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3 Feb 2009 : Column 1084W—continued
Livestock: Registration
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to require livestock keepers to enter into a compulsory registration scheme; and if he will make a statement. [250839]
Jane Kennedy: A compulsory annual fee based registration scheme of livestock keepers is being considered as part of the wider responsibility and cost sharing agenda for animal health. The purpose of the scheme would be to raise contributions from industry towards the control and eradications of exotic diseases. We plan to consult on specific proposals for implementing responsibility and cost sharing for animal health shortly.
Marine and Coastal Access Bill
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received from the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the Marine and Coastal Access Bill; what discussions he has had with the Minister for the Department of the Environment in relation to the Bill; and if he will make a statement. [252443]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Northern Ireland Ministers have worked with other UK Ministers throughout the development of the proposals in the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, most recently through the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) which held its plenary meeting in June 2008 when the draft Bill was discussed.
Northern Ireland is fully committed to the policy aims underpinning the draft UK Bill in order to introduce a new framework for the marine environment based on sustainable development principles, which will work towards delivering clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas. Ministers have also taken part in discussions on the Legislative Consent Motion needed from the Northern Ireland Assembly on certain measures in the Bill.
The JMC announced on 27 November 2008 that the UK Government and devolved Administrations, including Northern Ireland, had reached agreement on a UK-wide approach to marine planning. This provides a coherent legislative framework with greater clarity and certainty for all those seeking to enjoy, or make a living from, the UK’s waters.
In addition, the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive work together as part of the British-Irish Council Environment Group which discussed marine issues at its last meeting in February 2008. Officials from the UK Government and the devolved Administrations continue to work together on the UK Bill and the expected Northern Ireland Assembly Bill.
Marine Management Organisation: Location
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the reasons are for the time taken to announce the location of the Maritime Management Organisation Headquarters; and if he will make a statement; [253737]
(2) when he expects to make an announcement on the location of the Marine Management organisation headquarters; and if he will make a statement. [253738]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The location decision is an important one which will be announced when all of the information and evidence has been considered carefully, in order to ensure that it is the right decision and the best home for the MMO. A statement will be made to the House of Commons announcing the decision.
Milk: Prices
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times officials from his Department have met representatives from the UK dairy industry to discuss (a) milk pricing and (b) milk production in the last 24 months. [251947]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 27 January 2009]: DEFRA officials meet representatives from the UK dairy industry on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the sector. However, discussions do not cover milk pricing. The setting of milk prices is a commercial matter to be resolved by private negotiation which must take place within the parameters set by competition law.
Nitrates: EU Law
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to assist farmers to meet the requirements of the EU Nitrates Directive; and what recent representations he has received on the effects of implementation of the Directive on farming. [250904]
Jane Kennedy: We received over 600 responses to the consultation on proposals to revise the Nitrates Regulations. Since the consultation closed in December, representations have continued to be received from the farming sector. The proposals were also the subject of an inquiry by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.
I recognise that some farmers in nitrate vulnerable zones will face costs when implementing the new rules established by the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2008. By way of mitigation, we are applying to the European Commission for a derogation from one of the most costly new rules, the livestock manure N farm limit. If this application is successful, costs to eligible dairy farmers would be significantly reduced.
In addition, a package of advice and support, including a technical helpline, comprehensive guidance material, information events and practical workshops, is currently being rolled out nationally.
There are a number of existing potential sources of financial support available to farmers which could be used to help with implementation of the Action Programme measures. For example, funding through the Rural Development Programme for England—which is being administered by the Regional Development Agencies—could be used to support on-farm capital investments for modernising farm holdings, structures and equipment in a manner that will improve the management of manure and nutrients including, for example, the development of anaerobic digestion facilities.
Furthermore, slurry storage facilities are eligible for plant and machinery allowances such as the new annual investment allowance, capped at £50,000 per year. Slurry pits also qualify for allowances in their own right under the Capital Allowances Act 2001.
For farmers who have land in a priority catchment, the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative is operating a capital grant scheme under which part-funding may be available for items such as roofs for slurry stores and for improving yard drainage (clean and foul water separation).
Official Cars
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what cars are (a) owned, (b) leased, (c) hired and (d) otherwise regularly used by his Department, broken down by cubic capacity of engine. [250147]
Huw Irranca-Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on 26 January 2009, Official Report, column 10W.
