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30 Nov 2010 : Column 674W—continued
The Office for Renewable Energy Deployment (ORED) has also undertaken activity to reduce barriers to deployment across the range of renewable technologies.
The spending review announcement included over £200 million to support the development of innovative energy technologies, of which up to £60 million has been earmarked for offshore wind manufacturing infrastructure at port locations. The Government are currently developing their detailed plans for the allocation of the remainder of this funding.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has made an estimate of the number of people who installed renewable energy equipment before July 2009 who will not qualify for higher rate feed-in tariffs. [27007]
Charles Hendry: The Department has estimated that at 15 July 2009, there were approximately 5,000 existing microgeneration installations in the technologies and scales covered by the Feed-in Tariff scheme. Approximately 3,000 of these generators were registered for the Renewables Obligation.
The figure of 5,000 generators is an estimate based on the number of installations that have received grants from the following programmes: Clear Skies, Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 1, Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2 and the Major PV Demonstration Programme. This figure is probably an underestimate since it does not include generators that did not receive grants under these schemes.
Renewables Obligation
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has assessed the merits of grandfathering bioliquids under the Renewables Obligation separately from, and in advance of, the forthcoming banding review. [26469]
Charles Hendry [holding answer 29 November 2010]: Through working with the bioliquids industry, officials have gathered data on the costs and benefits of bioliquids derived from wastes and advanced conversion technologies. This will help inform a decision on whether we should grandfather them under the renewables obligation. Analysis of these data is under way and the work will feed into the ongoing banding review. The timing of decisions is now being considered and a timeline will be issued shortly. DECC officials intend to write to those concerned shortly to clarify the timing on decisions to be taken.
Renewables Obligation: Water Power
George Eustice: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) whether his Department plans to increase the number of renewable obligation certificates awarded for marine energy in England and Wales from two per milliwatt hour to five per milliwatt hour to align the rest of the UK with Scotland; [27298]
(2) what plans he has to review the renewables obligation system in respect of marine energy. [27338]
Charles Hendry: A banding review of renewables obligation support for all technologies began in October this year and any change to the support level for marine energy will be considered as part of this process. Banding reviews ensure that as market conditions and innovation within sectors change and evolve, developers continue to receive the correct level of support necessary to maintaining investment in the renewables industry.
Any changes in support levels will be come into effect on 1 April 2013.
Solar Power
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with (a) Renewables UK and (b) the micro-generation sector on the (i) future of solar photovoltaics and (ii) review of feed-in tariffs. [27119]
Gregory Barker: The Department has regular contact with a range of interested parties on these issues. Renewables UK and the microgeneration sector have both been directly involved in an ongoing collaborative consultation exercise with the Department launched on 12 July 2010, to engage with industry on the preparation of a new Microgeneration Strategy. The strategy is aimed at addressing the non-financial barriers to the future of microgeneration in the UK. Renewables UK and the microgeneration sector were also both represented at a briefing and discussion session on feed-in tariffs (FITs) on 24 November 2010. The meeting focused on the spending review commitments to review FITs, including solar photovoltaics.
Warm Front Scheme
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of households likely to participate in the Warm Front Scheme in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [27195]
Gregory Barker: The Department has estimated that the Warm Front Scheme will assist approximately 150,000 households in 2010-11. As announced in the spending review, DECC will fund a smaller, more targeted Warm Front Scheme over the next two years as we transition to the full roll-out of the Green Deal. We will shortly be consulting on proposed changes to Warm Front to ensure the eligibility criteria reflect our determination to focus on the most vulnerable households.
The Department has estimated that Warm Front will assist approximately 57,000 households in 2011-12, and 50,000 in 2012-13.
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received from the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group on the changes made to the Warm Front programme following the Spending Review 2010. [27196]
Gregory Barker: I met with Derek Lickorish and Gill Owen, chair and deputy chair of the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group, following the announcement of the spending review. Our discussion covered a number of issues related to fuel poverty, including the Warm Front Scheme.
Warm Front will continue until the Green Deal is launched. We will work to improve the cost-effectiveness of the Warm Front Scheme by ensuring that Warm Front will be a better targeted programme to help the most vulnerable receive free or subsidised heating and insulation measures. We will be consulting to make sure that the eligibility criteria reflect this.
Wind Power: Planning Permission
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department plans to adopt a general proximity rule for land-based wind turbine planning applications. [26601]
Charles Hendry: No, for the reasons given to my hon. Friend the Member for Selby and Ainsty (Nigel Adams) by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Communications and Local Government, the hon. Member for Bromley and Chiselhurst (Robert Neill) on 11 November 2010, Official Report, column 461W.
Treasury
BBC
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent meetings (a) officials and (b) special advisers in his Department have had with the director-general of the BBC; and whether pensions were discussed at those meetings. [25016]
Danny Alexander: Treasury officials met with the director-general of the BBC on 15 April 2010 to discuss the BBC's Strategy Review.
Child Benefit
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the principle of independent taxation will apply to his proposed changes to child benefit. [26951]
Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wallasey (Ms Eagle) on 23 November 2010, Official Report, column 267W.
Child Tax Credit
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many (a) men and (b) women will be affected by the changes to child tax credit announced in the June 2010 Budget by 2014-15; [26775]
(2) how many (a) men and (b) women will be affected by uprating working tax credits by the consumer price index by 2014-15; [26776]
(3) how many (a) men and (b) women will be affected by the freeze to child benefit announced in the June 2010 Budget by 2014-15. [26779]
Mr Gauke: The information requested is not available.
Combined Online Information System
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the (a) start-up and (b) annual running cost of the Combined Online Information System database. [27154]
Danny Alexander: The Combined Online Information System (COINS) was developed 2002-05 by extending an existing application, and implemented during 2005, commencing in May of that year.
The identified cost to the Treasury of development of the COINS system to its implementation is £2.251 million.
The estimated annual running costs are £800,000 per annum (excluding VAT).
Consumer Prices Index
Mr Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to include housing costs in the calculation of the consumer prices index. [26501]
Justine Greening: The Chancellor has asked the Governor of the Bank of England for his views on how the process to include housing costs in the consumer prices index (CPI) can be accelerated. The independent Office for National Statistics (ONS), along with the national statistical offices of other European member states is working with the Statistical Office of the European Communities, to assess the most appropriate approach for including an index of owner-occupier housing costs in the CPI in the future. Alongside this international agenda, the CPI Advisory Committee recommended to the UK Statistics Authority in its annual report on 3 November that ONS develops housing cost indices using the net acquisitions and rental equivalence approaches.
