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27 Feb 2008 : Column 1632W—continued
Where non-hazardous wastes (such as separated recyclables) are exported, they are generally subject only to commercial controls and not to the prior notification and consent procedures which apply to exports of hazardous wastes. Precise data on the amounts and destinations of exported recyclables are not, therefore, available.
However, based on HM Revenue and Customs figures, it is estimated that in 2006 (the last year for which figures are available), the UK exported some 8 million tonnes of metal scrap, 4 million tonnes of paper, 441,000 tonnes of plastic and 136,000 tonnes of glass cullet. These figures will include recyclable materials collected from all sources including households, commerce and industry.
Red Kites
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many red kites have been illegally killed in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [188606]
Joan Ruddock: Data on the number of red kites illegally killed are not available. Statistics relating to the number of prosecutions and convictions for the illegal killing of wild birds do not distinguish between species.
River Stour: Floods
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to review the flood plains along the river Stour in Dorset following last summer’s heavy rains. [189173]
Mr. Woolas [holding answer 26 February 2008]: The Environment Agency carried out a detailed hydraulic and hydrological modelling project on the River Stour in 2006-07. This project produced new 100 and 1,000 year flood risk areas for the river, particularly in the lower reaches where the Environment Agency has flood defences. The Environment Agency are also using this information to revise flood warning procedures in this area.
Rural Areas: Low Incomes
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate has been made of the proportion of (a) English farming households and (b) households in rural areas with incomes below the Department for Work and Pensions' low income threshold. [187440]
Jonathan Shaw: The only source of farm household income data measures income before tax is deducted. The official DWP low income threshold is based on income after tax. One would expect the number below 60 per cent. of the median to be lower after tax as the tax system is designed to reduce some of the inequalities in income. Household income data for rural households are not available so the answer to part (b) is based on working age adults living in low income households. Therefore, the answers given in part (a) and part (b) are not directly comparable. In addition it should be noted that the data used to answer part (a) are based on the English population while those in part (b) are based on incomes in the United Kingdom.
(a) English farming households — before deduction of tax
For the population as a whole, the Government have a preferred measure of “low income” defined as 60 per cent. of the median equivalised income for all UK households after tax. It may be presented either before housing costs or after housing costs. The Farm Business Survey is not able to provide figures for household income net of tax, so farm household incomes cannot be compared directly with the low income threshold. Instead they are compared with a modified low income threshold defined as 60 per cent. of the England median, equivalised income before tax (and before housing costs). This has been calculated from 2004-05 Family Resources Survey data. Table 1 shows that:
i. the mean income for farm households was higher than the national mean but the median income was about the same;
ii. both mean and median farm incomes were lower than for the population of self-employed households; and
iii. 31 per cent. of farm households were below the modified low income threshold (gross before housing costs) in 2005-06 compared with 21 per cent. for all households and 18 per cent. for self-employed households.
| Table 1: Equivalised household income and low-income threshold, England 2005-06 | ||||
| Average household income, equivalised, gross before housing costs (£/household) | Modified low income threshold (£/household) | Percentage of households below low income threshold | ||
| Mean | Median | |||
| Sources: Farm Business Survey (England) and Family Resources Survey (2004-05) | ||||
Updated data will be available from the 2006-07 Farm Business Survey later in 2008.
(b) Households in rural areas—after deduction of tax
Table 2 shows the percentage of working age people living in England in households with an income of 60 per cent. below the UK median. Figures are broken down by DEFRA's local authority classification. The classification divides local authorities into the following six categories:
i. Rural-80: districts with at least 80 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns;
ii. Rural-50: districts with at least 50 per cent. but less than 80 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns;
iii. Significant Rural: districts with more than 37,000 people or more than 26 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns;
iv. Other Urban: districts with fewer than 37,000 people or less than 26 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns;
v. Large Urban: districts with either 50,000 people or 50 per cent. of their population in one of 17 urban areas with a population between 250,000 and 750,000;
vi. Major Urban: districts with either 100,000 people or 50 per cent. of their population in urban areas with a population of more than 750,000.
| Table 2: Percentage of working-age adults living in low income households in England, by LA classification (2005-06) | ||
| Before housing costs | After housing costs | |
| Notes: 1. Estimates are based on three-year averages. 2005-06 uses data for 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06. 2. Low income is defined as households with an income of below 60 per cent. of the median income for the United Kingdom. Source: DWP Family Resource Survey, 2005/06, Relative Low Income | ||
Seas and Oceans: Nature Conservation
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has (a) set up and (b) planned a marine protected area trial; and if he will make a statement. [188595]
Jonathan Shaw: We are committed to designating an ecologically coherent network of well-managed protected areas by 2012, and are currently developing plans to achieve this. Marine protected area trials are being considered as part of these plans.
