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15 July 2009 : Column 387W—continued
Horses: Artificial Insemination
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2008, Official Report, column 324W, on horses: artificial insemination, how many semen straws from the Hanoverian stallion Weltmeyer, reference 31-44035-84, have been imported into the UK since January 1989. [285008]
Jim Fitzpatrick: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Landfill: Carbon Emissions
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the proportion of carbon dioxide emissions arising from landfill activities in the latest period for which figures are available. [285559]
Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
According to the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory, landfill activities accounted for 3.2 per cent. of UK total emissions in 2007. This is from methane and corresponds to 41.5 per cent. of UK total methane emissions in 2007. The UK agrees with the assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that the proportion of carbon dioxide in landfill gas is about 50 per cent. The UK does not separately estimate emissions of carbon dioxide from landfills because to do so would be to double count with carbon stock changes estimated in the land-use, land-use change and forestry sector. This is in accordance with the international guidelines for reporting greenhouse gases to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Mobile Phones
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of (a) mobile telephones and (b) printer cartridges which were (i) recycled, (ii) reused overseas and (iii) disposed of within the waste stream in each year since 1997; what research his Department has (A) commissioned and (B) evaluated on the disposal of mobile telephones and printer cartridges in that period; and if he will make a statement. [286468]
Dan Norris:
Information on the number of mobile phones and printer cartridges recycled, reused or disposed of is not collected centrally. The Department has not commissioned research into the disposal of these items.
We have, however, published guidance on the treatment of waste electrical and electronic equipment which includes mobile phones and printers, which is available on DEFRA's website.
Pollution: Fines
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been levied in fines by local authorities against (a) companies, (b) local authorities and (c) individuals for each type of pollution incident in each region in each year since 1997. [286450]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Details of fines levied by local authorities against companies, local authorities and individuals for pollution incidents are not held centrally and can be sourced only at disproportionate cost.
Primates
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward legislation to prohibit the keeping of primates as pets. [287093]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government have no plans to introduce legislation to prohibit the keeping of primates as pets because we are not aware of any evidence to suggest that there is a widespread problem to warrant such action.
However, the Government accept that primates are complex creatures that require specialist care. As a result of concerns raised in Parliament, the Government are working with a number of stakeholders on the production of a code of practice on the welfare of privately kept primates.
Sustainable Development Commission
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria were used to select the new Chairman of the Sustainable Development Commission; and what the remuneration is for that post in 2009-10. [286817]
Dan Norris: As the sponsoring Department for the Sustainable Development Commission, DEFRA, on behalf of the Cabinet Office, managed the appointment of the new chair of the Sustainable Development Commission. The process was managed in line with the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) guidelines.
Candidates were required to demonstrate the full range of criteria outlined in the information pack for the post (see OCPA Guidelines Annex A).
All devolved Administrations and the Prime Minister approved the recommended appointment. Remuneration for the SDC chair is £400 per diem. The time input for the position is two to three days per week subject to negotiation.
Veterinary Medicines Agency: 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 administrative staff in the Veterinary Medicines Agency in each of the last five years. [286367]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Veterinary Medicines Directorate is an Executive agency of DEFRA and follows DEFRA's pay agreements for staff outside the senior civil service. Non-consolidated performance payments for directors are paid under the senior civil service pay agreement and the payments for the chief executive is part of his contract of employment. The VMD's other staff are eligible for non-consolidated performance payments under the DEFRA scheme. Many of VMD's staff straddle the categories requested so it has not been possible to break down the total annual payments for these staff which are set out in the following table.
| £ | |||||
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
| (1) The CEO's non-consolidated performance payments for 2003-04 and 2004-05 were paid in 2005-06. (2) The VMD is unable to identify payments paid as a separate component of gross salary before 2005-06 as this information was not available from the previous payroll bureau. | |||||
Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what requirements arising from EU legislation there are in respect of (a) charges for businesses and local authorities disposed of waste in landfill sites, (b) the provision of receptacles for the disposal of household waste and (c) the frequency of waste collections. [286574]
Dan Norris: The requirements from EU obligations in respect of charges on businesses or local authorities to dispose of waste in landfill sites relate to two directives:
The European Waste Framework Directive which provides that in accordance with the 'polluter pays principle' the cost of disposing of waste must be borne by the holder or previous holder, or the producer of the product giving rise to of the waste, or the collector or disposer of the waste.
The Landfill Directive which seeks to ensure measures are taken that all the costs of setting up and operating a landfill site, including the cost of any financial security and the costs of closure and aftercare for a period of at least 30 years, are covered in the price to be charged by the operator for the disposal of waste at a landfill site.