Departmental Rail Travel
Mr Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he has travelled (a) first and (b) standard class by train on official duties since 7 May 2010. [18605]
Justine Greening: Since May 2010 the Chancellor has travelled first class on Eurostar on five occasions with one standard class trip within the UK. Ministers and officials are expected to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. This may include first class travel where the journey lasts three or more hours, there are disability or other special needs requirements, security concerns or where first class travel is less than the overall cheapest ticket for standard class.
Disability Living Allowance: Care Homes
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecast he has made of the effect on his Department's expenditure of the removal of the mobility component of disability living allowance in each of the next four financial years. [25228]
Justine Greening: The spending review announced the end of payment of the mobility component of disability living allowance for all state funding residents in care homes after 28-days. The mobility component will continue to be paid to other DLA recipients.
The savings scored at the Budget for the next four financial years are:
| £million | |
The measure will not apply to residents who meet the full costs of the care home themselves and they will continue to be paid both the care and mobility components of disability living allowance they may be entitled to.
Local authority contracts with care homes should cover services to meet all a resident's assessed needs,
including any assessed mobility needs. So an individual's care, support and mobility needs should be met by residential care providers from social care funding.
Economic Growth: North East
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the likely level of growth in the (a) private and (b) public sector in the North East in each year of the spending review period. [27633]
Justine Greening: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts. The OBR's forecast does not include a sub-national forecast.
The OBR published a new economic forecast on 29 November 2010, which can be found online at:
This includes forecasts for total Government expenditure and employment.
While forecasts for growth are not made at a sub-national level, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) annually publishes data on Gross Value Added for the English regions. This is available at:
and the next publication is expected in December 2010.
Health Centres: Christchurch
Mr Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the sale of the lease for the former Saxon Square Health Centre in Christchurch; what his Department's role is in (a) negotiating and (b) approving the sale; when he expects his Department's decisions on the sale to be communicated to the Department of Health; what the reasons are for the time taken to date; and if he will make a statement. [27379]
Danny Alexander: The Treasury reviews spending decisions to protect the taxpayers' interest by ensuring they are value for money and affordable. It endeavours to reply promptly and has already communicated its views on this case to the Department of Health.
Infrastructure Projects: Public Expenditure
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to encourage the development of asset-backed vehicles for accessing private capital for infrastructure projects in local government during the comprehensive spending review period; and if he will make a statement. [21255]
Danny Alexander: It is for local authorities to determine the most appropriate and best value for money means of financing local infrastructure projects. The Government are committed to the principle that local authorities make these judgments for themselves. Accessing private capital through asset-backed vehicles is an option available to local authorities where such vehicles do not go beyond a local authority's existing powers.
Member: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 4 October 2010 with regard to Mrs V. Delahunt, transferred from the Department for Communities and Local Government. [27623]
Mr Gauke: I have replied to the right hon. Member.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 2 September 2010, with regard to Mr R. Hamilton. [27624]
Mr Hoban: I replied to the right hon. Member on 13 October 2010-copy being provided.
Mr Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay of 7 October 2010 and 9 November 2010 regarding child benefit. [27626]
Mr Gauke: I have replied to the hon. Member.
Mortgages
Mr Marcus Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he has assessed the effect of the mortgage market proposals made by the Financial Services Authority on small businesses with a turnover under £1 million; [27034]
(2) whether he has assessed the effect of the Financial Services Authority's mortgage market review proposals on the (a) availability of mortgages and (b) operation of the housing market; and if he will make a statement; [27035]
(3) whether he has discussed with the Council of Mortgage Lenders the proposals on responsible lending made by the Financial Services Authority and their likely effect on the housing market. [27036]
Mr Hoban: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is conducting a wholesale review of mortgage regulation in the UK, the 'Mortgage Market Review'.
The Government believe that it is right for the FSA to ensure that the UK mortgage market has responsible lending practices. We will continue to work with the FSA, mortgage lenders and intermediaries, and consumer groups to ensure a mortgage market that is sustainable for all participants.
The FSA published 'Mortgage Market Review: Responsible Lending' in July which set out the detail of some of the proposed changes. This forms one part of an ongoing consultation process.
The FSA has stated that it will fully assess the potential impact on the market before implementing any rule changes. Further, the FSA will consult in 2011 on transitional measures to help mitigate any adverse effects on existing borrowers.
Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.
Private Finance Initiative
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he has plans to secure savings to the public purse from renegotiation of private finance initiative contracts; [25703]
(2) if he will have discussions with private finance initiative providers to schools and hospitals for the purposes of encouraging them to renegotiate elements of their contracts in response to the reductions in public expenditure during the comprehensive spending review period. [25719]
Danny Alexander: The Government are committed to cutting the deficit by making savings across a broad range of areas. Private finance initiative (PFI) projects are not immune from this process. HM Treasury has identified potential areas for savings in operational PFI projects and officials have met with the major equity holders and other key industry players, including those responsible for schools and hospitals.
Public Expenditure
Michael Dugher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are in place for the transfer of budgets between spending Departments following a reallocation of departmental responsibilities; whether his Department is required to approve such transfers; and if he will make a statement. [26334]
Danny Alexander: The arrangements for machinery of government changes, including any transfer of resources, are detailed in the "Machinery of government: best practice handbook" published by the Cabinet Office. This publication is available at:
Public Sector: Pay
Andrew Selous: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the fair pay review to report on the feasibility of paying salaries at the level of the London living wage across the public sector including contracted staff in Government Departments; and if he will make a statement. [25403]
Danny Alexander [holding answer 19 November 2010]: The Government supports fair and decent pay from public sector contractors and is looking at contractor policy to ensure both value for the taxpayer and fairness for those whose jobs support the work of Government.
Will Hutton's Review of Fair Pay in the Public Sector is due to report to the Chancellor and Prime Minister by March 2011 on promoting pay fairness in the public sector by tackling disparities between the lowest and highest paid organisations. The review will produce an interim report, expected in December. The review will comprise robust, evidence based
analysis of the scale of the problem and recommendations on how to introduce a public sector pay multiple that would mean that no public sector manager can earn over 20 times more than the lowest person in their organisation. The Terms of Reference can be found at:
Taxation: Offshore Industry
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has plans to introduce a windfall tax on oil and gas extraction companies. [24632]
Justine Greening: The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review.
