Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 2 April 2009
Solicitor-General
Rape: Victim Support
8. Ms Katy Clark: To ask the Solicitor-General what further steps she plans to take to provide support for women’s victims and rape support groups. [268322]
The Solicitor-General: The steps we are taking include: a £1.6 million cross-Government fund for the sexual violence voluntary sector to provide grants to individual support groups; and a cross-Government consultation on ending violence against women and girls, which is informed by the Crown Prosecution Service’s ground-breaking Violence against Women Strategy.
John Robertson: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps she plans to take to provide support during rape cases brought by the Crown Prosecution Service for those who have been raped. [268315]
The Solicitor-General: The CPS is committed to helping rape victims and is contributing to the cross-Government initiative to increase the number of Sexual Assault Referral Centres providing vital support to victims. An updated edition of the CPS Policy for Prosecuting Rape, designed to inform those who support victims, was published last week.
Shoplifting
9. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful prosecutions for shoplifting have been brought in the last 12 months. [268323]
The Solicitor-General: The records maintained by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) do not separately identify cases of theft or burglary from shops. The information could only be retrieved by locating and examining individual case records and the costs of such an exercise would be prohibitive. Information is, however, available on the performance of the CPS in prosecuting all cases of theft and handling in the magistrates court. In 2008, the CPS prosecuted 141,159 cases of which 131,927 (93.5 per cent.) resulted in a conviction.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Biodiversity
6. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken towards meeting its 2010 biodiversity target; and if he will make a statement. [268330]
Huw Irranca-Davies: We have taken steps on all our six priorities, but let me highlight also 88 per cent. of sites of special scientific interest which are in favourable or recovering condition, the agri-environment schemes which are making good progress, we have introduced the Marine Bill and Coastal Access Bill and have funded new international work under the Darwin initiative.
Sheep
7. Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in discussions at EU level on the European Commission’s proposals for the electronic identification of sheep. [268331]
Hilary Benn: We have postponed the introduction of EID to 31 December 2009, delayed the introduction of individual movement reporting, and reached an agreement that sheep born before 31 December 2009 and sheep under 12 months both moving to slaughter will not have to be reported individually at all. EID was discussed again at the Agriculture Council on 23 March and the Commission agreed to examine additional measures that we have proposed that would reduce further the burden on implementation.
Common Agricultural Policy
9. Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he had on simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy at the last Agriculture and Fisheries Council; and if he will make a statement. [268333]
Hilary Benn: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Farming and the Environment attended the last Agriculture Council, at which the Commission presented its progress report on “A simplified CAP”. It will be discussed at the April meeting and the UK strongly supports reducing administrative burdens on farmers.
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what items his Department has requested to be added to the agenda of EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meetings in each of the last five years. [268143]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Since 2005, the United Kingdom has requested the following items to be added to the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council agenda: the market situation in the olive oil sector; thematic strategy for soil protection; illegal use of drift nets; illegal logging and related trade in timber and timber products; foot and mouth disease; sheep electronic identification. The UK regularly intervenes on both substantive and AOB items during Agriculture and Fisheries Council meetings.
Animal Welfare
10. Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on steps to ensure that food imported from outside the EU meets animal welfare standards; and if he will make a statement. [268334]
Hilary Benn: The UK supports high welfare standards and works to raise them elsewhere in the world. We encourage producers to see higher standards as a marketing opportunity, and we look forward to the EU Commissions report on animal welfare labelling in the EU.
Bovine Tuberculosis
11. Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria he plans to apply in selecting the trial areas for the bovine tuberculosis vaccination pilot project. [268335]
Hilary Benn: We are currently working with the Bovine TB Eradication Group for England, epidemiologists and other industry and stakeholder groups to identify criteria for selecting the areas where the bovine TB injectable badger vaccine deployment project will take place.
Water Charges
12. Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he has made in his consideration of options for mitigating the effects on water customers of increases in surface water charges. [268336]
Huw Irranca-Davies: I am pleased to report that United Utilities—where most complaints have arisen—has in light of representations received taken steps to resolve the problem of disproportionate increases in bills for faith buildings, community amateur sports clubs and properties owned by scouts and guides for 2009-10 by reverting to charges based on 2007-08 for these customers—i.e. based on rateable waste.
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the real terms change in water rates has been since privatisation of the water industry. [266157]
Huw Irranca-Davies [holding answer 24 March 2009]: I have arranged for the information requested to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Anaerobic Digestion
13. Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made on encouraging the use of anaerobic digestion of waste. [268337]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Government encourage greater uptake of anaerobic digestion by both local authorities and businesses through the renewable obligation certificates, the anaerobic digestion programme, publications and working groups.
Progress is being made. I believe we can create a prosperous anaerobic digestion market that benefits society, the environment and businesses.
