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21 Dec 2010 : Column 1325W—continued
Feed-in Tariffs
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the implementation of the provisions of the feed-in tariffs (Specified Maximum Capacity and Formation Order 2010); and if he will make a statement. [32119]
Charles Hendry: The Feed-in Tariffs (Specified Maximum Capacity and Functions) Order 2010 (Statutory Instrument No.678) came into force on 1 April 2010. Together with modifications to the standard conditions of electricity supply licenses, it forms the basis for the implementation of the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme.
The coalition Government are fully committed to the implementation of FITs. To ensure that the scheme continues to be delivered as envisaged we are intending to bring forward some minor procedural amendments to the Order early in the new year. Additionally, the recent spending review confirmed that the first formal review of FITs will take place in 2012, taking effect in April 2013, unless higher than expected deployment requires an early review.
Fuel Poverty: Finance
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that householders at each (a) income level and (b) credit risk level will be able to access finance under the Green Deal. [31765]
Gregory Barker: Green Deal arrangements will be financed by private companies, and we are in discussions with a range of potential providers, who have expressed interest in targeting customers from all income brackets. The credit risk of individual Green Deal customers should not be so relevant as with a standard credit arrangement as the charge will pass across to any subsequent bill-payer.
We will design the new Energy Company Obligation, which will take over from the current CERT and CESP when they come to an end, in a way that complements Green Deal finance arrangements, ensuring that further support is available for those in need of additional help, including low income vulnerable households.
Fuel Poverty: Meters
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons his Department's impact assessment for the roll-out of smart meters, dated July 2010, did not contain information on the effects of the roll-out on the vulnerable and the fuel-poor comparable to that in the impact assessment dated April 2007, entitled Appraisal for Costs and Benefits of Smart Metering: Roll Out Options, Final Report; and what consideration he has given to providing (a) a dedicated help line, (b) marketing campaigns, (c) consumer protection in relation to display and meter functionality and (d) changes to existing energy company licence conditions in order to provide protection from (i) aggressive sales and marketing and (ii) doorstep mis-selling for the vulnerable and fuel-poor. [31350]
Charles Hendry: The Appraisal of Costs and Benefits dated "April 2007" (and published in May 2008) was a report undertaken by Mott Macdonald for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). Impact Assessments produced from 2008 by BERR and more recently by DECC have assessed the costs and benefits of the roll-out to all customers. The impact of the roll-out on the vulnerable is specifically considered in the Equality Section of the Impact Assessment and remains a core aspect of the work of the Smart Meters Implementation Programme.
A positive consumer experience is key to delivering the benefits of smart metering. In the Prospectus published in July 2010 we sought views on the approach to consumer engagement and protection, including the functional requirements for meters and in-home displays, and the installation visits. We are reviewing the extensive responses to the consultation and undertaking further stakeholder engagement and analysis. In doing so we are taking account of the significant contribution made by Consumer Focus in this area. A response to the consultation will be published in the new year.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the level of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions attributable to thermal energy-from-waste facilities including incinerators. [32073]
Gregory Barker: Estimates from the UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory indicate that emissions attributable to thermal energy-from-waste facilities are as shown in the following table. These figures relate to 2008, the most recent year for which final data are available, and include emissions from both fossil carbon and biogenic sources.
| Gas | Emissions (kilotonnes carbon dioxide equivalent) |
Northern Ireland Executive
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on what dates he has had discussions on his Department's work with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive in the last 12 months. [31934]
Gregory Barker: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had discussions with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive relating to his Department's work since the coalition Government took office in May 2010. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Energy and I have had discussions with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive on a range of issues over that period, including at Joint Ministerial Committee, European Council and British-Irish Council meetings.
Nuclear Power Stations: Construction
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2010, Official Report, column 933W, on nuclear power stations: construction, what steps he plans to take in response to the report on nuclear lessons learned. [32323]
Charles Hendry: The Department welcomes the publication of the "Engineering the Future: Nuclear Lessons Learned" report, and the recommendations contained in it. In response, the Department will be participating in the work being led by the Institute for Civil Engineers to undertake an ongoing knowledge capture and dissemination exercise, to ensure that the report stays up to date.
Tidal Power
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to provide long-term revenue support for marine renewable technologies. [31353]
Charles Hendry: We are committed to the full establishment of feed-in tariff systems in electricity-as well as the maintenance of banded renewable obligation certificates. We have already brought forward the scheduled review of the renewable obligation by a year to give investors confidence As part of the electricity market reforms, we have set out plans for support for Marine, and other renewables and low carbon technologies, for the longer term.