Taxation: Private Rented Housing
Graham Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many landlords in the private rented sector in (a) Hyndburn, (b) Haslingden and (c) England have been required by HM Revenue and Customs to settle taxation arrears in the latest period for which figures are available; what the monetary value of such arrears was; and how many such landlords are resident (i) in the UK and (ii) overseas. [26182]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs does not hold information broken down geographically as requested on taxation arrears for landlords with rental property income in any period.
For the whole of the UK, HMRC holds data showing the additional tax assessed on landlords as a result of compliance activity via its National Property Project. The project generates the vast majority of interventions undertaken by HMRC into landlords for misdeclaration of rental income.
In the year ended March 2010, the additional tax assessed as a result of those interventions totals approximately £47 million.
HMRC does not hold data on what amount of tax relating specifically to landlords' rental income remains outstanding.
HMRC also does not hold information on the residence status of those landlords.
VAT: Electric Vehicles
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the potential effect of the implementation of the proposed increase in the standard rate of value added tax on retail sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the next three years. [26346]
Mr Gauke: HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs do not normally assess the impact of VAT rate changes on individual products; no assessment has been carried out in this case.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish a Green Paper on the long-term strategy for her Department's policies affecting farming and its associated industries; and if she will make a statement. [26879]
Mr Paice: We have no plans to publish a Green Paper on DEFRA's long-term strategy for farming and its associated industries. DEFRA's strategic priorities were recently set out in its Business Plan.
DEFRA will work to ensure a resilient food chain that delivers a secure, environmentally sustainable and healthy supply of food, with improved animal welfare standards. We are determined to support and develop British farming so that it can capture a greater share of the available market-domestically and internationally-by maximising its productivity and competitiveness.
Agriculture: Finance
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's budget is for promoting farming (a) in England and (b) overseas for 2011-12. [25544]
Mr Paice: The DEFRA promotional budget for farming in England in 2011-12 has yet to be decided. Promotion of English farming overseas is led by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) which is a joint operation between the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Agriculture: Non-domestic Rates
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the monetary value to the farming industry of exemptions from business rates in the latest period for which figures are available. [26978]
Mr Paice: The most recent estimate of the monetary value of the agricultural exemption from business rates was produced in the Lyons inquiry into local government (March 2007. This can be found at:
This estimated the value to the English farming industry at between £300 million and £450 million.
Agriculture: Personnel
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people in each county in England were employed in agriculture in each of the last 10 years. [26965]
Mr Paice: A full spreadsheet showing the number of people employed in agriculture by county in England from 2000-09 has been deposited in the House Library.
Agriculture: Subsidies
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many disputes relating to the Single Farm Payment scheme there have been in each year since 2008. [25358]
Mr Paice: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has had the following numbers of cases, as reported in the agency's annual reports and accounts for the financial years 2008-09 and 2009-10, referred to its single payments scheme appeal process.
| Financial year | Number |
Agriculture: Waste Disposal
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the use of prime agricultural land for growing crops as a feedstock for anaerobic digesters. [26134]
Mr Paice: The Government have given a commitment to deliver an increase in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion.
We recognise that, at farm scale, some energy crops may be required in combination with slurries to ensure the efficient operation of the digester. Such crops can be grown as part of the normal agricultural rotation. Furthermore, there is land available which is not suitable for the production of food crops but which may be used to supply energy crops. It is not our policy to encourage energy crops-based anaerobic digestion, particularly where these crops are grown to the exclusion of food producing crops.
Air Pollution
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the effect on levels of polluting emissions from business operations of her Department's guidance to business on reporting on emissions. [23728]
Mr Paice: DEFRA has commissioned a report to assess the contribution that corporate reporting of greenhouse gas emissions makes to the UK meeting its climate change objectives. This report will be laid before Parliament by 1 December 2010.
Badgers
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to inform the public in advance of any badger culling activities sanctioned by the Government. [27453]
Mr Paice:
A public consultation is currently under way and will close on 8 December. The consultation outlines the Government's proposal on badger control and seeks views from the public on this proposal. Following
the consultation, a decision on the Government's approach will be made and Ministers will make a public announcement in early 2011.
Bovine Tuberculosis
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what new evidence (a) she and (b) her Department has evaluated on bovine tuberculosis since the publication of the Krebs report on bovine tuberculosis in 2007. [26322]
Mr Paice [holding answer 25 November 2010]: Since 2007, DEFRA has spent over £24 million on research and development in order to gather evidence to inform the bovine tuberculosis (bTB) control programme(1). Key pieces of evidence that have emerged through this research programme include:
information on the safety and efficacy of candidate vaccine products for both badgers and cattle
further data on the impact of badger culling on bTB incidence in cattle, including on-going analysis of TB incidence in cattle in the Randomised Badger Culling Trial areas
the output of computer modelling studies which simulate the spread of bTB and evaluate potential control options
an assessment of the effectiveness of husbandry measures in reducing badger visits to farm buildings
information on the performance of potential novel diagnostic tests, and potential improvements to existing tests, for use in cattle, badgers or environmental samples
further information on badger ecology and the epidemiology of TB in the badger
an evaluation of the impact on farmer behaviour of changes in cattle control measures
preliminary data on the genetics of resistance to bTB infection in cattle
This evidence is publicly available in the reports of these projects on the DEFRA website.
(1) Figure covers period from April 2007-March 2010
Carbon Emissions
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what progress she has made on proposals for mandatory reporting of carbon emissions by UK-listed companies; and if she will make a statement; [23552]
(2) from which (a) organisations and (b) individuals she has received representations on the mandatory reporting of carbon emissions by UK-listed companies since 6 May 2010; and if she will make a statement; [23553]
(3) what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the mandatory reporting of carbon emissions by UK-listed companies; and if she will make a statement. [23554]
Mr Paice [holding answer 12 November 2010]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr Wright) on 27 October 2010, Official Report, column 319W.
DEFRA has received numerous representations on this issue from members of the public and several large groups and organisations, including the Carbon Disclosure
Project, the Co-operative Group, WWF-UK, Christian Aid, the Aldersgate Group and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.
My noble Friend Lord Henley has had discussions with the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker) on the matter of corporate reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by UK companies.
Departmental Press: Subscriptions
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible spent on press cuttings services in each of the last 12 months. [25490]
Richard Benyon: The cost of press cuttings for each of the last 12 months for DEFRA and the Rural Payments Agency, the Environment Agency, Natural England, British Waterways, the Marine Management Organisation and those parts of the Forestry Commission that are funded by the UK Government are as follows. Executive agencies and NDPBs not listed do not receive a press cuttings service.
