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14 May 2009 : Column 893W—continued
Paul Clark:
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) have jointly committed a total of £12 million to the Rushenden Link Road. As the Department of
Transport is not providing any funding, further details on the breakdown of funding sources would need to be sought from the funding stakeholders, HCA and SEEDA.
Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much each funding partner has committed to the construction of the Rushenden Link Road. [275419]
Paul Clark: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 12 May 2009, Official Report, column 647W.
Speed Limits: Cameras
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what data his Department collects on the use of cameras which measure average speed in order to monitor the performance of individual local partnerships; and if he will make a statement. [275638]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport does not routinely collect or require data to be submitted on the use of speed cameras, although the Department's guidance does recommend that speed and collision data are collected by partnerships. However, the Department has an interest in the effectiveness of all road safety interventions and so from time to time requests evaluation work from delivery partners. For example, as part of two wider rural demonstration projects supported financially by the Department, Norfolk and Lincolnshire county councils are proposing to install permanent average speed enforcement cameras during the next year. Because these are demonstration projects the Department will receive information about the impact of these cameras alongside the other road safety measures being implemented locally.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animal Welfare Act 2006
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) statutory instruments, (b) departmental circulars and (c) other documents he has issued since July 2008 consequent on the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006; and if he will make a statement. [273875]
Jane Kennedy: The following documents have been issued since July 2008 in relation to the Animal Welfare Act 2006:
(a) Statutory instruments made by the Secretary of State:
None.
None.
Consultation on the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Cats (November 2008);
Consultation on the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs (November 2008);
Consultation on the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Equines (November 2008);
Consultation on new Regulations and Code for Meat Chicken Welfare (January 2009); and
Consultation on proposals for Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations (April 2009).
Animals: Exports
Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many live (a) calves, (b) adult cattle and (c) lambs and sheep were exported to each country of destination for (i) slaughter and (ii) further fattening in 2008. [273094]
Jane Kennedy: Table 1 as follows gives the number of live sheep recorded as exported from the UK in 2008 as recorded in HMRC official overseas trade statistics. These are provisional figures and subject to amendments.
Please note these figures are obtained using VAT records and will exclude some EU trade for businesses which are below the VAT threshold. As a result, actual trade levels may be higher than those given, particularly for trade with mainland Europe.
Table 2 gives information on GB exports in cattle from the GB Cattle Tracing System. The Cattle Tracing System is updated on a daily basis and hence these figures can be subject to amendments.
It is not possible to identify those animals which are for slaughter or further fattening from either data source.
| Table 2: GB exports in live bovine by country of destination, 2008 | |||
| Country of destination | Calves (under 12 months) | Adult cattle (12 months and over) | All bovine |
| Note: 2008 data is subject to amendments. Source: GB Cattle Tracing System. | |||
Bluetongue Disease: Vaccination
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to stockpile vaccines against bluetongue serotypes (a) 1 and (b) 6; what recent assessment he has made of the level of risk for such serotypes to reach domestic livestock; and if he will make a statement. [274931]
Jane Kennedy: Vaccines for bluetongue serotypes 1 and 6 are not currently licensed for use in the UK. DEFRA is in discussion with potential vaccine providers, the veterinary profession and industry stakeholders about plans for 2009 and beyond.
Meanwhile, DEFRA continues to work with other European member states for strict control measures to contain the threat of other BTV serotypes in Europe, and will continue to conduct double post-import tests on all imported animals for all bluetongue serotypes. We also have an agreed policy for controlling incursions of any new serotypes under the existing UK-wide bluetongue control strategy.
DEFRA remains alert to the spread of these, and other serotypes, through Europe, and monitors the risk carefully. Experts at the Institute of Animal Health, Pirbright, and meteorologists at the Meteorological Office provide advice on incursion scenarios which DEFRA uses to inform and revise policy as appropriate.
Nevertheless, the UK remains at risk from bluetongue, whether from re-emergence of domestic disease, from wind-borne spread from the continent, or through animal imports. This risk is likely to remain for some time, depending on the success of control measures in other countries.
Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle were slaughtered after testing positive for bovine TB in each of the last three years; what estimate he has made of the number to be so slaughtered in 2009; and if he will make a statement. [274927]
Jane Kennedy: The information is as follows:
| Bovine TB cattle( 1) slaughtered in England between 2006 and 2008 | |
| Number | |
| (1) Includes animals testing positive to gamma interferon testing, IRx3 , Inconclusive Reactors (IRs) and Direct Contacts (DCs). Source: Provisional data, as downloaded from the Vetnet TBiC system on 2 March 2009. All data has been taken from TB Programme Statistical Notice December 2008. | |
Due to the unpredictable nature of bovine tuberculosis, it is not possible to estimate the number of cattle that are likely to be slaughtered in England throughout 2009.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many routine tests for bovine TB were undertaken in each of the last three years; how many of these tests indicated reactors; and if he will make a statement. [274928]
Jane Kennedy: The number of bovine cattle tests for England for the last three years, compared to the total number of cattle slaughtered as indicated reactors can be seen in the following table:
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| (1) Includes animals testing positive to gamma interferon testing. (2) Includes IRx3 and gamma interferon positives. Notes: 1. Provisional data as downloaded from Vetnet TBiC system on 2 March 2009. 2. All data has been taken from TB Programme Statistical Notice December 2008. | |||
Cattle: Disease Control
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle were slaughtered as (a) reactors and (b) dangerous contacts in connection with the randomised badger culling trial in the last 12 months. [274375]
Jane Kennedy: The design of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) considered the number of TB breakdowns within trial areas at the herd level and not at the individual level. Data on the number of individual reactors and dangerous contacts slaughtered in connection with the RBCT can be obtained from VetNet, DEFRA's bTB control and surveillance system. However, this would be the subject of a separate data analysis exercise, which would be available only at disproportionate cost.
Common Agricultural Policy
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. [274610]
Jane Kennedy: DEFRA Ministers and officials have held regular discussions with the European Commission on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), in particular during the CAP Health Check and in relation to presidency agriculture agendas. We are continuing to seek far reaching reform of the CAP, working with stakeholders, the Commission and other member states.
Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons he has decided to bring forward proposals to amend
the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 as it applies to private animal keepers in relation to the keeping of exotic pets; and what timetable he has set for bringing forward such proposals. [274793]
Jane Kennedy: In response to long-standing demand for reform of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, DEFRA has substantively reviewed the Act. The most recent public consultation on proposals to amend the main body of the Act, to make it less burdensome on local authorities and keepers, was undertaken last year.
The proposals are intended to provide an improved and better focused licensing and enforcement regime in line with the “Hampton principles” of better regulation. Current public safety benefits will be retained while reducing the level of burden on keepers and local authorities, who administer and enforce the Act.
The amendments are being progressed via a Legislative Reform Order and the intention is that the changes will come into force in October 2009. New guidance for keepers and local authorities will be published to assist implementation of the Act.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the Local Government Association and (b) local authorities on his Department's proposals to amend the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. [274794]
Jane Kennedy: All local authorities in England and Wales, together with the Local Government Association, have been fully consulted with regard to the proposed amendments to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, most recently during the last public consultation in 2008.
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