House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 16 Jun 2009 (pt 0003)

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Gurkhas

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely effects on levels of (a) recruitment of Gurkhas and (b) resettlement of former Gurkhas in the UK if his Department were to apply its policies on former UK service personnel to former Gurkha soldiers. [280396]

Mr. Kevan Jones: Since 2004, Gurkhas who served on or after 1 July 1997 have had the right to settle in the UK on discharge and the majority have done so. Some Gurkhas who retired before 1 July 1997 were given settlement under discretionary arrangements and the Government have recently extended these arrangements to include all those who retired before 1 July 1997 with four or more years service.

There is no evidence that these changes will have any impact on the recruitment of Gurkhas—recruiting is now under way for the 2010 intake and the quality and quantity of applicants in Nepal is as high as ever. Levels of resettlement of former Gurkhas in the UK are expected to increase and further work is being undertaken across Government to assess what the effects of this might be. The MOD will continue to monitor these issues to ensure that force structures and operational effectiveness are sustained.

Gurkhas: Taxation

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) tax and (b) other payments Gurkhas who retired before 1997 were required to make during their service to the Government; and if he will make a statement. [279747]

Mr. Kevan Jones: Before 1 July 1997 the Brigade of Gurkhas was based in the far east. Only those soldiers who came to the United Kingdom on a tour of duty and those commissioned through the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst paid tax.

Other payments made from a Gurkha's pay may have included recovery of debts including military fines and forfeitures of pay, overpayments, debit balances, payment of civil fines and judgment debts.

Voluntary payments may also have been made for allotments to family members in Nepal, savings and insurance schemes.

Members: Correspondence

Mr. Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Orpington of 7 May 2009 to his Department on the Spitfire and Hurricane gate guardians at the entrance to St. George's Chapel, Biggin Hill. [279639]

Mr. Kevan Jones: I replied to the hon. Member on 15 June 2009, advising that I would write to him with a substantive reply within the next few weeks.

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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Agriculture: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on research on reducing (a) carbon dioxide, (b) methane and (c) nitrous oxide emissions from domestic agriculture in the last five years. [278988]

Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA’s Farming and Food Science research programme in the period 2004-05 to 2008-09 has included a number of projects aimed at reducing carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions from domestic agriculture. Expenditure has been as follows:

	£ million
2004-05	2
2005-06	1.7
2006-07	3.4
2007-08	3.9
2008-09	4.2

Agriculture: Waste Disposal

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the average cost to a farmer of constructing a winter slurry storage silo. [279909]

Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 15 June 2009]: We do not hold figures for the cost to individual farmers of constructing a winter slurry store. In any event, an average figure could be misleading owing to the different sizes of farm holdings. The Department can confirm that the estimated costs to the sector of constructing additional storage facilities to comply with the storage capacity requirement are between £12.8 million and £16.5 million per annum. This was outlined in the Department's Impact Assessment of proposals to revise the Nitrates Action Programme.

Animal Welfare

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess the effectiveness of the provisions of the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 in ensuring the
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maintenance of animal welfare standards; and if he will make a statement. [279089]

Jim Fitzpatrick: As well as being covered by the 1925 Act, performing animals are protected by provisions laid down in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. We are currently in the process of reviewing the welfare standards of performing animals, and will consider the need for any further controls in due course.

Bees

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effects of the allocation of additional funding for research into bee colony collapse announced on 17 June 2008 on bee health; and if he will make a statement. [278817]

Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 10 June 2009]: Analysis of the results of this research within the Food and Environment Research Agency's National Bee Unit shows that the most important risk factor in the mortality or weakening of colonies is Deformed Wing Virus, a virus transmitted by the parasitic Varroa mite, clearly indicating failed or unsuccessful treatments of mite infestations.

This highlights the importance of improving standards of husbandry and is in agreement with results from earlier studies investigating abnormal colony losses in 2007. The impact of mite infestations was exacerbated by the unfavourable weather conditions over the last two years which did not allow colonies to prosper.

The weather conditions experienced so far in 2009 have led to far fewer losses. A final report with the results from the investigations into abnormal colony losses will be published later this year.

Birds of Prey

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate his Department has made of the population of each species of bird of prey in the UK. [279086]

Huw Irranca-Davies: The population of most species is assessed periodically by species-specific surveys of breeding numbers. The frequency of surveys varies between species. The latest available results from these, together with the years of survey, are provided in the following table.

