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18 Mar 2010 : Column 997W—continued
Departmental Sick Leave
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many days absence through sickness staff in his Department have had in each month since 1997. [322521]
Mr. Michael Foster: We are unable to provide figures of the number of days staff have been absent due to sickness, in each month, without incurring disproportionate costs.
Departmental Surveys
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place in the Library a copy of the benchmark results of the Civil Service People Survey for his Department. [322568]
Mr. Michael Foster: The 2009 People Survey results for the Department for International Development (DFID) are now available in the House Library. These results are also available at
Departmental Theft
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to deter theft from within the Department. [322651]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) takes all thefts seriously and has a number of physical security measures in place, including CCTV, to ensure that only authorised persons access our premises. All staff are regularly reminded that they have responsibility for protecting official assets in their custody and given guidance and facilities for secure storage. All thefts are reported to our security section for any breach of security practice.
Individuals found to be involved in theft will be subject to disciplinary and, where appropriate, criminal proceedings.
Developing Countries: Literacy
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent initiatives his Department has funded to improve adult literacy in developing countries. [322540]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development's (DFID's) approach to tackling adult literacy is stated in the recently launched Education Strategy, 'Learning for All'. The approach is threefold:
1. to prioritise quality basic education for all;
2. to support improving the effectiveness of the whole education sector; and
3. where appropriate, to invest in programmes that combine literacy with vocational training, or include a focus on the empowerment of marginalised groups.
An example of DFID's work in this area is our support to the Mahila Samakhya (Women Together) in India, a government programme to promote gender equality and women's empowerment, including improving literacy and economic opportunities through better access to education. In Yemen, DFID, in participation with other donors, is also financing a substantial basic education programme which includes support to both primary and adult basic education.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent initiatives his Department has funded to improve child literacy in developing countries. [322583]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development's (DFID's) approach to tackling child literacy is stated in the recently launched Education Strategy, 'Learning for All.' The strategy has been placed in the Library of the House and can be found at:
Examples of the work DFID is doing to improve child literacy in developing countries includes funding a four year initiative in Tanzania to improve competencies in literacy and numeracy among children aged five to 16 years. The programme will also be conducted in Uganda and Kenya.
Earthquakes: Oxfam
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with representatives of Oxfam on the earthquakes in (a) Chile and (b) Haiti. [322606]
Mr. Michael Foster: Representatives of Oxfam were present at two recent meetings I have had with British relief agencies to discuss the humanitarian response to the earthquake in Haiti.
Fairtrade Initiative
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent promoting Fair Trade fortnight. [322582]
Mr. Thomas:
The Department for International Development (DFID) did not spend anything promoting Fairtrade Fortnight. DFID's contribution was that DFID
Ministers and officials took part in a number of events and awareness-raising efforts during Fairtrade Fortnight.
Haiti: Earthquakes
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department has given to survivors of the recent earthquake in Haiti. [322625]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has committed £20 million to support the humanitarian relief effort in Haiti. The funding has helped provide an estimated 380,000 people with water, shelter, food and medical care. In addition, relief items delivered by DFID will serve approximately 20,000 families.
International Red Cross
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has had recent discussions with the Red Cross on its projects which are in receipt of funding from his Department. [322612]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Secretary of State for International Development met with Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), during the World Economic Forum conference in January. They discussed progress in Haiti following the earthquake and also the situations in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Department for International Development (DFID) provides funding to ICRC, the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and the British Red Cross. DFID officials are in regular contact with all three organisations.
Internet
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people have sent an e-card under his Department's Be part of the LIFT initiative. [322581]
Mr. Michael Foster: A total of 114 e-cards have been sent under the LIFT initiative since they, were introduced on 11 February 2010.
Snow and Ice: Leave
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many members of his Department have taken authorised leave consequent on severe weather in 2010. [322614]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not maintain a central record of authorised leave. The requested information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage new entrants into agricultural careers. [322850]
Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA supports Fresh Start, an industry-led initiative to encourage and support new entrants into farming, including those involved in family succession, and to help established farmers think about how they can develop their business in the future in the light of CAP reform.
Fresh Start provides business skills training to people starting out in farming, delivered through a network of Fresh Start Academies. Fresh Start is also working on providing a mentoring service for new farmers as well as a matching service linking potential new starters with existing farmers who are retiring or restructuring.
The Fresh Start Initiative only operates within England.
Animal Welfare Act 2006
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what education and training resources his Department has made available to local authorities to assist in the implementation of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. [322519]
Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA provided a number of training sessions for local authority and animal health officers before the Act came into force in order that they could familiarise themselves with the new legislation.
Batteries: Recycling
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken to increase the proportion of batteries which are recycled. [322544]
Ian Lucas: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 January 2010, Official Report, column 327W, in respect of steps taken to increase the recycling of waste industrial and automotive batteries.
