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23 Mar 2009 : Column 42W—continued
Women and Equality
Equal Opportunities
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many people the Government Equalities Office estimates are subject to intersectional multiple discrimination in the workplace without a remedy in law. [265609]
The Solicitor-General: I have been asked to reply.
Data on the number of people in the UK who are subject to intersectional multiple discrimination in the workplace but are without a remedy in law are not collected because it is not currently possible for people to bring such claims.
In estimating the number of people subject to intersectional multiple discrimination, but who are without a remedy in law, GEO has drawn on international comparisons. Over the last three years, an average of 7.5 per cent. of the number of cases per year brought to the Irish Equality Tribunals included claims on multiple (additive) grounds. This figure could include intersectional claims but these are not separately identified.
Leader of the House
Members: Pensions
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009, Official Report, column 966W, on Members: pensions, how much stock owned by the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund and held in pooled funds has been lent in each of the last two years; and what the monetary value of the stock was when it was (a) lent and (b) returned. [265841]
Chris Bryant: As I stated in the answer of 16 March 2009, Official Report, column 966W, stock lending is not allowed in the segregated funds of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund (PCPF). The Trustees have no role in deciding the policy on stock lending in pooled funds used by the PCPF.
Stock lending by investment managers of pooled funds is intended to enhance the returns to their clients. Within a pooled fund no specific stocks are either owned by, or clearly attributable to, a single investor. Thus, the (PCPF) has a proportionate share in the value of the total stock within one or more equity-based funds.
At 31 December 2007 and 31 December 2008 the PCPF had pooled assets on loan to the value of some £31 million and £19 million, respectively, representing some 8 per cent. and 6 per cent. of the total value of the Fund on these dates.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animal Welfare
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government have taken to ensure the welfare of animals held in quarantine facilities in the last 12 months. [261472]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 10 March 2009]: The welfare of animals held in quarantine is protected by the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal. The Act also contains a Duty of Care to animals—this means that anyone responsible for an animal must take reasonable steps to make sure the animal's needs are met.
These include the need for a suitable environment; for a suitable diet; to exhibit normal behaviour patterns; to
be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable), and to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease.
Every approved quarantine premises must have a veterinary presence six days a week. It is the Veterinary Superintendent's responsibility to monitor the welfare of animals in quarantine and take any necessary action to prevent suffering.
Animal Welfare: EU Law
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on the revision of EC Regulation 1/2005 on animal welfare in transport. [263233]
Jane Kennedy: While we have yet to enter into formal discussions with the European Commission on the review of EC Regulation 1/2005 on the welfare of animals during transport, as it has yet to publish formal proposals, we have responded to early opportunities presented by the Commission to comment on a draft options paper. The UK provided a set of generic principles which was drawn up in close consultation with the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer in Wales, the Scottish Government Rural Directorate and the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland. We fully support the Commission’s initiative to review key elements of the Regulation and welcomed the opportunity in the early stages of the review process to express our opinion on the Commission’s policy options.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the proposed revision of EC Regulation 1/2005 on animal welfare in transport on livestock transportation in the Highlands and Islands. [263234]
Jane Kennedy: The European Commission has yet to publish its formal proposals for the review of EC Regulation 1/2005 on the welfare of animals during transport. We are working closely with the Scottish Government Rural Directorate to prepare for the review. Its input will be central to establishing the likely effects of the review of the Regulation on livestock transportation in the Highlands and Islands.
Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department plans to allocate for measures to tackle bovine tuberculosis in the next three years. [263811]
Jane Kennedy: The following table sets out the budget which has been allocated by DEFRA for expenditure on bovine tuberculosis in 2009-10. No allocation has yet been made for 2010-11 onwards and as such we are unable to provide any estimates.
Central Heating
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the likely effect on UK oil-fired central heating boiler manufacturers of implementation of the proposed Energy Using Products Directive in 2013; [263866]
(2) if he will make it his policy to seek amendments to the proposed Energy Using Products Directive to ensure that the UK boiler industry is able to meet the Directive's emission requirements. [263867]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 16 March 2009]: The Government recognises that the nitrogen oxides emission levels proposed in the commission’s draft implementing measures on boilers and water heaters are challenging for the industry to achieve. DEFRA officials are working together with industry representatives to understand the impact on UK oil-fired boiler manufacturers and to determine a level to propose to the commission that is achievable for the industry.
Compost
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many in-vessel composting facilities are operating in each local authority area. [263088]
Jane Kennedy: The following table indicates the number of in-vessel and windrow composting sites that are licensed in each district in each Environment Agency region. Where there are n/a entries, this indicates that the site is currently in the process of surrendering its permit.
Prior to standard permits being introduced, the Environment Agency’s permit recording system did not distinguish between in-vessel and windrow composting and it would therefore incur disproportionate cost to collate figures for in-vessel alone.
| Agency area | District | Total |
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