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18 Feb 2008 : Column 268W—continued
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many flood defences were built in 2005-06; and if he will break down the budget for flood defence funding in 2005-06 by main budget heading. [186379]
Mr. Woolas: The Environment Agency’s capital programme delivered 65 completed flood risk management projects to reduce flood risk in 2005-06.
This was in addition to continued investment across a wide range of flood risk management activities such as flood warning, emergency response and planning, development control and maintaining flood defence assets.
The following figures reflect Environment Agency spend on flood risk management in 2005-06, funded by DEFRA. They exclude spend funded from other sources (eg levies on local authorities, beneficiary contributions, and charges).
| 2005-06 | |
| £ million | |
Flood Control: Finance
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding in addition to that delivered through the local government settlement his Department will make available to Gloucestershire County Council to reduce the risk of flooding in Gloucestershire in 2008-09. [178736]
Mr. Woolas [holding answer 30 January 2008]: Total central and local government spend on management of flood and coastal erosion risk will be approximately £600 million this year, rising incrementally to £800 million in 2010-11. This largely consists of grant in aid to the Environment Agency to manage flood risk. The Environment Agency also funds capital improvement projects, undertaken by local authorities (usually district and unitary authorities) and internal drainage boards. County councils rarely undertake capital improvement projects to reduce flood risk but Gloucestershire is free to apply to the Environment Agency subject to eligibility criteria.
The Environment Agency is the principal operating authority with responsibility for flood risk management and provisionally estimates spend of £3 million in Gloucestershire in 2008-09, including £750,000 each on river maintenance and improving flood forecasting and warning, projects looking at possible future improvements for Tewkesbury, Gloucester, Prestbury, Stroud and Lydney and development of long-term, sustainable options for managing flood risk from the fluvial Severn.
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department provided to (a) Gloucestershire county council, (b) Tewkesbury borough council, (c) Cheltenham borough council, (d) the Environment Agency and (e) other agencies for flood (i) recovery and (ii) prevention in the last 12 months; what restrictions there are upon the ways in which such funds can be spent; what plans he has for further similar expenditure over the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [183647]
Mr. Woolas: DEFRA has not provided funding specifically for flood recovery but substantial funding has been provided by other Government Departments, co-ordinated by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
DEFRA has overall policy responsibility for flood risk management and grant aids, the Environment Agency's flood risk activities and capital improvement projects (undertaken by local authorities) and, in areas of special drainage need, internal drainage boards. This funding must be spent in accordance with Government policy to achieve a set of agreed outcome measures for the programme.
We have not provided capital grants to Gloucestershire county council, Tewkesbury borough council or Cheltenham borough council during 2007-08. We plan rather to give the Environment Agency approximately £439 million in 2007-08.
The statement by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 4 February, Official Report, column 49WS, sets out
spending plans for management of flood and coastal erosion risk over the next three years. The Environment Agency will manage this money, including capital grant to local authorities and internal drainage boards, to deliver the targets we have set for them over the comprehensive spending review period.
Fly Tipping: West Midlands
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government have taken to reduce fly tipping in the West Midlands since 1997. [177320]
Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Houghton and Washington, East (Mr. Kemp) on 7 January 2008, Official Report , column 66W.
Forestry Commission
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy that the Forestry Commission's success strategy should (a) encourage opportunities for recreation and leisure and (b) increase forestation on Commission land. [186483]
Joan Ruddock: The Forestry Commission is responsible for the delivery of the Strategy for England's Trees Woods and Forests that was published last year. With Natural England it is preparing a Delivery Plan for the Strategy which is expected to be published in the autumn.
The Forestry Commission is the largest single provider of outdoor recreation opportunities in England. The freehold estate had been dedicated for public access on foot in perpetuity through the provisions in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. The Commission is making substantial investments in improving its recreational facilities for all sections of society. Examples include Haldon Forest Park in Devon, Bedgbury in Kent, Grizedale and Whinlatter in the Lake District and Kielder in Northumberland. The commission has also been contributing to urban regeneration through the provision of green spaces, including Newlands in the North West of England, Jeskyns in North Kent and Ingrebourne Hill in Essex.
The Public Forest Estate managed by the Forestry Commission extends to over 250,000 hectares which is independently certified as sustainably managed. It is expected to deliver relevant priorities in the Strategy for England's Trees Woods and Forests and to contribute to other government policies.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the UK’s net emissions of (a) hydrofluorocarbons, (b) perfluorocarbons and (c) sulfurhexafluoride in each of the last 10 years; for what reasons such emissions were not included in the UK climate change sustainable development indicator: 2006 greenhouse gas emissions final figures; and if he will make a statement. [185393]
Mr. Woolas: Estimates of the UK’s emissions of hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfurhexafluoride from 1990 to 2006 can be found on the e-digest statistics section of DEFRA’s website.
These estimates were published as National Statistics on 31 January 2008, and form part of the UK Climate Change Sustainable Development indicator. Full details can be found in the statistical release on the DEFRA website. The figures in question can be found in annex A.