Air Quality
15. Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on the effects of the London low emissions zone on air quality in London boroughs. [268340]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The Mayor of London is responsible for working towards DEFRA’s national air quality objectives in London. My noble Friend, Lord Hunt of King’s Heath, met with the Mayor on 22 January to discuss progress, and my officials have had regular meetings with counterparts in the Greater London Authority to discuss measures including the low emissions zone. The Government are committed to working with the Mayor and London boroughs to improve air quality in London.
Bees
16. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the size of the bee population. [268341]
Huw Irranca-Davies: There are no estimates for how the number of honey bees has changed over the years, but there is a wide consensus that numbers have declined since the arrival of Varroa in the early nineties.
The Secretary of State recently announced additional funding of £4.3 million for bee health which includes a contribution to a wider research programme on pollinator decline.
School Fruit Scheme
17. Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with fruit growers on the proposal to extend the school fruit scheme; and if he will make a statement. [268342]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The idea for an EU School Fruit Scheme was first raised as part of the 2007 reform of the EU Fruit and Vegetables Regime. We have kept the National Farmers Union involved with the progress of proposals and will continue to do so. We are also in touch with other parts of the industry, for example via the Horticultural Development Company.
Common Fisheries Policy
18. Mr. Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the recreational fisheries proposals in Article 47 of the proposed Council Regulation on compliance with the Common Fisheries Policy. [268343]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Discussion of the proposal has now begun at official level at a Council Working Group. I am expecting an initial discussion at ministerial level at the June Fisheries Council.
Flood Defences: East Anglia
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he next expects to meet representatives of local authorities in East Anglia to discuss flood defences. [268332]
Huw Irranca-Davies: I have no current engagements planned with representatives of local authorities in East Anglia to discuss flood defences, but have agreed to meet representatives of North Norfolk district council in the summer to discuss coastal adaptation issues.
Agriculture: Subsidies
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of farmers in (a) North Devon constituency, (b) the South West and (c) nationally whose countryside stewardships have been completed have entered Natural England's Higher Level Stewardship Scheme. [267940]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Separate information on the uptake of Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements on former Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) agreement land is not currently available in the form requested, nor is information available for individual constituencies.
Natural England has a target to get 80 per cent. of the land formerly in either CSS or Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) agreements into Environmental Stewardship (ES) agreements (Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) or HLS). Nationally, about 79 per cent. of that land has already been entered into ES agreements. In the South West region the figure is about 75 per cent.
Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the six areas for the vaccination trial to reduce the transmission of bovine tuberculosis from wildlife will be chosen. [267481]
Jane Kennedy: We are working in liaison with the Bovine TB Eradication Group for England, epidemiologists and other key industry and stakeholder groups to identify criteria for selecting the areas where the project will take place.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to maximise the catch rate for badgers prior to vaccination to reduce levels of bovine tuberculosis in the proposed trials. [267483]
Jane Kennedy: The methodologies have not yet been finalised. However, we are working with experts from the Food and Environment Research Agency, formerly the Central Science Laboratory, to optimise our approach to trapping for vaccination.
Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on the vaccination of badgers against bovine tuberculosis in the next 12 months. [267808]
Jane Kennedy: Vaccination of badgers as part of the injectable badger vaccine deployment project is expected to begin in summer 2010. Costs for the project have not yet been finalised and will vary depending on the areas vaccination will take place, as well as other factors.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long he expects his Department's scheme for the vaccinations of badgers against bovine tuberculosis to operate for. [267809]
Jane Kennedy: We intend for vaccination of badgers to commence in summer 2010 and to take place for at least five years in each area.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of badgers which will be vaccinated against bovine tuberculosis under his Department’s vaccination scheme. [267811]
Jane Kennedy: We are aiming to vaccinate as many badgers as possible in the areas the project will take place.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in which areas of the country he expects his Department's scheme to vaccinate badgers against bovine tuberculosis to operate. [267812]
Jane Kennedy: The project will see vaccination of badgers in six areas with high incidence of cattle disease in England. Each area will be up to 100km(2). The exact locations are yet to be decided and decisions will be made based on specific criteria and in liaison with the Bovine TB Eradication Group for England and other key industry and stakeholder groups.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent discussions he has had with farmers on his Department's scheme to vaccinate badgers against bovine tuberculosis; [267813]
(2) what representations he has received from the Countryside Alliance on his Department's scheme to vaccinate badgers against bovine tuberculosis. [267814]
Jane Kennedy: We have had discussions with a variety of stakeholder groups about the injectable badger vaccine deployment project, including with the farming industry. We will be holding further discussions to develop criteria for selecting the areas where the project will take place.
We have not received any representations from the Countryside Alliance.
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