Warm Front Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department conducted an equality impact assessment of the potential effects on women of the reduction in funding for the Warm Front scheme. [31474]
Gregory Barker [holding answer 20 December 2010]: As part of the spending review, the Government will continue to fund a smaller, targeted Warm Front programme for the next two years, with £110 million available in 2011-12 and £100 million in 2012-13 for the scheme. We are currently consulting on proposed changes to the scheme's eligibility criteria so that it better targets the most vulnerable.
An equality impact assessment has been carried out on the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria. None of the proposed changes is found to discriminate against women.
Water Power: Finance
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the long-term funding of marine renewable technologies. [32100]
Gregory Barker: The Government's commitment to the marine renewables sector is clearly reflected in the Coalition Agreement.
The Government are currently developing its detailed plans for the allocation of the £200 million to support the development of energy technologies announced in the Spending Review-and measures to support wave and tidal technologies are being considered as part of that process.
A scheduled review of renewables obligation support for all technologies, including for marine energy, began this year, and we have already brought forward the timetable for this review by a year. Any changes will still take effect from 1 April 2013 for marine renewables, but we will now consult on bands next Summer, rather than in 2012. As part of the electricity market reform, we will be setting out plans for support for marine, and other renewables, for the longer term.
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to encourage the commercial deployment of wave and tidal energy technologies. [32101]
Gregory Barker [holding answer 20 December 2010]: The Government is committed to harnessing the benefits which a successful marine renewables sector can bring to the UK. We plan to establish a UK marine energy programme in collaboration with the marine energy sector, focusing the sector's ability to develop and deploy wave and tidal energy devices at a commercial scale.
The Government are currently developing its detailed plans for the allocation of the £200 million to support the development of energy technologies announced in the Spending Review-and measures to support wave and tidal technologies are being considered as part of that process.
A scheduled review of renewables obligation support for all technologies, including for marine energy, began this year, and we have already brought forward the timetable for this review by a year. Any changes will still take effect from 1 April 2013 for marine renewables, but we will now consult on bands next summer, rather than in 2012.
As part of the electricity market reform, we will be setting out plans for support for low carbon technologies, such as marine, in the longer term.
Weather
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received on proposals for a national winter emergency plan; and if he will make a statement. [31669]
Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Bolton West (Julie Hilling) by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Guildford (Anne Milton) on 22 November 2010, Official Report, column 168W.
Wind Power: Subsidies
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of subsidies given to wind farms in 2010-11. [32047]
Charles Hendry: The latest data available (as of 16 December 2010) on the Ofgem ROC Register shows that 2,884,118 ROCs were issued to onshore wind farms between April 2010 and September 2010; and 1,837,475 ROCs to offshore wind farms over the same period is available at:
https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/Public/ReportManager.aspx?ReportVisibility=1&;ReportCategory=0
The expected value of a ROC under headroom is the buy-out price (£36.99 in 2010-11) plus 10%. On this basis, the estimated value from the RO is around £117 million between April 2010 and September 2010 for onshore wind, and around £75 million for offshore wind.
Wind installations of less than 5 MW are also eligible for feed-in tariffs. Information on feed-in tariffs in the form requested is not yet available. However, live information on the number of installations registered for FITs, broken down by technology and tariff band, is available from the Ofgem register. Under FITs, generators receive a tariff for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity generated which differs by technology type and scale. The generation tariffs for wind in 2010-11 are reproduced in the following table. Generators also receive an additional payment of 3p/kWh of electricity exported.
| Scale | Generation tariff for 2010-11 (p/kWh) |
Scotland
Scotland Bill
John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the economic effects of the provisions of Part 3 of the Scotland Bill on (a) Cumbria and (b) other areas of (i) England and (ii) Scotland close to the border between Scotland and England. [30814]
David Mundell: The Scotland Bill delivers the Government's coalition commitment to implement the recommendations in the Final Report of the Commission on Scottish Devolution. An impact assessment was published at introduction of the Scotland Bill for the taxation provisions within the Bill. The impact assessment identifies that there are cross-border implications for employees and employers on either side of the English-Scottish border. A copy of the impact assessment is available in the Library of the House.