DEFRA does not publish sectoral breakdowns of emissions for these three gases.
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total Government grant to the Warm Front scheme was over the last three years. [186375]
Mr. Woolas: Total Government spend on Warm Front over the last three years is detailed as follows.
| 1 April to 31 March each year | Measures s pend (WF) (£ million) |
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme: Hyndburn
Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Warm Front grants were approved in Hyndburn constituency in each of the last three years. [186196]
Mr. Woolas: The number of Warm Front grants approved in the Hyndburn constituency in each of the last three years is detailed as follows.
| 1 January to 31 December each year | Assisted households |
Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost was of each Warm Front grant approved in Hyndburn constituency in the last three years. [186197]
Mr. Woolas: The average cost of each Warm Front grant approved in Hyndburn constituency in the last three years is detailed in the table.
| 1 January to 31 December each year | Average grant (£) |
Housing: Energy
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department takes to monitor residential energy efficiency. [185967]
Mr. Woolas: DEFRA has a robust system in place for monitoring residential energy efficiency. Through rigorous evaluation of our household energy efficiency programmes, including the Energy Efficiency Commitment and Building Regulations, we have a good understanding of the number of low carbon measures, such as cavity and loft insulation, high-efficiency boilers and appliances, installed in United Kingdom housing since 2002, and the remaining capacity.
Underpinning these delivery programmes, is a rolling programme of field research providing detailed understanding of the in-situ energy and carbon performance of buildings and measures. Building on this, we have set in place formal indicators for assessing United Kingdom household energy efficiency over time, through which we will report statutory energy efficiency targets for 2010. Going forward, other instruments, including Energy Performance Certificates and the Green Homes Service will provide further house specific energy efficiency information.
Inland Waterways: Cotswold Hills
Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the effects of the cessation of funding of the Cotswold Canals restoration by British Waterways on the existing funding for the project; and if he will make a statement; [186061]
(2) what discussions he has had with British Waterways on their decision to cease funding for the Cotswold Canals restoration; [186065]
(3) what discussions British Waterways had with (a) the Secretary of State and (b) other funding partners before announcing the cessation of funding to the Cotswold Canals restoration. [186066]
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when the decision of British Waterways to withdraw from the Cotswold Canals Partnership was first communicated to him; [186062]
(2) what impact assessments he has undertaken of the decision by British Waterways to withdraw from the Cotswolds Council Partnership. [186488]
Jonathan Shaw: On Monday 28 January, DEFRA officials advised me that British Waterways (BW) had informed them that the board had decided to withdraw from the Cotswold Canal Partnership. BW asked that we allow them time to inform their staff and the most affected stakeholders in advance of the Press Notice which was issued on Monday 4 February.
We have always made it clear that, whilst we welcomed the project, this was a matter for the BW board. I was aware that BW had many new pressures on their budget, particularly in relation to the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal breach, and that they were concerned at their overall level of exposure. It is for the BW board to
decide how best to manage risk, taking into account both the interests of all stakeholders and BW's public policy objectives.
Inland Waterways: Dredging
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many mains water courses for which (a) the Environment Agency and (b) internal drainage boards are responsible have been dredged since July 2007; and what length of water courses has been dredged. [185613]
Mr. Woolas: The information requested is not held centrally and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
International Whaling Commission
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reports he has received of countries being lobbied for recruitment to the International Whaling Commission by the pro-whaling group of nations; and if he will make a statement. [186076]
Jonathan Shaw: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) posts are aware of the need to watch for indications that countries may join the International Whaling Commission and adopt a pro-whaling stance. Posts in the relevant capitals are briefed and engage in discussion with their counterparts on whaling at every appropriate opportunity. Such countries are left in no doubt as to the importance that the UK attaches to whale conservation.
Livestock: Waste Disposal
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated cost to the livestock industry of complying with regulations preventing the on-farm burial of fallen livestock has been in each of the last four years. [184861]
Jonathan Shaw: It is not possible to estimate the amount spent by the livestock industry. Although information is available about the amount spent on the National Fallen Stock Scheme, not all farmers are members of the scheme and many will have made their own arrangements to dispose of carcases in compliance with the rules. In addition, many farmers would have disposed of carcases as required by the EU animal by-products regulation even had it not been agreed, given the strict controls on carcase disposal under previous domestic legislation.
Local Government: Rural Areas
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with other Ministers on raising awareness of the infrastructure provided by rural communities councils; and if he will make a statement. [185242]
Jonathan Shaw:
The Government recently recognised the importance of the rural community councils (RCCs) by announcing new funding worth over £10
million to the network over the next three years. We are keen to ensure that rural interests are taken fully into account in policy making and delivery across all Departments and at all levels of government. Where appropriate, DEFRA will continue to raise the potential contribution of the RCCs, as it has done together with the Department for Communities and Local Government in relation to local area agreements and the delivery of public service agreement 21, on building more cohesive, empowered and active communities.
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