The UK has argued forcefully for further decoupling of aid payments from production in order to reduce market distortions, and the 2008 Health Check made a step in this direction, decoupling approximately a further €3 billion of direct payments. This increases the level of decoupled support from around 89 per cent. of all direct farm payments to around 96 per cent. The payments currently scheduled for decoupling and the relevant dates are presented in Table 2.
Table 2: Direct aids scheduled to be decoupled
Sector
Current situation
When/how to be phased out
Fruit and vegetables
The EU Processed Fruit and Vegetables Regime was subject to major reform in 2007, with agreement reached on a phased approach to full decoupling:
Tomatoes for processing-1 January 2012
Tomatoes for processing-member states may allow a maximum four year transitional period provided that the coupled element of the payment does not exceed 50 per cent. of the corresponding component of the national ceiling
Other processing aids-member states may allow a maximum five year transitional period until at the latest 31 December 2012, provided that after 31 December 2010, the coupled proportion of the payment does not exceed 75 per cent. of the corresponding component of the national ceiling in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
Other processing aids-1 January 2013
14 July 2009 : Column 223W
14 July 2009 : Column 224W
Sugar
There are no direct aids in the sugar sector, but there is a transitional fund to help the sugar sector restructure.
The transitional aid is due to end in 2010
There are also separate sugar payments as part of the Single Payment Scheme.
Tobacco
Progressive reduction in coupled support from 2006 to 2010.
2010
Crops
Member states may retain partial coupled payments in:
Full decoupling from 2010 and integration into Single Payment Scheme (SPS)
Arable Crops Payments (up to 25 per cent.)
Durum Wheat Quality Supplement (up to 40 per cent.)
Hops (up to 25 per cent.)
Olive oil
Aid for olive groves could remain up to 40 per cent. coupled.
Full decoupling in 2010 and integration in SPS
Livestock
Member states may retain coupled payments in:
Slaughter premium for young animals, slaughter premium for adult animals and Special beef premium: Full decoupling from 2012 onwards and integration into SPS. No change in suckler cow and sheep and goatmeat.
Suckler Cow Premium (up to 100 per cent.)
Special beef premium (up to 75 per cent.),
Slaughter Premium (up to 40 per cent. for adults and 100 per cent. for calves)
Sheep and Goats (up to 50 per cent.).
Flax and Hemp
Option of 25 per cent. partial coupling as arable crops area payment. Short fibre flax to be phased out in 2008-09. Long fibre flax to be increased to €40/tonne in 2009-10.
Decouple long fibre flax processing aid and integrate into SPS from 2012.
Dried Fodder
Retain processing aid (per tonne, uniform for dehydrated and dried fodder)
Decouple processing aid and integrate into SPS in 2012
Starch potato
Aid for starch producers (60 per cent. of pre-2003 level) paid per tonne of starch delivered. A transformation aid is granted to the manufacturers per tonne of potato starch with guaranteed minimum prices within the quota limit. Finally, production refunds for starch are granted when using starch for the production of certain goods.
Decouple aid to growers and integrate into SPS from 2012 at the latest; decouple processing aid and integrate into SPS in 2012
Energy crop premium
Aid of EUR 45 per hectare for energy crops for the production of biofuels and electric and thermal energy produced from biomass
Abolish in 2010
Durum Wheat
Aid of EUR 40 per hectare, granted subject to the use of certain quantities of certified seeds of varieties recognised as being of high quality for the production of semolina or pasta.
Full decoupling and integration into SPS in 2010.
Protein crops
Aid of EUR 55.57 per hectare of protein crops (peas, field beans, lupins).
Decouple and integrate into SPS in 2012 at the latest.
Specific payment for rice
Aid per hectare, the value set according to the yields in the member states concerned
Decouple and integrate into SPS in 2012 at the latest.
Nuts
Aid per hectare granted to farmers producing nuts, with a possibility of granting additional national aid.
Decouple and integrate into SPS in 2012 at the latest.
It is a condition of all direct payments that claimants both keep their land in 'good agricultural and environmental condition' (GAEC), as defined by member states in accordance with a set EU framework, and comply with 18 statutory management requirements (existing EU regulatory environmental, public, animal and plant health and animal welfare requirements).