The impact assessment does not address non-taxation matters within the Bill as the Scotland Bill provides for the transfers of powers between the UK and Scottish Parliaments and Governments, but does not provide for the alteration of policy effect.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Forestry Commission: Land
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2010, Official Report, column 146W, on Forestry Commission: land, what the name is of each commercial company with which (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have had discussions on the Government's proposals to consult on the future of the public forest estate in England. [31284]
Mr Paice: I have not held any formal ministerial consultations with commercial forestry interests, although I have met a range of representatives from the forestry sector, including non-government organisations and commercial companies, in the course of large scale events such as the APF International Forestry Expo in September. At that event I and the Confederation of Forest Industries (UK) Ltd (an industry representative body) discussed and listened to views on forestry management and the public forest estate from a wide variety of industry bodies.
The Secretary of State has not had discussions with any commercial companies about the future of the public forest estate.
Agriculture
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department has issued to the pig and poultry industry on exposure of the animal population to the (a) H5N1 and (b) H1N1 virus. [31022]
Mr Paice [holding answer 16 December 2010]: DEFRA monitors the occurrence of major animal disease outbreaks world wide as an early warning to assess the risk these events may pose to the UK. It carries out qualitative risk assessments and preliminary outbreak assessments to estimate the likelihood of the disease entering the UK and these are published on the DEFRA website.
Most recently, on 6 December 2010, DEFRA published a preliminary outbreak assessment relating to an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in poultry in Japan. This concluded that while there was no additional risk from this particular outbreak, there is a continual low risk of introduction of avian notifiable disease into
the UK and EU poultry population through contact with wild birds where the viruses are circulating. The guidance to the poultry industry remains that it is important to maintain biosecurity on poultry premises and reduce the level of contact with wild birds as far as possible, as well as reporting suspicion of disease promptly to the veterinary authorities.
In August 2009 industry and Government published a Code of Practice for pig keepers relating to influenza in pigs. The code provides clear guidance to pig keepers on the actions they should take to reduce the risk of introduction of influenza viruses, including pandemic H1N1, to pig herds and to prevent disease leaving the premises should this occur.
Various influenza A virus strains are endemic in most pig keeping countries worldwide, including the UK, with the pandemic strain of H1N1 first detected in pigs in England in late 2009. Since 1991, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency has operated a surveillance scheme to monitor the strains present in the GB herd, publishing results regularly.
Animal Products: EC Law
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on simplification of the implementation of the European Animal By-Products Regulation. [31096]
Mr Paice: DEFRA recently completed a consultation exercise on new domestic Regulations to implement and enforce the new Regulation (EC) 1069/2009 laying down health rules regarding animal by-products which comes into force in March 2011. A number of representations were received and a Government response will be made available shortly.
Animal Products: Waste Disposal
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition of a covered area is used in (a) the European Animal By-Products Regulation and (b) the implementing legislation for the UK. [31097]
Mr Paice: Regulation (EC) 1774/2002 laying down health rules regarding animal by-products does not specifically define 'covered area' but does make it a requirement for certain plants to have a 'covered area' for receiving animal by-products. This regulation will be replaced in March 2011 by Regulation 1069/2009(EC) which will not substantively change the requirements in this regard. As an EU regulation, the legislation is directly applicable in all member states so UK legislation only provides powers to enforce that legislation.
Animal Health is responsible for the approval and inspection of such plants under this legislation and is able to provide further guidance where needed.
Animal Welfare
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent scientific advice she has received on the exposure of the animal population in the United Kingdom to the (a) H5N1 and (b) H1N1 virus. [31023]
Mr Paice [holding answer 16 December 2010]: The UK carries out annual surveys for avian influenza (A1) in poultry and wild birds. The purpose of the poultry survey is to detect Al of subtypes H5 and H7 in different species of poultry. The purpose of the wild bird survey is to detect highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses through sampling of wild birds found dead and investigation of the cause of death of large numbers of birds ("mass mortality events"). In addition, since H5N1 is a notifiable form of A1, specific investigations are also carried out by Animal Health following reports of illness in birds where suspect disease cannot be initially ruled out. No active infection with H5N1 has been detected in poultry or wild birds so far this year, either from surveillance or routine reports of suspect disease. DEFRA also elicits scientific advice from a panel of expert ornithologists (British Trust for Ornithology, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and Scottish Natural Heritage among others) about wild bird movements and has done so recently in relation to recent adverse weather conditions.
The Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) has continued to run the DEFRA-funded surveillance for influenza viruses in pigs since 1991. The report from August 2010 indicates that pandemic H1N1 continues to circulate at a low level in pigs in the UK this year (following first detection in pigs in late 2009). There are no reported UK infections with this virus in other domestic livestock populations.
Reports on surveillance are published on the VLA website.
Animal Welfare: Circuses
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will assess the effects on animal welfare of live animal performances in circuses; and what her policy is on live animal performances in circuses. [30556]
Mr Paice: DEFRA officials and veterinarians have considered a variety of relevant scientific research publications which, in turn, were evaluated by a panel of academics and veterinarians to inform a report commissioned by DEFRA in 2006 on the welfare of wild animals in travelling circuses. Additionally, last year veterinarians looked at the scientific review "Are wild animals suited to a travelling circus life?" by the University of Bristol (lossa et al, Animal Welfare 2009, 18; 129-140).
We are currently considering the 13,000 or so responses to our consultation on the use of wild animals in circuses before we publish a summary. In the meantime, Lord Henley has been meeting with representatives of welfare groups and the circus industry. An industry body has proposed a self-regulatory system, but no decisions have been made.
Badgers
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the licensing and monitoring systems that would be required for a cull of badgers undertaken by her Department. [31341]
Mr Paice: As stated in the consultation impact assessment, costs to be incurred by Government for licensing are estimated at £26,000 for a 150km(2) application area.
This is based on receiving a modest number of applications and includes assessing applications and monitoring compliance. It does not include costs for setting up the licensing system which are yet to be determined. Costs to be incurred by Government for monitoring are estimated at £200 per km(2) of participating land. This includes monitoring badger population numbers, humaneness of the methods used, epidemiological monitoring of the disease and monitoring protected sites. These costs will be refined in the final impact assessment.
Birds of Prey: Crime
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations of the Raptor Working Group Report on (a) enforcement of measures and (b) recording of crimes against birds of prey. [31646]
Richard Benyon: Action to tackle crimes against birds of prey has continued since the publication of the UK Raptor Working Group report in 2000, which, among other things, recommended enhanced enforcement of existing legislation. For the last four years the persecution of birds of prey has been a wildlife crime priority for the UK. This priority has been addressed through action plans which include prevention, intelligence and enforcement measures aimed at delivering a targeted, focused tactical response.
The National Wildlife Crime Unit (part funded by Government) gathers, records and monitors information and intelligence about illegal activities affecting birds of prey. It uses this information to support the wildlife crime priority action plans, as well as to assist individual enforcers in their investigations. It also works closely with all the UK administrations as species conservation is a devolved matter.
Camels: Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what treatments her Department permits to be carried out on camelids suspected of carrying tuberculosis; and if she will make a statement. [31310]
Mr Paice [holding answer 16 December 2010]: DEFRA does not recommend any treatment for animals suspected of carrying tuberculosis (TB). In fact, anti-TB treatment is specifically prohibited in cattle and deer. There are several sound scientific and public health reasons why treatment should not take place in any TB-susceptible animals, including the fact that treatment can mask the reactions to the TB tests in infected animals, thus causing false negative results and also valid concerns around the possible development of antibiotic drug-resistant strains of the bacterium. Because of this, if an animal has been treated for TB, DEFRA and its agencies will need to amend or suspend normal testing procedures to ensure that any infection does not go undetected.
There are no veterinary drugs licensed in the UK for the treatment of TB in cattle or other mammals. However, under the veterinary medicines cascade system private veterinary surgeons are not prevented from prescribing human medicines to treat TB, though they would need to consider carefully with a camelid owner the practical, public health and veterinary implications of using an unlicensed, untested human medicine in this way.
It is for those reasons that DEFRA'S advice has been (and continues to be) that any suspect clinical cases of TB in known infected camelid herds should be immediately notified to Animal Health and culled, rather than subject to treatment regimes of questionable efficacy in animals.
Carbon Emissions: Business
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made on the implementation of Section 85(1)(a) of the Climate Change Act 2008. [30380]
Mr Paice [holding answer 13 December 2010]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr Wright) on 27 October 2010, Official Report, column 319W.
Dairy Farming
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions the Food and Farming Minister has had with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government on the likely effect on the character of rural areas of large-scale, intensive, indoor dairy production units. [31618]
Mr Paice: I have had no discussions with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government on the likely effect of large scale, intensive, indoor dairy production units on the character of the local countryside. The impact of any specific proposal on the local countryside would be for the appropriate planning authorities to consider.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect of intensive indoor milk production units on (i) traditional dairy farmers, (ii) the milk processing industry, (iii) local rural economies and (iv) rural management. [31619]
Mr Paice: DEFRA has not commissioned or evaluated any specific research into these aspects of intensive indoor milk production. There is, however, ongoing research into other aspects, including animal welfare.