There are no requirements arising from EU obligations in respect of either the receptacles for the disposal of household waste or the frequency of collections. These are rightly matters for local authorities to determine to suit local circumstances, taking into account the views of residents in the area.
Weed Control
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department has issued guidance to local authorities on controlling weeds. [286511]
Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA has policy responsibility for the five injurious weeds covered by the Weeds Act 1959 (Common Ragwort, Creeping or Field Thistle and Spear Thistle and Curled and Broad Leaved Dock) and also for invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and water primrose.
We have not issued any specific guidance to local authorities on controlling the weeds covered by the Weeds Act 1959. However, the Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort provides comprehensive guidance on how to develop a strategic and cost-effective approach to control of common ragwort. It is intended for use by all landowners and occupiers but is particularly relevant for large-scale organisations managing significant land areas, including local authorities and other public bodies. The code of practice and other information about the control of injurious weeds is available on the DEFRA website.
Advice on the management of invasive non-native weeds is available from a number of sources including the websites of the Environment Agency and the Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat. In addition, DEFRA published the Horticultural Code of Practice in 2005, which provides best practice advice concerning the acquisition, use and disposal of plants.
Wales
Holtham Commission
10. Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what evidence his Department has given to the Holtham Commission; and if he will make a statement. [285617]
Mr. Hain: The Treasury provided evidence to the Holtham Commission and last week I met with Gerald Holtham to discuss the outcomes of the Commission's work.
Crime Levels
11. Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the likely effect of proposals contained in the Building Britain's Future document on the level of criminal activity in Wales. [285618]
Mr. David: Building Britain's Future, our strategic plan to build a more prosperous, stronger and fairer country contains enforceable entitlements that will help to reduce the level of criminal activity in Wales, such as:
a right to police on the beat, with community teams spending 80 per cent. of their time on foot patrol;
a right to monthly beat meetings, where local policing priorities are agreed; and
a right to minimum response times.
Crime Prevention
12. Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on crime prevention programmes in Wales. [285619]
Mr. David: My right hon. Friend and I have regular meetings with Home Office Ministers on a range of issues including crime prevention programmes.
A great deal of solid and focused work has been undertaken around Wales to address key crime issues over the last year, with great success.
Rail Service: Aberystwyth-London
13. Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers and ministerial colleagues on proposals for the introduction of a direct rail service between Aberystwyth and London. [285620]
Mr. David: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular meetings with Welsh Assembly Government and ministerial colleagues to discuss matters relating to Wales, including transport issues.
I would like to pay tribute to the work of the hon. Gentleman in his campaigning to raise the profile of this proposed rail service. There is a strong demand for increased rail services in Wales, and a further rail service to London would be most welcome not only to rail users but also local businesses, by encouraging even more visitors to Wales.
Holiday Lettings
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the implications for Wales of the decision to repeal rules on furnished holiday lettings. [286095]
Mr. Hain: The Treasury's decision to repeal the Furnished Holiday Lettings Scheme in 2010 is based upon advice it received that by treating landlords of furnished holiday accommodation differently to other landlords in the UK, and across the rest of the European Economic Area, it may be in breach of European Law. The change will put landlords of holiday homes on an equal footing with other landlords and brings the UK regulations in line with those elsewhere in the wider European Economic Area.
Public Expenditure: Wales
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his assessment is of the effect of the recession on levels of public expenditure per capita in Wales. [285994]
Mr. Hain: Figures on identifiable public spending per head in Wales were published in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (Cm 7630) in June 2009. Public expenditure for the Welsh Assembly Government was set in the 2007 Spending Review. Wales, along with other parts of the UK, received a fiscal stimulus in the pre-Budget report and Budget in response to the recession.
Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the maximum fine was imposed on a licensee for the offence of persistently selling alcohol to people under-age in each of the last two years. [284845]
Mr. Alan Campbell: There have been no prosecutions under s147A of the Licensing Act 2003 in the last two years for which data are available (2006 and 2007). Therefore no individuals have been recorded as receiving the maximum fine for the offence of persistently selling alcohol to people underage. Data from 2008 will be available in autumn 2009.
Alcoholic Drinks: Young People
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much was collected in fines levied upon retail store licensees for serving alcohol to minors in each local authority area within the ceremonial county of Hampshire in each of the last five years; [286280]
(2) how much was collected against fines levied upon public house licensees for serving alcohol to minors in each local authority area within the ceremonial county of Hampshire in each of the last five years. [286281]
Mr. Alan Campbell: It is not possible to differentiate between fines given to retailers and those given to licensees of public houses. Additionally, data on the collection of fines for specific offences are not held, therefore the answer given in table 1 shows the sum of all fines imposed for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to under 18's. The actual amount collected, and the status of the defendant is not known.
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