Seas and Oceans: Treaty of Lisbon
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether, under the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty granting the European Union exclusive competence over the conservation of marine biological resources, the European Union will be able to determine the allocation of quota opportunities within the UK; and if he will make a statement; [189040]
(2) what discussions he has had on the granting of exclusive competence over the conservation of marine biological resources to the European Union with (a)
Government colleagues, (b) the devolved administrations, (c) the European Commission, (d) other EU member states and (e) other organisations; and if he will make a statement;. [189041]
(3) what assessment he has made of the effect of the provisions granting the European Union exclusive competence over the conservation of marine biological resources in Article 2B of the Lisbon Treaty on (a) the governance of the UK marine environment, (b) UK fishing policies, (c) the maintenance of the UK’s 12 nautical mile limit after 31 December 2012 and (d) the making of policy affecting the marine environment and fisheries; what competences in relation to the marine environment and fisheries will remain within the sole jurisdiction of the UK Government and devolved administrations; what competences in relation to the marine environment and fisheries that are currently shared with the European Union or within the sole jurisdiction of the UK Government and devolved administrations will become the exclusive competence of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [189042]
Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 25 February 2008]: The text of the new treaty reflects the extent of current powers under the common fisheries policy and we do not therefore envisage any changes to the various processes concerned. For this reason we have not seen the need to discuss the provision further or re-assess its significance.
Wildlife: Crime
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what response he has made to the recommendations of the Environmental Audit Committee’s Twelfth Report of the 2003-04 session on wildlife crime; which recommendations have been implemented; and if he will make a statement. [188604]
Joan Ruddock: The Government’s response to the Environmental Audit Committee’s report was published on 17 March 2005. It can be found in the 2004-05 Session documents, posted in the publications and records section of the UK Parliament website.
The Government have made good progress in taking forward those of the Committee’s 41 recommendations and conclusions which were accepted. As specific details of progress on each of the 41 recommendations may take some time to collate, I will write to the hon. Member separately and place a copy of the information in the House Library.
Treasury
Child Benefit
Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many families were receiving child tax credit for children who were not resident in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years [189555]
(2) how many families were receiving child benefit for children who were not resident in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years. [189531]
Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.
Corporation Tax
Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications of rulings by the European Court of Justice for the Government’s ability to set corporate tax levels. [188888]
Jane Kennedy: The rate of corporation tax is a matter for member states.
Customs: Appeals
Mr. Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of cases appealing the seizure of excise goods by HM Revenue and Customs officers resulted in the restoration of goods to importers in the most recent period for which figures are available. [189884]
Jane Kennedy: Appeals against the legality of seizures are heard by magistrates courts not HMRC.
Departmental Labour Turnover
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants have voluntarily ceased employment, excluding redundancies, with his Department in each month since May 1997. [189105]
Angela Eagle: The question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Marketing
Mr. Hoban:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2008, Official
Report, column 828W, on departmental marketing, which of his Department's agencies have procured products featuring (a) Government and (b) its own branding in each of the last five years. [189378]
Angela Eagle: All agencies, except for the Debt Management Office, have procured products featuring their own or Government branding in each of the last five years.
A breakdown between Government branding and own branding is not readily available and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2008, Official Report, column 828W, on departmental marketing, how much HM Revenue and Customs spent on HM Revenue and Customs branded products in each of the last five years. [189379]
Jane Kennedy: Since the formation of HMRC in April 2005, £99,231 has been spent on branded products. These promotional items are used at a variety of exhibitions and events across the UK. They raise awareness of the HMRC website as a means of providing further information for individuals and businesses about their tax obligations and entitlements.
Departmental Pay
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the salary range is for each pay band of civil servants in his Department. [188807]
Angela Eagle: The information is as follows:
| Ranges B to E (London) | ||||
| Range B | Range C | Range D | Range E | |
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