The impacts of intensive indoor milk production units on traditional dairy farmers, the milk processing industry, local rural economies and rural management will depend to a large extent upon the future demand profile for UK production of milk and the extent to which such facilities increase.
At the next dairy supply chain forum, which I chair, I will be challenging the industry to take the opportunity to secure its own resilient and sustainable future and the
ongoing demand for UK milk production, initially by redressing the current trade deficit for dairy products in the UK consumer market.
Dairy farms must comply with all the relevant legislation, including environmental legislation, whatever the size of unit or system of production.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has considered the establishment of minimum separation distances between large scale, intensive, indoor dairy production units and residential areas. [31725]
Mr Paice: We have not considered the establishment of minimum separation distances between large scale, intensive, indoor dairy production units and residential areas. Such issues are within the remit of the planning authorities.
Dangerous Dogs
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to bring forward proposals to repeal the provisions on breed-specific prohibitions contained in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. [31210]
Mr Paice: Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the 1871 Dogs Act already allow action to be taken against a dog of any type or breed if it is deemed to be behaving dangerously.
Nevertheless, a proposal to add or remove types of dogs to or from the prohibited list was included in DEFRA's consultation on dangerous dog legislation. The summary of responses to the consultation can be found at:
The issue of dangerous dogs is not just a problem of dangerous breeds but also one of bad owners. They need to be held to account and stopped from ruining people's lives. We are working closely with ministerial colleagues in the Home Office on the antisocial behaviour dimension to this issue. We are also working with groups such as the RSPCA to look at other issues raised in the consultation, such as breed-specific bans, micro-chipping and attacks on private property.
My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Lord Henley) is due to announce the Government's approach to dangerous dogs early in the new year.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many seizures of dogs under the terms of section 5 (1) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 there were in (a) England and (b) Wales in the last 10 years. [31340]
Mr Paice: Figures for the number of dogs seized under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 are not collected centrally.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what her policy is on the extension of the provisions of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to private dwellings; [31345]
(2) what recent representations she has received on the extension of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to private dwellings; and if she will make a statement. [31343]
Mr Paice: A proposal to issue dog control notices on private land was included in DEFRA's consultation on dangerous dog legislation. DEFRA received 3,215 responses on this issue, of which 37% were in favour and 63% opposed. The summary of responses to the consultation can be found at:
The issue of dangerous dogs is not just a problem of dangerous breeds but also one of bad owners. They need to be held to account and stopped from ruining people's lives. We are working closely with ministerial colleagues in the Home Office on the antisocial behaviour dimension to this issue. We are also working with groups such as the RSPCA to look at other issues raised in the consultation, such as breed-specific bans, micro-chipping and attacks on private property.
My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Lord Henley) is due to announce the Government's approach to dangerous dogs early in the new year.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many entries have been made on the Index of Exempted Dogs in each year since 1991; and in respect of which types of dog such entries were made. [31346]
Mr Paice: Over 8,000 dogs were initially placed on the Index when the 1991 Act came into force. From early 1992 to 1997 no dogs were allowed to be added to the Index. Since the Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Act 1997 was passed, any court has been able to order that a specific dog be added to the Index by the issue of a court order. To date only one of the dogs placed on the Index has been a non-pitbull type and that was a Japanese Tosa.
The following table shows the numbers of dogs added to the Index of Exempted Dogs between 1997 and 2009, inclusive.
| Certificates of exemption issued | |
Data for 2010 are planned for publication next year.
Departmental Overtime
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department spent on overtime for staff working within her private office in each of the last five years. [28569]
Richard Benyon:
It is not possible to identify how much has been spent on overtime specifically for staff
working in the Secretary of State's office as this information is not held centrally. The following table shows how much was spent on overtime and the private secretary allowance for staff working in all of the Department's Minister's private offices and the permanent secretary's office in each of the last five financial years.
| £ | |||
| Overtime | Private secretary allowance | Total | |
Historically, on entering private office, staff had the option to either claim overtime for extra hours worked in excess of conditioned hours or to receive the Private Secretary Allowance. Staff were not allowed to receive both. In more recent years, however, DEFRA's approach has been for staff to claim the allowance rather than overtime. The allowance is an annual allowance and is currently paid at an annual level of: £6,802 for staff at Grade 7 and above; £4,107 for staff at senior executive officer, higher executive officer and fast stream; and £3,474 for staff at other grades.