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Year of survey	Species	Population estimate (breeding or territorial pairs)
2000	Honey Buzzard⁽¹⁾	33-69
2005	Marsh Harrier⁽²⁾	363-429
2004	Hen Harrier⁽³⁾	749
2006	Montagu’s Harrier⁽⁴⁾	13-17
1994-2000	Goshawk⁽⁵⁾	410
2003	Golden Eagle⁽⁶⁾	442
2006	Osprey⁽⁷⁾	147-161
1990-94	Merlin⁽⁸⁾	1,330
2002	Peregrine⁽⁹⁾	1,492
2000	Hobby⁽¹⁰⁾	2,200
2000	Sparrowhawk⁽¹¹⁾	41,000
2001	Buzzard⁽¹²⁾	44-61,000
2000	Kestrel⁽¹³⁾	35,400
2006	Red Kite⁽¹⁴⁾	1,200
2006	White-tailed Eagle⁽¹⁵⁾	36
⁽¹⁾ Batten, L.A. 2001. European Honey-buzzard Survey 2000 and 2001: preliminary results and request for further surveys. “British Birds” 94: 143-144. Ogilvie, M.A. 2003. European Honey-buzzards in the UK- correction to breeding totals. “British Birds” 96: 145. ⁽²⁾ Holling, M. and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel 2008. Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 2005. “British Birds” 101: 276-316. ⁽³⁾ Sim, I.M.W., Dillion, I.A., Eaton, M.A., Etheridge, B., Lindley, P., Riley, H., Saunders, R., Sharpe, C. and Tickner, M. 2007. Status of the Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus in the UK and Isle of Man in 2004, and a comparison with the 1988-89 and 1998 surveys. Bird Study 54(2): 256-267. ⁽⁴⁾ Holling, M. and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel 2009. Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 2006. “British Birds” 102: 158-202. ⁽⁵⁾ Petty, S.J. 1996. History of the Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis in Britain. In: Holmes, J.S. and Simons J.R. (eds), “The introduction and naturalisation of birds”. HMSO, London. Scott, D. 2001. Goshawk breeding in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Bird Report 1999:114-119. ⁽⁶⁾ Eaton, M.A., Dillon, I.A., Stirling-Aird, P.K. and Whitfield, D.P. 2007. The status of the Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos in Britain in 2003. “Bird Study” 54: 212-220. ⁽⁷⁾ Holling, M. and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel 2009. Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 2006. “British Birds” 102: 158-202. ⁽⁸⁾ Rebecca, G. and Bainbridge, I.P. 1998. The breeding status of Merlin Falco columbarius in Britain in 1993-94. “Bird Study” 45:172-187. RSPB/Irish Raptor Study Group data (from UK Raptor Working Group 2000). ⁽⁹⁾ Banks, A.N., Crick, H.Q.P., Coombes, R, Benn, S., Ratcliffe, D.A. and Humphreys, E. In press. The breeding status of the Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus in the United Kingdom and Isle of Man in 2002. “Bird Study”. ⁽¹⁰⁾ Clements, R. 2001. The Hobby in Britain: a new population estimate. “British Birds” 94: 402-408. ⁽¹¹⁾ Stone, B.H., Sears, J., Cranswick, PA, Gregory, R.D., Gibbons, D.W., Rehfisch, M.M., Aebischer, N.J. and Reid, J.B. 1997. Population estimates of birds in Britain and in the United Kingdom. “British Birds” 90: 1-22. Crick, H.Q.P., Marchant, J.H., Noble, D.G., Baillie, S.R., Balmer, D.E., Beaven, L.P., Coombes, R.H., Downie, I.S., Freeman, S.N., Joys, A.C., Leech, D.I., Raven, M.J., Robinson, R.A. and Thewlis, R.M. 2004. “Breeding Birds in the Wider Countryside: their conservation status 2003”. BTO Research Report No. 353. BTO, Thetford. ⁽¹²⁾ Stone, B.H., Sears, J., Cranswick, P.A., Gregory, R.D., Gibbons, D.W., Rehfisch, M.M., Aebischer, N.J. and Reid, J.B. 1997. Population estimates of birds in Britain and in the United Kingdom. “British Birds” 90: 1-22. Crick, H.Q.P., Marchant, J.H., Noble, D.G., Baillie, S.R., Balmer, D.E., Beaven, L.P., Coombes, R.H., Downie, I.S., Freeman, S.N., Joys, A.C., Leech, D.I., Raven, M.J., Robinson, R.A. and Thewlis, R.M. 2004. “Breeding Birds in the Wider Countryside: their conservation status 2003”. BTO Research Report No. 353. BTO, Thetford. ⁽¹³⁾ Stone, B.H., Sears, J., Cranswick, PA, Gregory, R.D., Gibbons, D.W., Rehfisch, M.M., Aebischer, N.J. and Reid, J.B. 1997. Population estimates of birds in Britain and in the United Kingdom. British Birds 90: 1-22. Crick, H.Q.P., Marchant, J.H., Noble, D.G., Baillie, S.R., Balmer, D.E., Beaven, L.P., Coombes, R.H., Downie, I.S., Freeman, S.N., Joys, A.C., Leech, D.I., Raven, M.J., Robinson, R.A. and Thewlis, R.M. 2004. “Breeding Birds in the Wider Countryside: their conservation status 2003”. BTO Research Report No. 353. BTO, Thetford. ⁽¹⁴⁾ Holling, M. and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel 2009. Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 2006. “British Birds” 102: 158-202. ⁽¹⁵⁾ Holling, M. and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel 2009. Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 2006. “British Birds” 102: 158-202.

