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14 May 2009 : Column 903W—continued
Swine Flu
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the World Organisation for Animal Health on the effect of strain H1N1 of influenza on the animal kingdom. [275108]
Jane Kennedy: We have been closely monitoring the statements of the World Organisation for Animal Health (the OIE) on the new variant Influenza A/H1N1. Contacts with the OIE are normally made though the offices of the European Commission. We have maintained close contact with the European Commission and other member states on this subject since the situation began.
To date the information available from all sources indicates that infection with the new variant Influenza A/H1N1has occurred primarily in humans. The Canadian authorities reported on 2 May 2009 that this infection was also identified in a herd of pigs in Alberta, Canada. This single report from Canada indicates that this strain readily infects pigs and is of low pathogenicity to pigs. It is not possible to be certain that this virus will infect and affect other pigs in the same way, nor any other animal or bird species. To date there are no other reports of infection in pigs (or other animals). We understand that a joint OIE/FAO mission has taken place in Mexico where areas of further co-operation with Mexican authorities have been discussed. We would expect to see a report of this mission in due course.
Apart from this information from Canada, the possible effect of this strain of H1N1 influenza on the animal kingdom is unknown.
The OIE is collaborating with the EU, WHO, UN FAO and a network of reference laboratories and collaborating centres (including Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge) in scientific investigations on the current situation and whether this strain of H1N1 is capable of infecting other animal and bird species.
The issues of novel influenza A/H1N1 virus will also be on the agenda at the EU member states Chief Veterinary Officer's Council meeting in Brussels on 12 May, 2009.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent guidance his Department has issued to keepers of pigs on swine influenza; and what restrictions there are on the importation of (a) pigs and (b) pig meat in respect of swine influenza. [275117]
Jane Kennedy: We have not found the new variant Influenza A/H1N1 in pigs in the UK and continue to maintain our surveillance. The Food Standards Agency's advice is that the novel influenza A H1N1 virus does not pose a food safety risk to consumers. It has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating pork and pork products.
Our advice to pig keepers is that they should stay out of contact with pigs if they have influenza signs. We also continue to advise pig keepers to ensure they have good biosecurity procedures in place, something which is important at all times. Our information to pig keepers also includes details of the surveillance programme for swine influenza which DEFRA has been funding since 1991.
European Community rules only permit imports of live swine from approved third countries and pig meat products from approved plants in those countries that have agreed animal and public health certification in place. Countries such as Mexico, which are not able to meet the certification requirements, are not permitted to export live swine and pig meat products to the European community.
All animals and meat, which can only be imported to the European Community from approved third countries, must be accompanied by veterinary certification which must confirm, among other things, that live animals have been examined by an official veterinarian within 24 hours of loading and showed no clinical signs of disease.
Meat must have been derived from animals which have been subjected to a veterinary inspection during the 24 hours prior to slaughter.
Animals and meat imported into the European Community from approved third countries must enter at designated Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) where they are subject to veterinary inspections.
Waste Management
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) of 23 April 2009, Official Report, column 826W, on waste management, if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting of the stakeholder group. [274340]
Jane Kennedy: The minutes of each meeting of the Waste Stakeholder Group have been placed in the Library.
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's Waste Strategy in reducing levels of waste; and if he will make a statement. [274929]
Jane Kennedy: The Waste Strategy Annual Progress Report 2007-08 provides an assessment of the impact of the waste strategy, including on waste arisings and waste sent to landfill. It was published on 10 July 2008, and can be downloaded from the DEFRA website:
The next Annual Progress Report update on the impact of the Waste Strategy for England 2007 is due to be published later this year. This will be available via the same web link.
Water
Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what research his Department has conducted on the effect of projected population changes on water usage; [275665]
(2) what recent estimate he has made of the likely effect of projected increases in the population on levels of consumption of water in (a) England, (b) the South East and (c) each Government Office administrative region. [275691]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Water companies have statutory duties to maintain adequate supplies of water.
In April 2007, it became a statutory requirement for water companies to prepare and maintain water resources management plans. These plans look ahead 25 years and include projections of current and future demands for water. They describe how the companies will meet this demand in order to meet their supply obligations.
These plans are regularly updated. They must take account of relevant factors, such as climate change and the most up-to-date information available on housing numbers and population forecasts for their water supply area, provided in the Government’s Regional Spatial Strategies and the relevant local authority’s Local Development Plan.
Water resources management plans were subject to public consultation for the first time in 2008.
Prime Minister
Chequers
Norman Lamb: To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to publish the list of guests who have attended Chequers since the date of the last publication. [275671]
The Prime Minister: A list of guests who have received official hospitality at Chequers is published on an annual basis. Information for the financial year 2008-09 will be published in the usual manner.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to reply to the letter of 26 February 2009 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on multinational companies. [275679]
The Prime Minister: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.