Departmental Pay
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff employed by her Department were not paid at a rate equivalent to or above the London living wage in the latest period for which figures are available. [31228]
Richard Benyon: There are no staff in DEFRA, within the London pay ranges, who are paid a full-time equivalent at or below the London living wage.
Departmental Procurement
Catherine McConnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible have taken to comply with the Guidance of the Office of Government Commerce on promoting skills through public procurement issued in 2009. [31318]
Richard Benyon: The Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies closely collaborate on all matters related to procurement and this includes promoting skills in public procurement. This collaboration and active participation includes and is not limited to the following:
Participating in the OGC Graduate Programme for Procurement.
Participating in the SWITCH programme, taking non-procurement civil servants into the Procurement and Commercial Function and arranging training to CIPS level.
Defining job descriptions for all levels of the procurement function and making these levels available to staff so they know what they need to do to move to procurement or the next level.
Arranging and attending legal seminars on current legal topics in the EU procurement field.
Arranging 'soft skills' training courses on negotiation skills and presentation skills.
Participating with and providing input to the OGC Rewards Programme designed to make procurement a 'profession'.
Greater and more detailed visibility of procurement on the departmental intranet.
Introducing and controlling with business areas the skills required for improved contract management.
Encouraging CIPS training in all areas.
Providing 'Senior Awareness' sessions on procurement.
Publication of a 'Pocket Guide to Procurement'.
Regular joint sessions with all bodies covering all areas of procurement collaboration.
Providing a central website for procurement information for all procurement staff in all bodies.
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) steps she is taking to encourage small businesses to bid for contracts let by her Department and (b) recent guidance she has provided to small businesses on bidding for such contracts. [32027]
Richard Benyon: All procurements are conducted under the government and EU guidelines and preference is not allowed to be shown to any particular possible suppliers groups. However, where requirements are known to be possibly satisfied by some supplier groups, then action is taken to make these possible suppliers aware that an opportunity is available and directs them to where information on the bid requirements can be found.
Government action on the Transparency Agenda has provided the processes for publication of tenders issued and contracts awarded. From next April 2011, all tender opportunities over £10,000 and in some cases those under this value, will be published on the Government Contracts Finder website. This replaces the current process where businesses can find opportunities on the Supply2Gov website. All supplier groups are encouraged to register on the website and can receive automatic email notifications of opportunities. The Department also uses other solutions to provide information to suppliers about opportunities.
The Department has not written directly to small businesses as this would contravene Government and EU procurement regulations. It is understood that the Cabinet Office Efficiency Reform Group have had discussions with appropriate industry bodies representing small businesses to advise them of the new processes for tender opportunities and encourage them to get their members to register so that the relevant notifications of opportunities can be provided.
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with voluntary and community groups on bidding for contracts let by her Department. [32028]
Richard Benyon: The Department in its role of ensuring that its objectives are satisfied, talks to many bodies from different sectors, including voluntary and community groups.
All procurements are conducted under the government and EU guidelines and preference is not allowed to be shown to any particular possible suppliers groups. However, where requirements are known to be possibly satisfied by some supplier groups, then action is taken to make these possible suppliers aware that an opportunity is available and directs them to where information on the bid requirements can be found.
Government action on the Transparency Agenda has provided the processes for publication of tenders issued and contracts awarded. From next April 2011, all tender opportunities over £10,000 and in some cases those under this value, will be published on the Government Contracts Finder website. This replaces the current process where businesses can find opportunities on the Supply2Gov website. All supplier groups are encouraged to register on the website and can receive automatic email notifications of opportunities.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the effect of the increase in the standard rate of value added tax on her Department's annual expenditure. [31185]
Richard Benyon: An estimate of the effect of the increase was made when DEFRA was preparing its submission for the 2010 spending review, but the impact on the Department's budget was found to be negligible.
Departmental spending review settlements are set on a tax-inclusive basis, including the increase to the standard rate of VAT; there is no business requirement for this information, which means that it is not possible to determine the exact level of irrecoverable VAT.
Dogs:Tagging
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on compulsory microchipping of dogs. [31347]
Mr Paice: A proposal for all dogs to be compulsorily microchipped was included in DEFRA's consultation on dangerous dog legislation. DEFRA received 1,875 responses on this issue, of which 84% were in favour and 16% opposed. We are currently working with groups such as the RSPCA to look at a range of issues raised in the consultation, including micro-chipping.