Environment Protection: British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has allocated to the Overseas Territories Environment Programme in each of the last five years. [279090]

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP) is jointly funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development. DEFRA sits on the assessment panel that considers which projects OTEP should support, but DEFRA does not provide funding to OTEP.

Fisheries

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the percentage change in levels of (a) tuna and (b) cod stocks in UK waters in each year since 1997. [279353]

Huw Irranca-Davies: Tuna stocks are distributed throughout the Atlantic. No stocks of tuna are found exclusively within UK waters. Only a small percentage of the distribution of the northern albacore and the east Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna stocks are located within UK waters—to the west of Scotland and in the Celtic sea.

Tuna stocks are assessed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). ICCAT have not published absolute values for the stock biomass so that comparisons with historic estimates cannot be made. However, ICCAT does classify stock biomass levels relative to internationally agreed sustainable targets for biomass (BMSY—biomass at maximum sustainable yield) and exploitation rate (FMSY—fishing mortality at maximum sustainable yield).

For Northern albacore tuna, the most recent ICCAT assessment of stock status for northern albacore tuna was conducted in 2007⁽¹⁾. ICCAT considers that spawning stock size in 2005 was about one quarter of the peak levels estimated for the late 1940s. The analysis indicated that in 2005 the stock has rebuilt to 20 per cent. below the biomass expected at the optimum level for exploitation, compared to 50 per cent. below in 2000.

For East Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna, the most recent ICCAT assessment of stock status for the east Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna stock was conducted in 2008⁽²⁾. Analysis indicates that recent (2003-07) spawning biomass is less than 40 per cent. of the highest estimated levels.

Cod stocks are distributed throughout the North East Atlantic in the waters that surround the UK. No stocks of cod are found exclusively within UK waters. The stocks are considered separate biological units and are usually referred to by geographic region; North sea Skagerrak and eastern English channel, West of Scotland, Rockall, Irish sea, Celtic sea and western English channel.

Cod stocks are assessed annually by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The most recent ICES advice was issued in 2008. For each cod stock the change in the level of spawning biomass in each year since 1997 is presented in table 1:

⁽¹⁾ http://www.iccat.int/Documents/SCRS/ExecSum/ALB_EN.pdf

^{(2 )}http://www.iccat.int/Documents/SCRS/ExecSum/BFT_EN.pdf

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Table 1: The percentage change in spawning stock biomass for the North sea Skagerrak and eastern English cha n nel, West of Scotland, Irish sea, Celtic sea and western English channel cod stocks in each year after 1997
Percentage
	North sea^{( 1)}	West of Scotland^{( 2)}	Irish sea^{( 3)}	Celtic sea^{( 4)}
1997	-12	-20	-2	-11
1998	-16	-15	-14	-13
1999	-5	-1	2	-13
2000	-33	-13	-58	-33
2001	-22	-11	57	9
2002	21	-14	89	33
2003	-7	-15	-29	-13
2004	-10	-20	-3	-42
2005	-8	-27	-34	-19
2006	-6	-2	-2	13
2007	19	68	-47	35
2008	35	19	16	16
⁽¹⁾ http://www.ices.dk/committe/acom/comwork/report/2008/2008/cod-347d.pdf ⁽²⁾ http://www.ices.dk/committe/acom/comwork/report/2008/2008/cod-scow.pdf ⁽³⁾ http://www.ices.dk/committe/acom/comwork/report/2008/2008/cod-iris.pdf ⁽⁴⁾ http://www.ices.dk/committe/acom/comwork/report/2008/2008/cod-7e-k.pdf Notes: 1. The cod stocks were considered at a low level relative to optimum in 1997. 2. For Rockall cod the available information is inadequate to evaluate stock trends.

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