Pets: Primates
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2008, Official Report, column 808W, on primates, who he has appointed to (a) advise on and (b) draft the code of practice on the private keeping of primates; and which bodies he has consulted. [250837]
Jane Kennedy: DEFRA has assembled a working group to draft the code of practice on the private keeping of non-human primates. The working group is representative of and will consult with others who are either private keepers or have other relevant expertise.
The RSPCA, zoo veterinarians, veterinarian bodies, a leading primate rescue centre and a number of independent experts are involved in taking this work forward.
Recycling: Batteries
Mr. Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to promote community battery recycling schemes. [251035]
Jane Kennedy: The Waste and Resources Action programme (WRAP) has worked in partnership with a range of local authorities and not-for-profit organisations to pilot portable waste battery collection trials in the UK. Trials include establishing ‘drop off' points in shops and in public buildings such as libraries and sports centres, as well as other methods of collection such as at the kerbside.
WRAP'S report on the results from the trials is available at:
http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/Batteries report_final.84146d7e.6153.pdf
We are currently consulting on regulations to implement the EU Batteries Directive.
The directive requires greatly increased collection, treatment and recycling of batteries over the next few years. The UK regulations will require all shops that sell a significant quantity of batteries to collect batteries returned by members of the public. In addition batteries producers will need to set up other collections to meet their targets under the directive. In doing so we expect that producers will draw on the information in the WRAP report on the effectiveness of community recycling schemes and other ways of collecting waste batteries.
Rivers: Dredging
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what dredging has taken place of the River Avon between Tewkesbury and Eckington in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [253561]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency has not carried out dredging on the River Avon between Tewkesbury and Eckington in the last five years. The Environment Agency routinely considers dredging and vegetation management in watercourses to reduce flood risk. The Environment Agency prioritises this according to risk and carries out such work where it is technically sound, economically viable, environmentally acceptable and sustainable.
On a larger river like the River Avon, the erosion, transportation and deposition of material within the river channel is a natural process. Dredging the river has historically been carried out in localised areas by the Lower Avon Navigation Trust to allow boats to travel safely along the river.
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what dredging of the River Severn between Gloucester and Tewkesbury has taken place over the last five years; what the Environment Agency’s policy is on the dredging of rivers; and if he will make a statement. [253558]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency has not carried out dredging on the River Severn between Gloucester and Tewkesbury in the last five years. The Environment Agency routinely considers dredging and vegetation management in watercourses to reduce flood risk. The Environment Agency prioritises this according to risk and carries out such work where it is technically sound, economically viable, environmentally acceptable and sustainable.
On a larger river like the River Severn, the erosion, transportation and deposition of material within the river channel is a natural process. Dredging the river has historically been carried out in localised areas by British Waterways to allow boats to travel safely along the river.
Rivers: Licensing
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been collected in licence fees from users of (a) the River Avon and (b) the River Severn in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [253560]
Huw Irranca-Davies: We do not have this information for the River Avon which is managed by an independent statutory navigation authority. British Waterways is the navigation authority for the River Severn from Gloucester to Stourport (there is no navigation authority upstream of Stourport and ownership is shared between local authorities and private landowners).
The licence fees for that part of the river Severn under British Waterways’ jurisdiction are set out as follows:
| Value of licences sold (£) | Number of licences | Number of boats | |
Rivers: Repairs and Maintenance
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Government department and Minister has overall responsibility for ensuring that the (a) River Severn and (b) River Avon remain navigable; and if he will make a statement. [253559]
Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA sponsors British Waterways which is the navigation authority responsible for ensuring that the stretch of the River Severn between Gloucester and Stourport remains navigable. There is no navigation authority north of Stourport.
The Lower Avon Navigation Trust together with the Upper Avon Navigation Trust are responsible for the management of the River Avon. Both are independent statutory navigation authorities.
Rural Areas: Planning
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which measures outlined in Articles 20 to 65, Title IV of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005 on support for rural developments by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development have been adopted as measures within the Rural Development Programme for England 2007 to 2013; for what reasons those measures not included in the Programme were omitted; and if he will make a statement. [253685]
Huw Irranca-Davies:
All of the measures outlined in Articles 20 to 65, Title IV of the Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005 on support for rural developments by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development which are applicable in the UK have been adopted as measures within the Rural Development Programme
for England 2007 to 2013, with the exception of those listed in the following table. This table provides an explanation for why they have not been adopted. These omissions were agreed following full public consultation and discussion with affected parties.
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