My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Lord Henley) is due to announce the Government's approach to dangerous dogs early in the new year.
Environment Protection: Business
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward proposals to extend the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 to cover (a) water utility and (b) other private companies; and if she will make a statement. [32283]
Richard Benyon: The Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber) decided on 23 November 2010 that water and sewerage companies and water only companies are not public authorities for the purposes of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIRs).
DEFRA is currently examining the extent to which environmental information held by water and sewerage companies and water only companies is already available to the public.
The Government are not considering any proposals to amend the definition of public authorities in the EIR's at this time.
Insurance Premiums
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of properties which have insurance cover which is attributable to the July 2008 statement of principles agreed between her Department and the insurance industry. [31286]
Richard Benyon: No estimate has been made of the number of properties with insurance cover where that cover is attributable to the statement of principles between Government and the insurance industry. Insurers' decisions on provision of cover in flood risk areas are guided by the statement of principles, and are commercially confidential decisions.
Landfill
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support her Department provides to companies to develop schemes to reduce the use of landfill; and if she will make a statement. [32103]
Richard Benyon: On 16 December, DEFRA published the final results from a survey of commercial and industrial waste in England. The results show that the amount of commercial and industrial waste sent to landfill in 2009 was 11.3 million tonnes, compared to 27.7 million tonnes in 2002.
The Government are carrying out a review of waste policies in England, due to be completed in spring 2011. The review is looking at ways of encouraging further improvements in waste prevention and recycling by businesses, including SMEs. This includes exploring voluntary responsibility deals with particular sectors.
Mackerel: Quotas
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department plans to take following the break down of negotiations with Iceland and the Faroe Islands on mackerel quotas. [31312]
Richard Benyon: I am very disappointed that it has not been possible to reach an agreement on the long-term management of the North East Atlantic mackerel stock with either Iceland or the Faroe Islands.
It is extremely important that this stock is managed on a sustainable basis in the future, and hence the issue was discussed at the EU Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels on 13-14 December. It was agreed that the EU would consider formal action, by way of sanctions, against Iceland following their decision to walk away from talks earlier this month.
The European Commission is still however hopeful that further discussions with the Faroes in the new year, will result in an agreement. The UK will continue to play a full part in any talks on this issue with the Commission and other member states.
Oil: Imports
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the potential effect on UK food distribution and food security of (a) a complete and indefinite stoppage of oil imports following a disruption in global oil supplies; and (b) a complete and indefinite halt in the long-term availability of petrol and diesel following disruption to domestic petrol and diesel supplies. [31360]
Mr Paice: The diversity of oil supply was assessed in the UK Food Security Assessment, which acknowledges the energy dependence of the food supply chain. The UK enjoys a diverse range of supplies of crude and refined products including indigenous oil production, domestically refined products and imports of crude oil and oil products from a range of EU and other countries.
Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is the lead Government department coordinating the response to a significant disruption to oil supply or demand, be it domestic or international. As part of the ongoing programme of work conducted by the government to build resilience to disruptive challenges, DECC has developed the National Emergency Plan for Fuel (NEP-F). This identifies how the downstream oil industry and the Government need to respond in an emergency, using one or more emergency response tools to manage any significant disruption. If there is an actual or threatened oil emergency in the UK affecting fuel supplies, emergency powers under the Energy Act 1976 may be used. The NEP-F includes provisions to enable it to ensure the distribution of available fuel in support of critical areas including food supply.
Rural Payments Agency: Complaints
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints her Department received in relation to the processing of claims by the Rural Payments Agency in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010. [31969]
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 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10.
| Financial year | Number |
The majority of complaints related to the processing of claims but the precise number could be identified only at disproportionate cost.
Sewage: Rivers
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information her Department holds on the amount of raw sewage pumped into the river network by water utility companies; and if she will make a statement. [32284]
Richard Benyon: All discharges to the river network are controlled by the Environment Agency's Environmental Permitting activities. This includes discharges from sewage treatment works and associated sewer systems. In conjunction with the Agency's monitoring programme this ensures that river water quality is protected. Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) allow the controlled discharge of dilute sewage mixed with rainwater when combined sewer systems become overwhelmed during periods of heavy rainfall. This prevents sewer flooding in homes and businesses. While some site specific information on the amounts discharged may be available on public registers it is not collated for all sites. However I strongly encourage water companies to make information on CSO spills available to all, where technically possible.