The Department including its executive agencies
November 2009: £16,117.83
December 2009: £17,509.17
January 2010: £7,625.70
February 2010: £3,621.01
March 2010: £4,908.14
April 2010: £4,082.04
May 2010: £4,459.21
June 2010: £4,811.64
July 2010: £3,953.36
August 2010: £5,429.26
September 2010: £5,489.90
October 2010: £6,063.64
The Rural Payments Agency has an annual subscription of £6,960 for its press cuttings service, with additional monthly costs as follows.
November 2009: £235.58
December 2009: £410.73
January 2010 :£357.61
February 2010: £357.61
March 2010: £386.62
April 2010: £383.12
May 2010: £451.08
June 2010: £367.80
July 2010: £412.11
August 2010: £229.94
September 2010: £300.90
October 2010: £236.09
Non-departmental public bodies
November 2009: £8,582.47
December 2009: £8,241.58
January 2010: £7,422.30
February 2010: £7,364.56
March 2010: £7,239.8
April 2011: £6,970.45
May 2010: £6,418.50
June 2010: £6,857.94
July 2010: £8,115.91
August 2010: £6,911.11
September 2010: £6,985
October 2010: £7,240
November 2009: £4,595
December 2009: £3,847
January 2010: £3,661
February 2010: £4,191
March 2010: £2,327
April 2010: £4,320
May 2010: £3,747
June 2010: £4,222
July 2010: £2,228
August 2010: £319
September 2010: £319
October 2010: £319
Marine Management Organisation
Figures are from March 2010 onwards, when the organisation was formed.
March 2010: £395.02
April 2010: £223.16
May 2010: £144.46
June 2010: £214.90
July 2010: £264.16
August 2010: £554.12
September 2010: £362.14
October 2010: £460.94
November 2009: £2,576.14
December 2009: £2,082.12
January 2010: £2,044.86
February 2010: £1,196.70
March 2010: £1,493.90
April 2010: £1,322.70
May 2010: £1,164.30
June 2010: £994.70
July 2010: £1,868.10
August 2010: £1,434.30
September 2010: £1,612.50
October 2010: £1,788.90
Forestry Commission (combined figures for Forestry Commission England, Forest Research and Forestry Commission Great Britain)
November 2009: £1,168.75
December 2009: £1,168.75
January 2010: £1,168.75
February 2010: £1,168.75
March 2010: £1,168.75
April 2010: £1,168.75
May 2010: £1,168.75
June 2010: £1,168.75
July 2010: £1,192.92
August 2010: £1,168.75
September 2010: £1,168.75
October 2010: £1,168.75
Departmental Regulation
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations sponsored by her Department have been revoked in the last six months. [24376]
Mr Paice: The Department revoked the following 45 statutory instruments between 1 May and 4 November 2010:
1. The Commons Registration (Publicity) Regulations 1966
2. The Commons Registration (Objections and Maps) (Amendment) Regulations 1970
3. The Commons Commissioners Regulations 1971
4. The Commons Registration (Second Period References) Regulations 1973
5. The Veterinary Surgery (Epidural Anaesthesia) Order 1992
6. The Veterinary Surgery (Rectal Ultrasound Scanning of Bovines) Order 2002
7. The Beet Seed (England) Regulations 2002
8. The Fodder Plant Seed (England) Regulations 2002
9. The Cereal Seed (England) Regulations 2002
10. The Oil and Fibre Plant Seed (England) Regulations 2002
11. The Vegetable Seed (England) Regulations 2002
12. The Seed (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2002
13. The Oil and Fibre Plant Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003
14. The Beet Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
15. The Cereal Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
16. The Fodder Plant Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
17. The Oil and Fibre Plant Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
18. The Vegetable Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
19. The Seed (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
20. The Beet Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
21. The Cereal Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
22. The Fodder Plant (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
23. The Oil and Fibre Plant Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
24. The Vegetable Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
25. The Seed (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
26. The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (England) Regulations 2006
27. The Seed (England) (Amendments for Tests and Trials etc) Regulations 2006
28. The Cereal Seed (England) and Fodder Plant (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006
29. The Veterinary Surgery (Artificial Insemination) Order 2007
30. Veterinary Surgery (Artificial Insemination) (Amendment) Order 2007
31. The Commons Registration (Objection and Maps) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007
32. The Commons Registration (General) (Amendment) (England) (No 2) Regulations 2007
33. The Commons Registration (General) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2007
34. The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007
35. The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (England) (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2007
36. The Seed (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2007
37. The Ecodesign for Energy-Using Products Regulations 2007
38. The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
39. The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009
40. The Seed (Conservation Varieties Amendments) (England) Regulations 2009
41. The Agricultural Holdings (Units of Production) (England) Order 2009
42. Veterinary Surgery (Artificial Insemination) (Amendment) Order 2009
43. The Ecodesign for Energy-Using Products (Amendment) Regulations 2009
44. The Zoonoses and Animal By-Products (Fees) (England) Regulations 2009
45. The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) (England) Order 2010
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what new regulations sponsored by her Department have been introduced through (a) primary legislation and (b) statutory instrument in the last six months. [24491]
Mr Paice: The information requested is as follows:
(a) The Department has not sponsored the introduction of any primary legislation since 1 May 2010.
