Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 1 May 2008
Solicitor-General
BAE Systems
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Solicitor-General what investigations the Serious Fraud Office has conducted into BAE Systems since 2003; and on what date each (a) began and (b) ended. [203343]
The Solicitor-General: There have been five investigations conducted by the Serious Fraud Office into BAE Systems since 2003. All five investigations began on 14 July 2004. The Serious Fraud Office decided to discontinue the investigation into the affairs of BAE Systems as far as they relate to the Al Yamamah defence contract with the Government of Saudi Arabia on 14 December 2006. The other four investigations continue.
Scotland
Departmental Freedom of Information
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many freedom of information requests made to his Department were (a) answered (i) within 20 days, (ii) within 40 days, (iii) within 60 days, (iv) after 60 days, (b) not answered and (c) answered citing an exemption in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as a reason not to provide the requested information in each year since the Act came into force. [201732]
David Cairns: The Ministry of Justice has published two annual reports containing statistical information on freedom of information requests received by monitored bodies (including central Government Departments) in 2005 and 2006. These reports can be found at the following address:
The 2007 annual report is currently being drafted for publication in June 2008. However, statistics on requests received in each quarter of 2007 have been published and can be found via the MOJ website:
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires public bodies to respond to written requests within 20 working days of receipt, but allows additional time for the consideration of the public interest in disclosing the requested information.
The published reports provide statistics on the number of “non-routine” requests received during each period where: an initial response was provided within 20 working days; an initial response was given outside this time but a public interest test extension had been applied; an initial response was given outside this time
and no public interest test extension was applied, and where no initial response had been given at the time the statistics were collected.
The 2006 annual report provides statistics on the duration of the public interest test extensions in that year. Corresponding statistics for 2007 will be available when the 2007 annual report is published.
Information requests where deadlines were extended beyond 40 days is not collected in the form requested; however the proportion of resolvable requests the Department answered “in time” (i.e. meeting the deadline or with a permitted extension) in 2007 was 83 per cent.
For 2005 and 2006, the reports show the number of requests received by the Department which were withheld, either in full or in part, where an FOI exemption or EIR exception was applied. For 2007, the number of such requests was nine, based on aggregated quarterly statistics from 2007. Requests withheld solely under the exemption applicable to “information available by other means” are not included; statistics on these are not collected centrally because they are dealt with as routine business.
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
East of England Development Agency: Fishburn Hedges
Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what payments the East of England Development Agency made to Fishburn Hedges in each of the last five years; on what dates; and for what purpose in each case. [202251]
Mr. McFadden: Since February 2005, Fishburn Hedges have provided the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) with a wide range of consultancy services in support of EEDA's external communications and campaigns. These services have included campaigns development, design, production, printing, copywriting, database development and public affairs consultancy across the organisation.
Across these services the following total payments were made:
| £ | |
Salmon: Imports
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department is taking to maintain the minimum import price for farmed salmon. [202804]
Mr. Thomas:
The European Commission is currently conducting an interim review of the anti-dumping measures, in the form of a minimum import price, against imports
of farmed salmon from Norway. This Department has contributed fully to this review, working closely with the Scottish Executive, the Irish Government and the EU Salmon Producers Group. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has spoken on a number of occasions in support of the measures with Peter Mandelson, the European Trade Commissioner, and Alex Salmond, Scottish First Minister. The outcome of the review is expected during May.
Leader of the House
Early Day Motions
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Leader of the House what assessment she has made of the use of early day motions by hon. Members. [201230]
Helen Goodman: As the hon. Member is aware, the use made of early day motions by hon. Members was considered in the Procedure Committee’s First Report of Session 2006-07 (HC 513). The Committee identified a number of broad purposes for which EDMs were used, including: expressing opinions on issues of general public interest, continuing a policy debate, giving prominence to a campaign or the work of a pressure group, and highlighting local issues. The Committee recommended against introducing any new restrictions on the permissible subject matter for EDMs.
In their response to the Committee (Cm. 7193) in July 2007, the Government agreed with this approach, noting that
“Members value the breadth of opportunity provided by the right to table an EDM on almost any subject, which enables them to raise a range of constituency or general issues which cannot be raised in other ways”.
The Government have not made any separate or further assessment of EDMs.
