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9 July 2009 : Column 921W—continued
Speed Limits: Schools
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will encourage local highway authorities to adopt variable speed limits on roads past schools. [284806]
Paul Clark: Local highways authorities already have powers to introduce variable 20 mph speed limits on roads outside schools if they believe it appropriate to do so.
The Department for Transport guidance on setting local speed limits recommends local highways authorities consider introducing 20 mph speed limits, variable 20 mph speed limits and 20 mph zones in residential areas. This view is reinforced in the document “A Safer Way: Consultation on Making Britain’s Roads the Safest in the World” published in April 2009.
However, there are cost implications related to signing variable speed limits in accordance with regulations.
The Department is working with several local highway authorities to trial more cost effective signing which, if successful, will enable all local highway authorities to more easily introduce variable 20 mph speed limits outside schools.
Trams: Railways
Mr. Tom Harris: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what progress his Department has made on its tram-train pilot. [286060]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport is in discussions with Northern and Network Rail about the operation of a tram-train trail on the Penistone line and expects to make an announcement in due course.
Transport
Norman Baker:
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport in respect of which of his Department’s (a) projects and (b) budgets underspend
is planned in order to provide funding for the proposals contained in the Building Britain's Future document. [284707]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport is continually assessing risk in its programmes. Its current judgment is that it will be able to provide up to £350 million from underspends by the end of the financial year.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animals: Imports
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence his Department holds on the effect of the ban on importation of wild birds into the EU on the number of reptiles imported into the EU since 2007. [284515]
Huw Irranca-Davies: We are aware of reports that the number of reptiles being imported into the EU has increased since 2007, but we do not have access to EU-wide statistics to substantiate these reports.
Avian Influenza: Vaccination
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure the availability of avian vaccines in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza. [284101]
Jim Fitzpatrick: We are currently reviewing our vaccine requirements in the event of vaccination being required as a control measure in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza. We expect to invite tenders on this shortly.
Central Science Laboratory: Pay
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid in bonuses to (a) directors, (b) senior managers, (c) specialist and delivery managers and (d) executive support and administration staff of the Central Science Laboratory in each of the last five years. [283517]
Dan Norris: Amounts paid in bonuses to staff in the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) in each of the last four years are listed in the following table. Data for 2009 are not available because on 1 April 2009 CSL became part of the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera).
Exmoor National Park: Public Appointments
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people applied for appointment to the committee of the Exmoor National Park as one of his appointments on the last occasion on which such appointments were made; what criteria were used to decide whom to appoint; and what the (a) name and (b) job was of each person on the selection panel. [284405]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Five applications were received for the 2009 round of appointments to Exmoor national park authority.
The Secretary of State members are appointed to the national park authorities to reflect the national importance placed on national parks. Such members will consider strategic issues such as responsibility for conservation, recreation, planning, access, land management and resources issues, as well as reflecting both local and national interests.
The selection process followed the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointment (OCPA) guidelines. The selection panel members were Doug Hulyer (panel chair)—Natural England Board, Councillor John Dyke—chairman of Exmoor national park authority and Tony Swabe—OCPA independent assessor.
Floods: South West
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many flood defence schemes are under construction in the Wessex Water area; and how many such schemes were planned for this year in the capital funding programme for such schemes. [284403]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Within the Wessex area the Environment Agency has 20 flood defence schemes under way and has planned works at 14 other locations. Local authorities have work under way at Weston-super-Mare as well as work planned at Bristol Harbour for later in the year.
Incidental Catches of Cetaceans in Fisheries (England) Order 2005
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps his Department is taking in respect of fishing vessels that do not comply with the provisions of the Incidental Catches of Cetaceans in Fisheries (England) Order 2005; [284510]
(2) how many UK fishing vessels of 12 metres or more in length using gillnets or entangling nets comply with the provisions of the Incidental Catches of Cetaceans in Fisheries (England) Order 2005 on the use of acoustic deterrents on nets. [284511]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The UK is committed to enforcing all aspects of Council Regulation 812/2004 and the provisions of the Incidental Catches of Cetaceans in Fisheries (England) Order 2005 in order to minimise cetacean by-catch.
The Marine and Fisheries agency (MFA) monitor compliance through the inspection activities of the Royal Navy fishery protection squadron. In addition, the MFA conducts training courses for the fisheries protection squadron who undertake boarding at sea. This has led to increased industry awareness of cetacean by-catch issues.
The use of acoustic deterrent devices as specified under Council Regulation 812/2004 has been problematic for the UK and for other member states. UK fishing vessels have identified pinger deployment and safety issues during fishing operations. We reported our concerns to the European Commission and we have been given scientific dispensation to start a research programme to develop appropriate and effective pingers that are safe for our fishers to use.
The UK’s research into acoustic deterrent devices is being carried out on behalf of DEFRA by the sea mammal research unit (SMRU). SMRU, in collaboration with SeaFish and the industry are currently testing a dolphin dissuasive device (DDD) and they are looking at the effects these devices may have on the population distribution of harbour porpoises. Initial results on the efficacy of these pingers are promising.
Marine Management Organisation
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects an equality impact assessment of the location of the headquarters of the future Marine Management Organisation to be made. [284381]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The “initial” and “partial” phases of an Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) have already been completed on the relocation of the headquarters of the proposed new Marine Management Organisation. The final phase—which will see completion of the “full” EqIA—is currently in process and we still await the outcome of the location of a suitable office for the MMO on Tyneside. Subject to considerations around that however, we aim to finalise the EqIA by the end of August 2009.
Origin Marking: EC Countries
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had at EU level on the introduction of country of origin labelling for all food products traded between EU member states. [284607]
Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
There have been no discussions at European Union level on country of origin labelling for foods traded between EU member states.
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