(b) The Department made the following 31 statutory instruments between 1 May and 4 November 2010:
1. The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (England) Regulations 2010
2. The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010
3. The Seed Marketing Regulations 2010
4. The Agricultural Holdings (Units of Production) (England) Order 2010
5. The Bee Diseases and Pests Control (England) (Amendment) Order 2010
6. The Commons Registration (Amendment and Miscellaneous Revocations) Regulations 2010
7. The Commons Act 2006 (Commencement No 1 and Savings (England and Wales) and Commencement No 5 (England) (Amendment)) Order 2010
8. The Flood Risk Management Functions Order 2010
9. The Water Use (Temporary Bans) Order 2010
10. The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (Commencement No 4 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2010
11. The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) (England) (No 2) Order 2010
12. The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2010
13. The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (Commencement No 1 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2010
14. The Companies (Disclosure of Address) (Amendment) Regulations 2010
15. The Public Rights of Way (Combined Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010
16. The Marketing of Fruit Plant Material Regulations 2010
17. The Rural Development (Enforcement) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010
18. The Seal Products Regulations 2010
19. The Veterinary Surgery (Artificial Insemination) Order 2010
20. The Veterinary Surgery (Epidural Anaesthesia of Bovines) Order 2010
21. The Veterinary Surgery (Rectal Ultrasound Scanning of Bovines) Order 2010
22. The Sites of Special Scientific Interest (Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations 2010
23. The Coastal Access Reports (Consideration and Modification Procedure) (England) Regulations 2010
24. The Organic Products (Amendment) Regulations 2010
25. The Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010
26. The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010
27. The Zoonoses and Animal By-Products (Fees) (England) Regulations 2010
28. The Marine Strategy Regulations 2010
29. The Fishing Boats (Electronic Transmission of Fishing Activities Data) (England) Scheme 2010
30. The Seed Potatoes (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010
31. The Plant Health (England) (Amendment) Order 2010
Departmental Written Questions
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many and what proportion of Questions tabled to the Secretary of State for written answer on a named day were answered substantively before or on the day named for answer (a) in Session 2009-10 and (b) since May 2010; how many such questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 had not received a substantive answer by 18 November 2010; and what estimate she has made of the average cost to her Department of answering a question for written answer on a named day on the day named for answer in the latest period for which figures are available; [25951]
(2) how many and what proportion of questions tabled to the Secretary of State for ordinary written answer (a) in Session 2009-10 and (b) since May 2010 were answered within (i) seven days and (ii) 14 days of tabling; how many such questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 remained unanswered by 18 November 2010; and what estimate she has made of the average cost to her Department of answering a question for ordinary written answer within seven days of tabling in the latest period for which figures are available. [25952]
Richard Benyon: The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with sessional statistics in a standard format on the time taken to respond to written parliamentary questions for the 2009-10 Session. This information will be submitted to the Procedure Committee shortly.
| May 2010 to 12 November 2010 | ||
| Total received | Answered on named day (percentage) | |
| May 2010 to 12 November 2010 | |||
| Total received | Within seven days (percentage) | Within 14 days (percentage) | |
The average cost of answering a written question is £154.
There are no named day PQs that have not yet received a substantive answer.
Elephants: Animal Welfare
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department spent on the protection of African and Asian elephants in each country in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [25143]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA has contributed the following funds towards elephant conservation over the past three years:
Farmers: Income
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average annual income of (a) farmers and (b) hill farmers in (i) England and (ii) Cumbria was in each year since 1997. [26964]
Mr Paice: The following tables show farm business income(1) (FBI) for England and Cumbria for all farm types and for grazing livestock farms in the less favoured areas (LFA). Farm business income is the most robust measure of income but is not available prior to 2003-04. Equivalent data are also shown for net farm income(2) (NFI).
(1) Farm business income represents the financial return to all unpaid labour (farmers and spouses, non-principal partners and directors and their spouses and family workers) and on all their capital invested in the farm business, including land and buildings.
(2) Net farm income is defined as the return to the principal farmer and spouse alone for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant type capital of the business. An imputed rent is deducted for owner-occupied farms as is a charge for other unpaid labour.
Source:
Farm Business Survey, England: The Farm Business Survey sample covers businesses with a Standard Labour Requirement (SLR) of at least 0.5, i.e. a size considered sufficient to occupy a farmer for at least half their time.
| All farms | ||||
| England | Cumbria | |||
| Net farm income | Farm business income | Net farm income | Farm business income | |
| LFA grazing livestock | ||||
| England | Cumbria | |||
| Net farm income | Farm business income | Net farm income | Farm business income | |
Fisheries: Licensing
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the revenue raised from fishing licences in the last five years was spent on fisheries enhancement and management; and if she will make a statement. [26504]
Richard Benyon: All revenue received by the Environment Agency (EA) from fishing licences is invested into activities to achieve outcomes for fisheries. The figures in the table show where the EA will spend the income from rod licences for the current year (2010-11). The proportion of rod licence income spent on each of the four headings in the table was similar in each of the last five years.
| £ million | |
|
National Office-includes evidence, communications, national fisheries | |
|
Once Only Delivery-rod licence sales and prosecution, fish health, corporate information services, legal | |
Hydroelectric Power
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the potential effects of small-scale hydroschemes on migratory fish returning to their spawning headstreams; and if she will make a statement. [26234]
Richard Benyon: No discussions have taken place between my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on that specific issue. As a member of the Government's Renewable Energy Deployment Environmental Issues Project Board, DEFRA is working, together with DECC and other Government Departments and agencies, to ensure that the objectives of the EU renewable energy directive are met, while continuing to meet obligations on nature conservation and the environment.
Livestock
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date her Department's next conference with stakeholders on sustainability in the livestock industry will be held. [25045]
Mr Paice [holding answer 24 November 2010]: DEFRA officials meet regularly with stakeholders in the livestock industry to discuss the sustainability of our meat and dairy sectors.
In particular, regular meetings with industry contacts are held to take forward product roadmaps, and the environmental milestones contained therein, which are owned by the UK's beef and sheep meat, dairy, and pigmeat sectors.
I intend to be chairing a meeting of the Dairy Supply Chain Forum and a review of the Pig Meat Supply Chain Task Force in the next two months, where sustainability issues will be discussed. DEFRA's Food Policy Unit also holds discussions with food businesses on issues surrounding the resilience of our food system.
Additionally, I have assured the House of the willingness of either the Secretary of State or myself to participate in a stakeholder-convened conference to examine the current state of sustainability in our livestock industry should a suitable event be organised in 2011.
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of (a) cattle and (b) sheep in each county in England in each year since 1997. [26967]
Mr Paice: A full spreadsheet showing the number of cattle and sheep on agricultural holdings by county in England from 1997 to 2009 has been deposited in the House Library.
Local Government Finance
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects on local authorities of absorbing Framework Funding into the revenue support grant. [25258]
Mr Paice: It is too early to tell what impact changes in funding resulting from the comprehensive spending review will have on specific DEFRA activities. It is for local authorities to decide what resources they want to allocate to their various local priorities. Improved standards of animal welfare remain a Government priority.
Milk: Labelling
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it a requirement that milk produced in super dairies is clearly labelled with information on its production to assist consumer choice. [26197]
Mr Paice [holding answer 24 November 2010]: There are no plans to do so.
National Park Authorities
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to the public purse was of national park authorities' planning departments in each of the last two years. [27004]
Richard Benyon: This information is not centrally held by DEFRA, but will be available in each of the national park authorities' annual report and accounts.