The UK "Vision for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)" is clear that by 2015 to 2020, CAP Pillar 1 should be phased out completely. Instead, payments to farmers should be targeted at delivering public benefits, including environmental benefits, through a re-shaped Pillar 2.
Eggs: Labelling
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take 14 July 2009 : Column 225W
steps to ensure that eggs are labelled clearly to indicate the method by which the chickens which produced the eggs are farmed. [285584]
Jim Fitzpatrick:
All eggs sold at retail and to catering (i.e. class A eggs) must already be labelled with the method of production and the eggs must be stamped on their shells with a code which must be explained on the labelling.
This code identifies the method of production, country of origin and the establishment. The code will start with a number to distinguish production method, this should be '0' = Organic, '1' = Free Range, '2' = Barn, '3' = Eggs from Caged Hens. This will be followed by two letters denoting country of origin (e.g. 'UK') followed by a code (numbers sometimes with letters) identifying the registered production site.
Environment Agency: Pay
Bob Spink:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was 14 July 2009 : Column 226W
paid in bonuses to (a) directors, (b) senior managers, (c) specialist and delivery managers and (d) executive support and administration staff in the Environment Agency in each of the last five years. [285539]
Jim Fitzpatrick:
The following table shows performance-related pay paid by the Environment Agency over the last five years.
These payments are awarded to reflect success for performance across a range of objectives which are set and agreed with Government. The Environment Agency's annual report details its overall performance against its objectives and gives details of directors' remuneration, including performance-related pay.
These payments are only made to directors and senior managers. The Environment Agency currently has 155 senior managers and directors.
Total value of performance-related pay over last five years
£
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
Director (9)
92,178
95,883
101,970
113,715
127,396
Senior Manager (av. 133)
655,546
739,625
843,141
870,264
1,222,480
Manager
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Specialist
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Executive Support and Administration Staff
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total
747,724
835,508
945,112
983,979
1,349,876
The average percentage paid as performance-related pay per eligible employee over the last five years has been 10 per cent. For 2008-09, the Environment Agency has decided to cap performance-related pay in line with civil service practice.
Environment Protection: Prosecutions
Martin Horwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions resulted in (a) convictions and (b) custodial sentences for offences related to (i) water resources, (ii) flood defences, (iii) fisheries, (iv) navigation, (v) process industry regulation, (vi) radioactive substances, (vii) waste and (viii) water quality as recorded in the National Enforcement Database in each year since 1997. [286467]
Huw Irranca-Davies [holding answer 13 July 2009]:The table shows the number of convictions (1) and custodial sentences (2) for environmental offences recorded in the National Enforcement Database in each financial year from 1999 to 2008.
The national enforcement database came online in April 1999. Data are therefore not available for 1997, 1998 and the first three months of 1999.
Fisheries( 1)
Flood defence
Navigation
Process industry regulation
Radioactive substances
Waste
Water quality
Water resources
1999 (April-December)
Convictions
1
4
3
6
3
314
220
10
Custodial sentences
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
2000
Convictions
29
1
6
12
3
409
229
21
Custodial sentences
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
2001
Convictions
22
2
3
8
11
472
223
10
Custodial sentences
0
0
0
0
0
11
0
0
2002
Convictions
50
1
14
3
1
516
232
11
14 July 2009 : Column 227W
14 July 2009 : Column 228W
Custodial sentences
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
2003
Convictions
44
5
34
5
3
424
170
6
Custodial sentences
0
0
0
0
0
7
0
0
2004
Convictions
40
9
38
1
2
434
184
19
Custodial sentences
0
0
0
0
0
6
1
0
2005
Convictions
78
8
35
4
1
507
227
10
Custodial sentences
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
2006
Convictions
51
4
37
1
1
427
190
5
Custodial sentences
0
0
0
0
0
10
0
0
2007
Convictions
74
6
31
0
0
486
184
17
Custodial sentences
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
0
2008
Convictions
72
8
33
1
3
444
138
9
Custodial sentences
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
0
(1) Figures given for fisheries cover only freshwater/inland fisheries and non-rod and line fishing offences.
