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2 Nov 2009 : Column 672W—continued
Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to publish the scientific evidence commissioned by his Department on the re-testing of cattle following an inconclusive test result for bovine tuberculosis. [296452]
Jim Fitzpatrick: In accordance with standard practice we will publish the full Impact Assessment, including cost benefit analysis, in support of this policy change. This will be available on the DEFRA website before the end of the year
Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether restrictions have been placed on the use of the grant provided by the European Commission Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health for implementation of the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Programme in respect of the operation of the programme in Wales. [295904]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Commission's Decision clearly sets out what the UK including Wales is able to apply for in terms of reimbursements for the costs of tuberculin testing, gamma interferon blood testing and compensation for cattle slaughtered. This is not a restriction; it is a rule of the funding programme that the UK Bovine TB Eradication Plan for 2010 is an application to.
The Decision sets out the maximum of the costs that member states can claim for each:
Tuberculin test: €1.75 per test
Gamma-interferon test: €5 per test
Compensation: €375 per animal.
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the merits of testing for bovine tuberculosis annually in all parishes, as is done in Wales. [297031]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Bovine TB Eradication Group for England has recently reviewed the approach taken to setting routine TB testing frequencies to a risk based approach as announced in its report published on 8 October. Extending more frequent routine TB testing to more of the country would come at a high cost. As TB is a largely regional issue, concentrated in England in the south west and west midlands, with large areas in the north and east predominantly clear, this risk based approach is deemed a more proportionate and effective use of resources.
Carbon Emissions
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to reduce emissions of black carbon in England and Wales. [296920]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Black carbon emissions are being tackled as part of a wider package of measures to reduce particulate matter (PM) emissions across the UK. Black carbon is emitted through combustion processes and is a constituent of PM, which is consistently associated with respiratory and cardio-vascular illness and mortality. Black carbon is also a global warming agent.
Measures to reduce particulate matter emissions are included in the UK Government's time extension notification:
under the ambient air quality directive (2008/50/EC), which sets out how EU ambient air quality limits for PM will be met in the few remaining at-risk areas by
2011. This includes parts of London, and the Government have been working with the Mayor of London on a draft Air Quality Strategy:
which includes new measures to address particulate emissions, particularly from transport sources, across the capital.
Emissions from diesel vehicles are one significant source of black carbon so the introduction of measures that encourage the early uptake of new vehicles compliant with the most stringent European vehicle emission standards is being pursued.
Circuses: Animal Welfare
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will introduce a ban on the use of all non-domesticated animals in circuses; and if he will make a statement. [296786]
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. [296207]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Wild animals used in travelling circuses are protected by the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which prevents unnecessary cruelty or suffering to any vertebrate animal. The Act makes owners and keepers responsible for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals are met. This includes the need: for a suitable environment (place to live); for a suitable diet; to exhibit normal behaviour patterns; to be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable); and to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease.
A Feasibility Study is currently under way looking at the possibility of regulating wild animal acts in travelling circuses. The Feasibility Study is nearing completion and I intend to review the findings carefully.
Dogs
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit the submission for competition of dogs with docked tails to dog shows which charge no entrance fee to spectators. [297284]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Animal Welfare Act 2006 prohibits the showing of a dog that has had its tail docked on or after 6 April 2007 at an event to which members of the public are admitted on payment of a fee (except where a certified docked dog is being shown only for the purpose of demonstrating its working ability). Any suggestions for amendments to the docking of dogs' tails provisions in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 will be considered when the Act is reviewed.
Dogs: Quarantine
James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations his Department has received on proposals to exempt search and rescue dogs from quarantine when they enter the UK from search and rescue missions in parts of the world where mammals are required to be quarantined. [296377]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 29 October 2009]: The hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) raised the case of the rescue dog Darcy with the Secretary of State, and we have subsequently received a number of representations about this case.
The Government recognise the excellent work carried out by search and rescue dogs in responding to overseas disasters, such as the recent earthquake in Indonesia, and their rapid and valuable response to such emergencies.
We also appreciate the difficulty the current quarantine requirements cause for owners of these rescue dogs, particularly the rule requiring that dogs coming into the UK from certain countries, including Indonesia, are placed in quarantine on their arrival. This long-standing rule is in place to protect the UK from the incursion of serious diseases such as rabies.
DEFRA officials are discussing the specific case of Darcy the search and rescue dog with representatives from the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. We are considering within the current requirements how to minimise the burden our quarantine our quarantine rules place on these animals, particularly on their training programme, but the requirements are important and need to be observed.
James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 October 2009, Official Report, column 1157W, on dogs: quarantine, how he defined formal representation in that answer; whether he has received any representations on the search and rescue dog Darcy since the date of that answer; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that search and rescue dogs do not have to enter quarantine on return from missions abroad. [296944]
Jim Fitzpatrick: At the time the parliamentary answer of 16 October 2009, Official Report, column 1157W, was drafted, the Secretary of State had not received any formal (i.e. written) representations on the search and rescue dog Darcy. The hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) has raised the case with the Secretary of State, and we have subsequently received a number of parliamentary questions and letters, including one specific request from the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.
DEFRA has discussed the case of Darcy the search and rescue dog with representatives from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. Although the rabies quarantine legislation does not provide for an absolute exemption from quarantine to be granted in these circumstances, the Government are hopeful that we will be able to find a training regime which proves an acceptable compromise between the needs of these dogs, and the requirement that we protect the UK from devastating diseases like rabies.