The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009, referred to in that answer, also contain provisions relating to the collection, treatment and recycling of waste portable batteries. From 1 January 2010, large producers of portable batteries have had responsibility for financing the net cost of the separate collection, treatment and recycling of waste portable batteries that arise in the UK. Such producers must join Battery Compliance Schemes (BCSs), which discharge their members' obligations by entering into collection arrangements with distributors/retailers and other economic operators, and finance information campaigns to raise awareness. The Government have also carried out a range of communication activities to raise awareness among consumers and businesses of the new ways to recycle waste portable batteries.
From 1 February 2010, certain distributors/retailers of portable batteries have been required to make available collection points on their premises where end-users may discard waste portable batteries. The regulations set separate collection targets of 25 per cent. by 2012, increasing to 40 per cent. by 2016, of waste portable batteries arising in the UK.
Biomass: Air Pollution
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on the environment of emissions of (a) black carbon, (b) particulates, (e) methane and (d) oxides of nitrogen arising from combustion of B30K biomass in domestic boilers. [322858]
Jim Fitzpatrick: B30K is a biofuel/kerosene blended fuel that could be used for domestic heating to help reduce the use of fossil fuels. We understand that the oil industry is conducting trials on the practicality of use of this fuel. However, DEFRA currently holds no information on emissions of air quality pollutants from this fuel.
Birds: Disease Control
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of avian diseases. [322512]
Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA plays a key part in working with industry to devise and implement policies to protect birds, and control avian diseases. Vigilance, good practice on the part of bird keepers and biosecurity are all vital in the fight against animal disease. The Department works in partnership with industry to raise awareness of and promote best practice in these areas.
Biosecurity measures are focused on animal owners working closely with their vet or other adviser to set targets for their animals' health and welfare, and take steps to measure, manage and monitor productivity.
DEFRA monitors the international disease situation and assesses its impact on the risk to the UK. It carries out risk-based post import testing to help mitigate the risk of disease entering the country, and to focus on its early detection to prevent spread. In the international context, the Department supports proportionate safeguard measures which mitigate the risk of spread of animal disease into and around the EU.
DEFRA also implements appropriate strategies for surveillance for avian diseases in the UK. These are often part of European initiatives carried out across member states.
Encouraging and incentivising bird keepers to implement good biosecurity on the ground is also being taken forward with industry as part of the Responsibility and Cost Sharing programme of work.
Cattle: Disease Control
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of diseases in cattle. [322592]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The health of cattle is central to DEFRA's work in protecting livestock, and in controlling and eradicating disease.
The Government take bovine TB very seriously and are fully committed to tackling the disease. We have a package of measures in place to reduce further spread and incidence of bovine TB including regular testing,
zero tolerance of overdue tests, pre-movement and extended use of gamma interferon. In November 2009 the EU Commission formally agreed to the UK's Eradication Plan and to provide funding of up to €10 million for 2010, which can be claimed to reimburse costs of TB testing and compensation for cattle slaughtered. The funding will be shared between DEFRA and the Welsh and Northern Irish administrations.
We are continuing to make significant investment in vaccines. £20 million will be spent over the next three years on vaccine development. A Badger Vaccine Deployment Project will take place in six high incidence areas each of 100km(2) (25,000 acres) in England, with vaccination starting in this summer 2010.
Vigilance, good stockmanship and biosecurity are all vital in the fight against animal disease and DEFRA works in partnership with industry to raise awareness of and promote best practice in these areas.
Through DEFRA's Livestock Market Roadshows, key issues focus on Biosecurity measures and Bluetongue. This initiative is about livestock owners working closely with their vet or other adviser on setting targets for their animals' health and welfare and taking steps to measure, manage and monitor productivity.
DEFRA monitors the international disease situation and assesses its impact on the risk to the UK and carries out risk based post import testing to help prevent disease entering the country spreading.
Encouraging and incentivising livestock keepers to implement good biosecurity on the ground is also being taken forward with industry as part of the Responsibility and Cost sharing programme of work.
DEFRA provides a subsidised livestock disease diagnosis and investigation service to farmers through the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA). Analysis of the disease information gathered by the VLA feeds into national disease surveillance which identifies and assesses new disease threats, and provides advice on their management.
Cattle: Diseases
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for which diseases contracted by cattle there is a requirement that the animals be culled. [322727]
Jim Fitzpatrick: When cattle are confirmed to have contracted the following diseases the Secretary of State will order slaughter of the infected cattle, (but there are a few limited exceptions where he can exercise his discretion to spare certain cattle):
bovine tuberculosis;
contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia;
bovine spongiform encephalopathy;
brucellosis;
enzootic bovine leukosis;
foot and mouth disease;
lumpy skin disease;
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