Pigs: Pets
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will review the adequacy of the criteria for the issuing of licences for the keeping of micro pigs as pets. [26617]
Mr Paice: All pigs including those kept as pets are subject to the same welfare and disease control measures as pigs kept in commercial livestock herds. We have published guidance to assist those new to pig-keeping to understand their responsibilities and the steps they need to follow to register. Additionally, Animal Health will shortly publish guidance specifically targeting prospective keepers of micro-pigs.
The keeping of pigs requires registration with the Rural Payments Agency and specifically as a pig keeper with Animal Health. The existing registration process is proportionate and, together with the guidance to new pig keepers, is a practical level of intervention. However, both the Rural Payments Agency and Animal Health keep these systems under review.
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will commission research into the potential health effects on children of households keeping micro pigs as pets. [26618]
Mr Paice: Pigs, as with many other animals, can be affected by a variety of diseases that can pass to humans. The risk from such zoonotic diseases is known and there would appear to be no case for special study.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) already published information on zoonotic diseases, and it is for those people considering keeping pigs to take account of the risks before committing to keep pigs or other animals. Whilst standard hygiene practices will minimise the likelihood of people contracting disease from animals kept as pets, it is also important the keepers ensure their animals are healthy, fed appropriate diets and kept in a suitable environment to maintain the animal's welfare and reduce its susceptibility to disease. They should also seek veterinary advice if they believe the animal is unwell.
Parents and guardians should take into account the likely vulnerability of children to infection, and the difficulty in getting them to observe good hygiene practices when deciding whether to keep any animal, including pigs.
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will discuss with animal welfare charities the welfare of micro pigs kept as pets. [26619]
Mr Paice: Officials will be discussing the issue of micro pigs with the RSPCA at their next biannual working group.
Responsibilities for the welfare of animals is clear and there are many routes for potential keepers of pet pigs to obtain guidance. The keeping of pigs as pets is allowed subject to adhering to good practice for their health and welfare but if welfare groups and pig industry bodies wish to prepare additional guidance on best practice we would be willing to consider its adoption as DEFRA guidance.
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will discuss with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government the provision of local authority shelters for micro pigs abandoned by their owners. [26703]
Mr Paice: DEFRA have published a "Guide for New Keepers of pigs" in order to assist keepers in understanding their obligations to identify and report the movements of pigs as required by the Pigs (Records, Identification and Movements) Order (PRIMO). Keepers have responsibility for the health and welfare of their animals and abandoning pet pigs would be a breach of these responsibilities. Whilst the guidance will be helpful to those contemplating keeping pigs, or already with pigs as pets, it is very clearly the responsibility the pig keeper to ensure pigs are not abandoned and for those selling pigs as pets to ensure the new owner is aware of these responsibilities prior to purchase. There are many industry and other groups able to provide advice to those who find they are no longer able to care for a pig and it is important that keepers seek advice on options open to them. Local authorities and the RSPCA already have working practices to deal with stray animals.
Public Sector: Procurement
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to ensure that public bodies source more food from British farmers. [22519]
Mr Paice: One of the Government's priorities is to support and develop British farming and encourage sustainable food production. To achieve this they need to be seen to lead by example and encourage sustainable food procurement by central Government Departments and the wider public sector. In support of this the Government have made a commitment to source food, subject to no overall increase in costs, meeting British or equivalent standards of production.
We know that some Departments are already buying a high proportion of food that meets British or equivalent
standards of production and therefore it should be possible for others to do the same. DEFRA will be working to help all Departments achieve this goal through guidance and learning from best practice.
The Government are also developing criteria for Government Buying Standards for food, covering sustainability of food and catering operations as well as nutrition, which will be mandatory for central Government Departments and will be promoted to the wider public sector.
Government procurement has to comply with EU and UK legislation which is intended to prevent 'buy national' policies and encourage free trade and equal access to markets. Any action in contradiction to these principles would run a high risk of legal challenge and would be contrary to the Government's wider public procurement policy.
Rights of Way
Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what change there was to the number of miles of statutory rights of way available to (a) pedestrians, (b) cyclists and (c) horse riders and carriage drivers between 1 January 1997 and 1 January 2010. [26844]
Richard Benyon: The management of public rights of way is the responsibility of local highway authorities and DEFRA does not collate national information on the lengths of footpaths, bridleways and byways.
Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms will be in place to ensure that any future amendment to planning regulations will not reduce the (a) length of and (b) entitlement to use of existing rights of way. [26845]
Richard Benyon: The effect of development on a public right of way is a material consideration in the determination of applications for planning permission. Current statutory procedures enable a public right of way to be either stopped up or diverted depending on the circumstances of each case. There are no plans to change this.
EU: Food Labelling
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to oppose the provision contained in amendment 205 of the European Parliament proposal to require label information on the kosher slaughter method; and if she will make a statement. [26610]
Mr Paice: Generally we believe people should know what they are buying in shops or when they are eating out and we are discussing with the food industry whether labelling and point of sale information can play a greater role in giving consumers an informed choice about the food they buy. This may include information about the method of slaughter. However, we do not consider amendment 205 of the food information regulation the correct way to address this.
Instead, we would wish to see this considered in the wider context of animal welfare and method of slaughter labelling.
River Trent: Hydroelectric Power
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the Environment Agency granted licences to the Small Hydro Company to allow for the construction of two hydropower plants on the River Trent in Sawley and Gunthorpe; for what reasons the provisions of the licences allowed fish kill; and if she will make a statement. [26233]
Richard Benyon: Following in depth discussions with the developer, and in consultation with customers, licences for schemes on the River Trent at Gunthorpe and Sawley were issued to the Small Hydro Company on 20 October 2010. These licences take account of the standards set out in the Environment Agency's (EA) Hydropower Good Practice Guide to ensure adequate environmental protection of relevant habitats and species.
The licences contain strict conditions to protect fish populations. These conditions require the provision of screens, fish deterrents and the maintenance of adequate flows. The EA has added a further safeguard by retaining a right to shut down the operation of the schemes if they cause significant fish mortality. Effective remedial action would then be required by the operator before operations could restart.
Rivers
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to improve summer flows on chalk streams; and if she will make a statement. [26238]
Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency assesses the sustainability of water resources in England, including chalk streams, to inform its future management of abstractions, with the aim of ensuring no further deterioration of conservation status.
Chalk streams are designated a priority habitat in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP).
