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9 Mar 2010 : Column 163W—continued
The figures on a grade by grade basis show that the differences between disabled and non-disabled staff are very small. In some grades the average salary of disabled staff is higher than that of non-disabled staff.
Although declaring disability status is not mandatory in DEFRA, we do encourage staff to declare their status to enable effective monitoring of HR policies.
Departmental Internet
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many designs for its website his Department has commissioned since 2005. [318652]
Dan Norris: DEFRA has commissioned only one website redesign since its creation in 2001. This took place in 2009 and the new-look website was launched on 17 September 2009.
Dogs: Animal Welfare
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to increase the level of (a) detection and (b) enforcement action in respect of incidents of dog fighting. [320590]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Police are provided with powers under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (as amended) for tackling dog fighting. Last year we provided Association of Chief Police Officers with funding to help police forces to train dedicated "dog legislation officers" who are familiar with the law on dangerous dogs.
However, it is for chief officers to decide how they target their resources to tackling or reducing crime in their particular force area.
Fish: Animal Feed
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether his Department has made an assessment of the effects on the economy of a ban on fishmeal in organic animal feeds; and if he will make a statement; [320843]
(2) what assessment has been made of the likelihood of increased fishmeal usage in organic animal feeds due to the reclassification of fish as a non-agricultural ingredient; and if he will make a statement; [320844]
(3) whether his Department has made an evaluation of the nutritional value of (a) organic animal feed and (b) animal feed containing fishmeal; and if he will make a statement. [320845]
Jim Fitzpatrick: We are aware that there is considerable concern in the industry about the practicality of complying with the requirement of EU rules for organic production that after 1 January 2012 organic pigs and poultry must be fed entirely on organically produced feed. We understand that providing a diet with a properly balanced protein content using wholly organically produced ingredients is a particular concern because of the difficulties with sourcing the correct protein ingredients for feed for organic pigs and poultry. DEFRA's Advisory Committee on Organic Standards is investigating how this issue might be dealt with, including how the use of fishmeal might contribute to a solution to the problem.
Fisheries: Carbon Emissions
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much in carbon dioxide emissions was given off by the fishing fleet in (a) 2004, (b) 2005, (c) 2006, (d) 2007, (e) 2008 and (f) 2009; and if he will make a statement. [320842]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Figures are not available in relation to actual emissions from UK fishing vessels. However, an assessment of the total emissions from the fisheries sector for 2006 has been provided in DEFRA's Food 2030 strategy. This states that, as a total of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the UK food chain by sector, fisheries accounted for 1mt of the 160mt CO2e produced.
Available data over the period of 2000-08 indicate that for the UK fishing fleet there has been a reduction in engine capacity and fishing effort, as well as a move toward less fuel intensive fishing methods. This information is in the following tables.
| Table 1: Development of UK registered fishing fleet , as at 1 January | |||||||
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | |
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | Change over period (-ve is reduction) | % change over period (-ve is reduction) | Reduction through decommissioning and pelagic aggregations over period | P eriod due to decomm. Etc. (-ve is reduction) | |
| Table 2: Over 10m UK active fishing fleet - details by data collection regulation segmentation: Segmentation based on fishing effort during the year in question | |||||||||||
| Heading | Fleet segment | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | % change over period (-ve is reduction) |
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