The Government will pursue this approach and has no plans to amend the law, although discussions with the European Commission and other EU member states are continuing about the overall future of the UK's pet movement rules.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many rescue dogs there are in quarantine following their deployment on missions overseas. [297006]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government do not collect this specific data.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many representations he has received requesting special dispensation to enable Darcy, the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service rescue dog, to be released from quarantine; and if he will make a statement. [297007]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Six parliamentary questions have been asked by two Members of Parliament this month on the quarantining of rescue dogs. To date we have received eight letters from Members, two letters from people directly related to this case, and five specific representations from members of the public. DEFRA has also received 172 declarations of support for the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service "Free Darcy" campaign.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will amend the policy of quarantine for animals entering the UK to exclude rescue dogs attached officially to recognised Urban Search and Rescue organisations; and if he will make a statement. [297008]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government recognise the excellent work carried out by search and rescue dogs in responding to overseas disasters, such as the recent earthquake in Indonesia, and their rapid and valuable response to such emergencies.
We also appreciate the difficulty the current quarantine requirements cause for owners of these rescue dogs, particularly the rule requiring that dogs coming into the UK from certain countries, including Indonesia, are placed in quarantine on their arrival. This long-standing rule is in place to protect the UK from the incursion of serious diseases such as rabies.
DEFRA has discussed the case of Darcy the search and rescue dog with representatives from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. Although the rabies quarantine legislation does not provide for an absolute exemption from quarantine to be granted in these circumstances, the Government are hopeful that we will be able to find a training regime which proves an acceptable compromise between the needs of these dogs, and the requirement that we protect the UK from devastating diseases like rabies. Darcy will also be able to travel from the UK to any other country to help with search and rescue if there were to be another emergency.
Floods
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of remedying flood damage in each year since 1997. [297294]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Where information is available, the Environment Agency records the extent of flooding; however, complete estimates of actual flood damage in past years are not recorded centrally.
The Environment Agency's Flooding in England report estimates that the expected annual cost of damages to properties at risk of flooding from rivers and the sea in
England is more than £1 billion. Estimates of flood damage caused by some of the larger individual events in recent years are £3 billion for the summer 2007 flooding, £450 million for Cumbria in 2005 and £1 billion for the autumn 2000 events.
Food
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the Government's policy to reduce domestic food production in order to achieve renewable energy targets; and if he will make a statement. [296921]
Jim Fitzpatrick: As stated in the Renewable Energy Strategy, the UK biomass sector has the potential to expand without detrimental effects on food supplies and the environment if it is done in a sustainable manner. Greater recovery of wood from managed and unmanaged woodland, increasing the planting of perennial energy crops and better exploitation of the existing supply of organic waste materials, could make a significant contribution to our energy targets, particularly in the heat and electricity sectors. Imported biomass products are also likely to continue to play a role in the UK use of bio-energy.
The UK is working in the Global Bioenergy Partnership to help build international consensus on voluntary sustainability criteria and indicators for bio-energy and biofuels, including for potential impacts on food security.
National Parks: Planning Permission
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance he issues to the authorities of national parks on the procedures to be followed in examining expressions of intent to apply for permission for development within a national park; and if he will make a statement. [296410]
Mr. Ian Austin: I have been asked to reply.
There is no Government guidance on this specific matter. However, Planning Policy Statement 1-Delivering Sustainable Development-encourages local planning authorities in general to take a positive attitude towards early engagement in pre-application discussions. As part of our response to the Killian Pretty Review, we intend to issue for consultation later this year further policy guidance on pre-application engagement.
Noise: Motorways
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people reside within the 75 decibel noise contour of (a) the M3 between Winchester and its junction with the M27 and (b) the M27 between its junction with the M3 and the Hamble Bridge. [297374]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Based on population exposure statistics, rounded to the nearest 100 people, it is estimated, using noise mapping results and population location information produced from the 2005 DEFRA Noise Mapping England Major Roads project that:
(a) there are 600 people who are exposed to 75 dB (LA10,18h) or above, generated by road traffic noise living in the vicinity of the M3, between Winchester (Junction 9) and its junction with the M27 (Junction 14).
(b) there are 100 people who are exposed to 75 dB (LA10,18h) or above, generated by road traffic noise living in the vicinity of the M27, between its junction with the M3 (Junction 4) to the Hamble Bridge (between Junction 8 and Junction 9).
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will estimate the number of people resident within the 75-decibel contour of each motorway in England; and if he will assess the effects on such residents of exposure to such levels of noise. [297375]
Jim Fitzpatrick: We do not have the specific data in the format requested. However, the Environmental Noise Directive (END-2002/49/EC) requires member states to produce noise maps. The END requires us to undertake an exposure assessment separately for major roads(1) with over 6 million vehicle passages per year, and road traffic noise sources in agglomerations.(2) Results of the noise mapping and exposure assessment are publicly available at:
The results of the mapping and exposure assessment are currently being used to support the development of Noise Action Plans, which are required to be produced under the END, drafts of which are currently undergoing public consultation until 4 November 2009, and are available at:
In accordance with the END, exposure assessments have been undertaken for major roads.(1) The results for locations outside agglomerations are summarised in section 4 of the draft Noise Action Plan for Major Roads (outside first round agglomerations), which is available at:
Table 4.5, page 10, of that document states that there are estimated to be 72,000 people in England, who are exposed to a noise level greater than or equal to 75 dB (LA10,18h), generated by road traffic noise from major roads.(1)
Additionally, in accordance with the END, exposure assessments have been undertaken for all mapped road traffic noise sources inside agglomerations. Results for agglomerations are summarised in section 4 of the draft supporting data document for agglomerations which is available at:
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