in taking it forward. The Government remains in discussion with the company about its future operations and ownership. Once these discussions have concluded and the outcome has been put to the livestock industry, a further response will be published.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the National Fallen Stock Scheme. [184871]
Jonathan Shaw: The Government are satisfied with the effectiveness of the arrangements for collecting and disposing of animals under the national fallen stock scheme.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the National Fallen Stock Scheme on the level of stock collection prices. [184952]
Jonathan Shaw: No such assessment has been made. However, changes in fallen stock collection prices were analysed as part of the independent review of the national fallen stock scheme carried out in 2006. The report is available on the DEFRA website.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average stock collection price was for (a) each type of animal and (b) in each region in each of the last three years. [184953]
Jonathan Shaw: The Government do not collect such data. However, some information on collection prices by species and region is available in the report of the independent review of the national fallen stock scheme carried out in 2006. The report is available on the DEFRA website.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department proposes to make available for the National Fallen Stock Scheme in each of the next three years; what allocations were originally made to the scheme for those years; and whether such funding is to continue after 2011. [184968]
Jonathan Shaw: DEFRA has no current plans to make funding available beyond the previously agreed period ending November 2008.
Political Impartiality
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what purpose his Department records the political opinions of (a) staff and (b) the public. [179320]
Jonathan Shaw: Civil servants are required to act in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Code, and section 4.4 of the Civil Service Management Code.
Members of the public who apply for public appointments within the jurisdiction of the Commissioner for Public Appointments are asked to complete a declaration on political activity.
Poultry
Mr. Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many chickens were reared for meat in England in the last five years; and what percentage of those were reared free range in each year. [183820]
Jonathan Shaw: The following table shows the number of chickens and hens slaughtered in England and Wales in the last five years.
| Slaughtering of chickens and hens in England and Wales | |||
| Million birds | |||
| Broilers (chickens) | Boilers (culled hens) | Total | |
| Note s : 1. The figures from the Great Britain Poultry Register are from an extract of data taken on 30 January 2008. The figures represent the number of chickens usually present at a premises, and as such they should be taken as approximate. 2. It is mandatory for all premises with 50 or more poultry to register on Great Britain Poultry Register. Registration for smaller premises is voluntary so these premises are under-represented here. Source: DEFRA | |||
According to the Great Britain Poultry Register there were 101.3 million chickens registered as being reared for meat production on premises in England as at 30 January 2008. Of these chickens, 3.5 million (3.4 per cent.) were registered as free range. Estimates of the proportion which are free range are not available for earlier years.
It should be noted that as free range birds are on farms for longer than other broilers, the proportion of production which is free range will lower than the proportion of population on farm. However, this will be offset by the fact that the Great Britain Poultry Register is only voluntary for flocks of less than 50 birds, a higher proportion of which would be free range.
Warm Front Scheme: Greater London
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have received grants from the WarmFront scheme in each London borough since its introduction. [184172]
Mr. Woolas: Since the introduction of Warm Front in 2000, the number of households receiving a grant in each London borough is as follows:
| Households | |
Wind Power: Licensing
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are planned to enable marine stakeholders to be consulted in licensing decisions for offshore wind farms generating over 100MW of power. [178588]
Mr. Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
Offshore windfarms are currently required to have a number of licenses and consents in place, for example under the Food and Environment Protection Act (FEPA) 1985, Coast Protection Act (CPA) 1949 and under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. Thorough consultation arrangements are in place for each, including with marine stakeholders. In addition, as part of the process for selecting offshore sites, in December 2007 the Government launched the scoping work for a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) for the next offshore licensing round. The SEA process will include consultation with marine stakeholders.
Under the Planning Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, the Independent Planning Commission would take over responsibility for decisions on applications for orders granting development consent on nationally significant infrastructure projects, within the framework set by national policy statements. These will include offshore windfarms over 100MW.
The Bill includes provisions which will ensure that stakeholders are involved in the decisions at each stage. There will be public consultation on national policy statements before they are designated; a legal duty on promoters to publicise their proposed application and to consult prescribed parties about it; and any party that registers an interest by the appropriate deadline will have a right to be heard by the IPC when it considers the application.
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