UKBAP has set out three priorities for chalk streams:
maintain the characteristic plants and animals of chalk rivers, including their winterbourne (headwater) stretches;
restore water quality, flows and habitat diversity;
identify cost-effective means of restoring damaged river reaches.
Where over-abstraction has occurred, the Environment Agency can take action through its Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Programme. Restoration solutions can include licence changes as well as in-river modifications.
Securing water resources for the future will be a key theme in the upcoming water White Paper, due for publication in early summer 2011. Water abstraction management will also be an important issue in the natural environment White Paper which is due for publication in spring 2011.
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds: Finance
Nicholas Soames:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2010, Official Report,
columns 533-35W, on the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds: finance, how many payments were made under the heading of organisational support costs in each of the last five years; what the purpose was of each such payment; and if she will make a statement. [26764]
Richard Benyon: Further to the answer of 15 November 2010, Official Report, column 535W, organisational support costs of the projects and amounts listed are not defined separately. To identify this information would incur disproportionate cost.
Rural Payments Agency: Complaints
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints her Department received in respect of the Rural Payments Agency in each year since 2008. [25463]
Mr Paice: The Rural Payments Agency has received the following number of complaints, as reported in the agency's annual reports and accounts for the financial years 2008-09 and 2009-10.
| Financial year | Number |
Rural Payments Agency: Correspondence
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long on average the Rural Payments Agency takes to respond to an item of correspondence. [25357]
Mr Paice: Since January 2010 to date the Rural Payments Agency has responded to 33,395 correspondence items through paper and electronic methods, and has provided a response on average after eight working days of receipt.
The Agency aims to provide a full reply to correspondence within 15 working days of the day of receipt.
Rural Payments Agency: Finance
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding she has allocated to the Rural Payments Agency in 2010-11. [25365]
Mr Paice: RPA's total budget, as of November 2010, for 2010-11 is £190.972 million.
Rural Payments Agency: Sick Leave
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many days staff of the Rural Payments Agency were absent due to sick leave in the latest period for which figures are available. [25359]
Mr Paice:
The average working days lost (AWDL) due to sickness in the Rural Payments Agency between 1 October 2009 and 30 September 2010 was 10.3 days
per person. This is broken down as 5.5 AWDL due to short-term sickness and 4.8 AWDL due to long-term absence reasons.
This represents a 1% reduction in the overall AWDL rate since the same period in the previous year.
Sharks: Conservation
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on an international ban on shark finning. [26609]
Richard Benyon: As the Minister with responsibility for natural environment and fisheries, I am strongly opposed to shark finning wherever it takes place, and am thoroughly committed to banning this wasteful practice worldwide by ensuring that all sharks are landed with their fins attached.
The UK has already acted on this issue domestically. We no longer issue special fishing permits which means that all UK vessels must land sharks with fins attached to the carcass, wherever they fish.
We will use our strong domestic position to influence forthcoming EU negotiations on this issue. We want to see EU Regulations amended so that fin-on landings are mandatory for all European vessels. We will also push hard for this to be the case in international fisheries managed by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations.
Single Payment Scheme
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the land area eligible for payments under the single payment scheme in respect of which no claims under the scheme had been made on the latest date for which figures are available. [25874]
Mr Paice: In 2009, single payment scheme (SPS) entitlements were activated on approximately 93% of agricultural land eligible to be used in support of payment claims(1).
(1)Source:
DEFRA Agricultural Change and Environment Observatory Research Report No. 19. This analysis involves the statistical matching of two separate datasets (the June Survey and the SPS) and is therefore subject to a degree of statistical uncertainty.
Stray Dogs
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dog wardens were employed by each local authority in England in each of the last five years. [26518]
Mr Paice: The information requested is not held centrally and therefore to collate this would incur disproportionate cost.
Water Abstraction
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions her Department has had with water companies on river abstraction; whether progress has been made in encouraging such companies to rescind abstraction licences; and if she will make a statement. [26237]
Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency has regular discussions with all the water companies that have abstraction licences which are, or could be, damaging the environment.
Water companies have varied or revoked 16 licences since 2008. We expect them to deliver 61 schemes relating to habitats directive sites by 2015 and to make voluntary licence changes.
The Government have directed the Environment Agency to change two licences held by United Utilities. These compulsory changes mean compensation will be paid to the company.
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to reduce the adverse effects on river flows of abstraction; and if she will make a statement. [26240]
Richard Benyon: All abstraction licences are assessed through the Environment Agency's Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies.
Licences identified as potentially impacting the environment undergo further analysis in the Environment Agency's Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Programme.
The Environment Agency currently has 314 open schemes within this programme. Each scheme involves the investigation of one or more abstraction licences.
Restoration solutions can include licence changes as well as in-river modifications.
Securing water resources for the future will be a key theme in the upcoming water White Paper, due for publication in early summer 2011. Water abstraction management will also be an important issue in the natural environment White Paper which is due for publication in spring 2011.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Employment Agencies
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had on his Department's guidance on regulations on the conduct of employment agencies; and if he will make a statement. [26831]
Mr Davey: Guidance on the conduct regulations was updated on the Businesslink and Directgov websites prior to changes to the regulations coming into force on 1( )October this year. The Employment Agency Standards inspectorate is currently in the process of reviewing all of the guidance available with a view to publishing more detailed guidance in due course both for businesses and for workers.
The Secretary of State, however, has had no recent discussions on guidance on the conduct of employment agency regulations.
Export Credit Guarantees
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the budget of the Export Credits Guarantee Department for 2010-11 has been allocated to expenditure on default by debtors. [26177]
Mr Prisk: ECGD does not allocate a "budget" for defaults under its guarantees and insurance policies. However, ECGD does make forecasts of potential expenditure by way of claims payments to banks in respect of loans made by them to overseas borrowers to finance export contracts; claims arise under ECGD's guarantees to the lending banks where the borrower has defaulted on loan repayments. ECGD normally pays claims under defaulted guaranteed loans as amounts fall due to be repaid over the remaining life of the loan repayment period. For 2010-11, ECGD forecast £22 million of claims to be paid on loan repayment defaults by borrowers. Of this, £18.2 million is to cover first time defaults during 2010-11; none have materialised to date. The remainder relates to the payment of claims expected to be paid in 2010-11 in respect of loans already in default in previous financial years.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many banks are willing to lend in support of British exports in partnership with the Export Credits Guarantee Department. [26180]
Mr Prisk: The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) does not keep records of banks who have expressed a willingness to lend in support of exports under a guarantee from ECGD. ECGD provides guarantees for loans made available by banks to finance export transactions under its Buyer Credit Facility (BCF) and Supplier Credit Financing Facility (SCF).