Members: PICT
Robert Key: To ask the Leader of the House how many computers in hon. Members’ offices provided by PICT are marked with the instruction that they are not to be used after 8 May 2008; and if she will make a statement. [202320]
Helen Goodman: Members’ computers are included in a Portable Appliances Test (PAT) rolling programme. These appliances are marked with an instruction that they are not to be used after the date by which the next PAT test is scheduled to be completed, in this case 8 May. The programme has commenced in Portcullis House and it is planned to test all appliances prior to the date on each appliance instruction.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Retail Packaging
10. Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government plan to take to reduce the use of packaging by retailers. [202797]
Joan Ruddock: European Packaging Regulations are designed to reduce the amount of packaging used by retailers. But slow progress led to a voluntary agreement between Government and retailers, called the Courtauld Commitment, facilitated by the Waste and Resource Action Programme. This agreement aims this year to halt packaging growth and to make absolute reductions in packaging by 2010.
Foot and Mouth
11. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will provide compensation to swill-feeders in connection with foot and mouth disease. [202798]
Jonathan Shaw: No. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration reported on this issue in December 2007. She concluded that, as the Government have revisited the original decision not to pay compensation many times since 2001, there is no un-remedied injustice which requires reconsideration of the question.
Pitt Review
12. Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how he plans to allocate the £34.5 million to implement the Pitt review's recommendations on flooding. [202799]
Hilary Benn: We have announced an initial provision of £34.5 million funding over the three years to 2010-11 which may be needed to implement the Pitt recommendations. We will determine how this should be spent when we see the final Pitt report and the priorities which it contains.
Newt Populations
13. Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what has been spent on relocating newt populations in the last 12 months. [202801]
Joan Ruddock: The costs to individual projects of relocating great crested newt colonies are not centrally recorded; neither is that information collected by Natural England as part of the licensing regime.
Imported Biomass
14. Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the sustainability of imported biomass. [202802]
Mr. Woolas: I have regular discussions with my ministerial colleagues about biomass issues.
The UK's Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation came into force on 15 April. Fuel companies must submit reports to the Government on the biofuels they supply, including information on levels of greenhouse gas savings, as well as their environmental and social impacts. This information will be published.
20. Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the sustainability of imported biomass. [202809]
Mr. Woolas: I have regular discussions with my ministerial colleagues about biomass issues.
The UK's renewable transport fuel obligation came into force on 15 April. Fuel companies must submit reports to the Government on the biofuels they supply, including information on levels of greenhouse gas savings, as well as their environmental and social impacts. This information will be published.
Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
15. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received on proposals to protect nitrate vulnerable zones. [202803]
Mr. Woolas: The Government sought views on the measures in the revised Nitrates Action Programme through a consultation, which ran from August to December 2007. Over 600 responses were received. A comprehensive report summarising the comments made was published on 19 March and is available on the DEFRA website.
Chewing Gum
16. Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will hold discussions with ministerial colleagues in HM Treasury on the use of tax incentives for manufacturers of chewing gum to encourage the development of a biodegradable product. [202805]
Jonathan Shaw: Any decision on taxation is for my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. However, I am not convinced that taxation will solve the problem which is people dropping litter, be it gum or any other type.
I am pleased to see that Nottingham city council is taking part in this year’s chewing gum litter awareness campaign.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
17. Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues at the Department for Transport on the effect on climate change of transport-related carbon dioxide emissions. [202806]
Hilary Benn: I regularly meet with Department for Transport Ministers to discuss ways that the transport sector can contribute to our commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The recently published “Towards a Sustainable Transport System” demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring the transport sector plays its full role in tackling climate change.
Ofwat Price Review
18. Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the 2009 Ofwat price review. [202807]
Mr. Woolas: The Department has received a range of views about this.
21. Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received on the 2009 Ofwat price review. [202810]
Mr. Woolas: The Department has received a range of views about this.
Post-Kyoto Agreement
19. John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on an agreement on climate change since the Bali summit. [202808]
Mr. Woolas: Following the Bali UNFCCC summit all parties to the Convention met in Bangkok last month to agree a workplan for this year on the four areas to be agreed—mitigation, adaptation, technology and finance/investment. In addition ministerial colleagues and I have taken part in several other discussions on achieving a new agreement, including the Major Economies Process, the G8 Gleneagles dialogue and at the OECD. Since Bali I have also had bilateral meetings with many of the key countries to discuss progress.
National Food Supply
22. Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure the security of the national food supply. [202811]
Jonathan Shaw: Food security is about ensuring consumers have access to a stable and adequate supply of food. This requires effective risk management and contingency planning, security of our energy supplies, access to food from a variety of sources and a strong food chain and infrastructure.
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