Culture, Media and Sport
Departmental Pay
Mr. Hunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Fareham of 2 April 2008, Official Report, column 903W, on departmental pay, what the
hourly rates of pay of non-permanent members of staff working in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies were in each of the last 12 months; and how many staff were receiving each rate in each such month. [275440]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Training
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on IT training for its staff in each of the last five years. [274212]
Mr. Sutcliffe: In the last five years DCMS has spent the following on IT training for its staff:
| £ | |
Gambling
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the results were of the Gambling Commission’s mystery shopping exercises for 2008. [274773]
Mr. Sutcliffe: To ensure that all remote gambling operators take steps to prevent under 18s from gambling via the internet, the Gambling Commission undertakes a rolling programme of mystery shopping exercises. While their initial focus was on UK-licensed operators, the Commission has recently extended these exercises to look at a number of websites licensed overseas but accessible to UK residents, including those in EEA states and Gibraltar as well as those on the ‘whitelist’. Further details of those exercises will be published as soon as practicable, and in the Commission’s annual report.
Gambling: Advertising
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what differences there are in the legislative requirements relating to white list approval for advertising gambling services in the UK between online gambling companies based in (a) Alderney and (b) Antigua and Barbuda. [275426]
Mr. Sutcliffe: All applications for the white list were carefully considered against the Government’s published criteria in consultation with the Gambling Commission, HM Treasury and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Though there will inevitably be differences in legislative requirements between jurisdictions, the overriding consideration for the Government are to ensure that each jurisdiction is able to meet the standards we require.
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether officials of his Department visited Antigua and Barbuda prior to its inclusion on the white list. [275428]
Mr. Sutcliffe: No officials from my Department visited Antigua and Barbuda prior to their inclusion on the white list.
Mass Media
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to monitor the effects on the media industry of patterns of ownership in that industry; and what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and (b) the Office of Fair Trading on the effects of patterns of ownership on the newspaper and broadcast media industry. [275106]
Andy Burnham: We are examining the media industry as a whole, including the current ownership structures, in the lead up to the Final Digital Britain Report, which will be published in the summer. In the Interim Digital Britain Report we invited the Office of Fair Trading, with Ofcom and other interested parties, to undertake an exploratory review across the local and regional media sector and make appropriate recommendations. We expect the results of that review to be available alongside the Digital Britain Report, which is a joint project between my Department and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
In addition, Ofcom are conducting a statutory review of ownership rules and should report back to me by the end of the year.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to reply to the letter of 29 January 2009 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire transferred from the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 17 March, reference: 123460/SW on the future of motorsport at Croft motor-racing circuit. [275678]
Mr. Sutcliffe: I apologise for the delay in responding to the letter of 29 January 2009 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire transferred from the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 17 March. I shall reply shortly.
Work and Pensions
Children: Maintenance
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many and what proportion of child maintenance cases in North East Fife constituency payments were made (a) for the correct amount and (b) on time in each of the last five years. [270857]
Kitty Ussher [holding answer 22 April 2009]: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have therefore asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about child maintenance, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as child maintenance is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in how many and what proportion of child maintenance cases in North East Fife constituency payments were made (a) for the correct amount and (b) on time in each of the last five years [270857].
The information required to answer your question on the accuracy of maintenance payments collected from non-resident parents and issued to parents with care is not available. However the Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics (QSS) contains the latest available information at a national level on the accuracy of maintenance assessments carried out by the Child Support Agency. The latest version of the QSS is available in the House of Commons library or online at:
It shows that in the 12 months to March 2009, 84% of current scheme assessments and 91% of old scheme calculations were accurate to the nearest penny.
The Agency aims to make maintenance payments to the parent with care within a week of receiving money from the non-resident parent. The latest information available for North East Fife constituency is set out in the attached table which shows the number and percentage of payments made to parents with care for each of the last five years and the time taken to make the payment. Over the last year, 97% of payments were made to parents with care within 7 days of the money arriving in the Agency's bank account compared to 90% in 2004/5.
| N umber and percentage of payments made to parents with care in the North East Fife constituency, for each of the last five years, and the time taken to make the payment | ||||||||||
| Payments made within April to March each year: | ||||||||||
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | ||||||
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| Notes: 1. Only includes receipts and payments for cases held on the current computer system (CS2) and represents 70 per cent. of the Agency caseload. Management information is not available for the 30% of cases held on the old computer system (CSCS). 2. Information provided calculates time between receipt arriving in Agency's bank account and the Agency forwarding payment to the parent with care. 3. Payments allocated to parents with care in North East Fife by matching the residential postcode of the parent with care against the Office for National Statistics Postcode Directory. | ||||||||||
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