Under the BCF, ECGD does not keep a list of pre-approved banks but approves them on a case-by-case basis. In each case they must meet ECGD's minimum counterparty risk standard and, in the case of agent banks, demonstrate the capability to administer ECGD-backed export credit loans. In the last three years, 29 banks have acted as a lender and/or agent bank under the BCF. Under the SCF, ECGD pre-approves banks and, subject to them meeting ECGD's minimum counterparty risk standard, issues them with a Master Guarantee Agreement (MGA). Currently, eight banks hold SCF MGAs.
Green Investment Bank
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment his Department has made of the likely effects of establishing a Green Investment Bank on small businesses. [25453]
Mr Prisk: The Green Investment Bank (GIB) will focus on the financing of green infrastructure projects and the deployment of late-stage green technologies.
The next phase of work, through to May, will see this Department doing detailed design and testing of the possible GIB products and assessing their likely impact on our growth, environmental and carbon objectives. All decisions regarding the institution will be subject to the Government's tests of effectiveness, affordability and transparency.
Higher Education: Admissions
Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many children who had received free school meals entered (a) Oxford and (b) Cambridge university in each year since 1980. [27697]
Mr Willetts: The figures in the table show the number of pupils aged 15 in English maintained schools who were in receipt of free school meals at the start of the school academic year and who progressed to Oxbridge by the age of 19.
| Estimates of the number of FSM pupils aged 15 in English maintained schools who progress to Oxford and Cambridge university by age 19 | |||
| In HE by age 19 | |||
| 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | |
| Source: Matched data from the National Pupil Database and the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record. All figures are estimates and have been rounded to the nearest five. | |||
The figures for FSM pupils are based on those recorded as such on Pupil Level Census. As this is a snapshot of pupils in one year, this will exclude pupils who claimed free school meals in previous years. Also some parents may choose not to apply for FSM. Children from these families who progress to Oxbridge would not be included in the table.
These figures have been estimated using matched data from the National Pupil Database and the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record and are only available for three data points. These rounded estimates allow for a small margin of error that arises as result of the matching procedure deployed.
Higher Education: Finance
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what account his Department has taken of the likely effects on resource flows in universities of the withdrawal of teaching funding from 2012 on the schedule of payments made by the Students Loan Company to universities in respect of fee income; and if he will make a statement. [27706]
Mr Willetts: The reforms we are introducing following Lord Browne's Review will put Higher Education funding on a fairer and more sustainable basis. We are determined to manage the process of transition carefully, ensuring smooth and manageable cash flows for institutions. The Department is working closely with the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Student Loans company to implement mechanisms to deliver this.
Innovation
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2010, Official Report, column 643W, on innovation, which centres currently funded by regional development agencies will become technology innovation centres. [27628]
Mr Willetts: No decisions have yet been made, but the funding for technology and innovation centres is about making choices and backing a few opportunities to scale. This means developing some of the existing RDA funded centres which are excellent and establishing a limited number of new centres in the context of the Technology Strategy Board's overall programme of work.
The Technology Strategy Board will publish a strategy and implementation plan for Technology and Innovation Centres by April 2011, and have created a network of these centres by April 2012 as highlighted in the BIS business plan.
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) strategic and (b) other powers he plans to enable local enterprise partnerships to exercise; and if he will make a statement. [27646]
Mr Prisk: As set out in the White Paper on Local Growth we envisage that local enterprise partnerships could take on a diverse range of roles. When partnerships have met our expectations regarding support from business, economic geography, local authority support, ambition and added value Government will enter into a discussion with them about delivering the economic vision for their area, in parallel with progress to establish appropriate boards and governance arrangements.
In addition, the Government are intending to provide, through the forthcoming localism Bill, a general power of competence for local authorities, giving them real freedom to act in the interests of their local communities.
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the level of (a) central Government and (b) local authority funding for local enterprise partnerships in each year of the Spending Review period. [27647]
Mr Prisk: No central Government spending has been allocated specifically to fund the activities of local enterprise partnerships. As set out in the White Paper on Local Growth local enterprise partnerships will be expected to fund their own day-to-day running costs and will also want to consider how they can obtain the best value for public money by leveraging in private sector investment. Local enterprise partnerships and proposed partnerships may also wish to submit bids to the Regional Growth Fund or European funding. It is for local authorities to decide how much of their discretionary spending they allocate to local enterprise partnerships.
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to put in place mechanisms to ensure representation from the Federation of Small Businesses and the Chambers of Commerce at the most senior level of management of local enterprise partnerships. [27648]
Mr Prisk: As set out in the Local Growth White Paper we will normally expect to see business representatives form half the local enterprise partnership board, with a prominent business leader in the chair. If partnerships are to be able to develop the right business environment for growth in their areas then we would expect the leadership of that partnership to have first hand knowledge and experience of working successfully in that environment. They will also want to draw from a breadth of experience, from small enterprises through to large businesses, those representing key sectors in their areas and any other key economic stakeholders such as universities or social enterprises. There are no specific mechanisms to ensure representation from particular representative bodies.
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has plans to put in place mechanisms to limit spending on (a) administration and (b) communications and marketing by local enterprise partnerships. [27649]
Mr Prisk: There are no plans to put in place mechanisms to limit spending on either administration or communications and marketing by local enterprise partnerships. As set out in the White Paper on Local Growth local enterprise partnerships will be expected to fund their own day-to-day running costs.
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how local enterprise partnerships will provide assistance in respect of small areas of deprivation in (a) Harlow and (b) other towns with similar demographic features. [27650]
Mr Prisk: It is for local enterprise partnerships to decide on their own priorities for fostering a strong environment for business growth.
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the proposed local enterprise partnerships will consider the former staff of regional development agencies as potential employees. [27651]
Mr Prisk: It is for local enterprise partnerships to decide what activities they undertake and whom they employ.
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what mechanisms he expects smaller sub-regional economic areas to (a) integrate in and (b) work with the larger local enterprise partnerships. [27652]
Mr Prisk: Local enterprise partnerships see a move away from centrally imposed structures and their replacement with locally developed initiatives. It is for partnerships to decide how they develop and deliver their vision for a business environment that enables local growth. The Government are encouraging them to work with key economic stakeholders to help them deliver this vision. We would also expect the partnerships' governance arrangements to be transparent and ensure that they are locally accountable.
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