Trees
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much Forestry Commission land in each local authority area has sweet chestnut under management for coppicing. [31240]
Mr Paice: Forestry Commission records as at 31 March 2010 show that the area of sweet chestnut under management as coppice is as follows:
| Unitary authority | Area (hectares) |
Water Power: Fisheries
Mr Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will meet representatives of anglers' and fisheries charities to discuss the effect on fish populations of hydropower schemes. [31939]
Richard Benyon: I intend to meet with angling and fisheries organisations early in the new year to discuss a range of angling and fisheries management issues. It is anticipated that hydropower will form part of those discussions.
Whales: Conservation
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with other member nations of the Antarctic Treaty on the conduct of the Japanese whaling fleet in Antarctic waters. [31758]
Richard Benyon:
The UK regularly raises the issue of whaling in the Southern Ocean at ministerial and official level with Japan. Most recently, my hon. Friend the
Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr Browne) raised the issue on his visit to Japan in September. The Foreign Secretary also raised the matter during his visit to Japan in July.
Through the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the recognised global convention for whaling, the UK regularly raises our opposition to so called 'scientific' whaling in Antarctic waters. We fully support continued collaboration between the IWC and Antarctic treaty agreements, such as the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, in addressing areas of concern.
We are disappointed at the recent departure of the Japanese whaling fleet. Japan's action undermines the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling, the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and international efforts to conserve and protect whales.
Further, the UK has strongly condemned any dangerous activity in the Southern Ocean, from any party, that risks human life and property in relation to the activities of vessels at sea.
Wood
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department plans to adopt in the UK to assist in global efforts against illegal logging and deforestation. [31331]
Mr Paice: Tackling illegal logging and deforestation is a priority for the coalition Government, and we are in the process of implementing two EU regulations to tackle the trade in illegal timber. The EU FLEGT (forest law enforcement, governance and trade) regulation, which will apply from early 2011, requires timber from countries which have signed a voluntary partnership agreement with the EU to carry a licence to prove that it has been legally harvested.
This will complement the recently agreed EU illegal timber (due diligence) regulation, which requires operators first placing timber and timber products on the EU market to exercise due diligence to ensure that this timber has been legally harvested. The regulation also includes a prohibition on the first placing of illegal timber on the EU market. I am confident that these measures will help us to eradicate illegal timber from the UK market, and thus support global efforts to tackle illegal logging and deforestation.
Wood: Imports
Mike Weatherley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what precautions are in place to reduce the risk of
importation of harmful (a) insects and (b) diseases through the importation of wood for burning as biomass. [31392]
Mr Paice: Quarantine requirements for wood and wood products entering Great Britain are prescribed in the Plant Health (Forestry) Order 2005, which transposes EU-wide requirements set out in Council Directive 2000/29/EC. These, with one exception, apply to wood chips and other wood products for biomass in the same way as they do in the case of, for example, sawn wood and logs. The exception is wood in the form of pellets which, due to the manufacturing process, does not pose a risk of transmitting pests. All other consignments of regulated wood and wood products are required to be notified prior to landing and are subjected to plant health inspection by the Forestry Commission before being released by HM Revenue and Customs.
Slaughterhouses
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) departmental circulars and (b) other documents her Department has published consequent on the provisions of legislation regulating slaughterhouses in each of the last 10 years; what assessment she has made of the adequacy of enforcement of such legislation; how many persons of each (i) age, (ii) sex and (iii) police force area have been (A) prosecuted and (B) convicted of an offence under the provisions of such legislation in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [29837]
Mr Paice: Guidance on the welfare of poultry at slaughter was issued in December 2007 and DEFRA guidance on licensing and training of slaughtermen was last updated in May 2010.
Enforcement of welfare in slaughterhouses is the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The FSA conducted a survey of all approved slaughterhouses in May 2010 to establish whether food business operators are taking active steps to comply with legal requirements and achieve the necessary animal welfare standards. The survey also looked at whether Official Veterinarians and frontline teams are carrying out their roles effectively, with appropriate monitoring and relevant enforcement being taken in the event of food business operator non-compliance. This survey indicated standards of animal welfare met or exceeded legislative requirements in 94% of premises surveyed.
Details of prosecutions and convictions for offences under the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 (as amended) are as follows:
| Case | Result | Sex | Age | Court area |
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