Devolution
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for future end-year flexibility for the (a) Welsh Assembly Government and (b) Scottish and Northern Ireland devolved Administrations. [41911]
Danny Alexander: Spending plans announced in the Government’s 2010 spending review require a robust framework of spending control. The end-year flexibility (EYF) system which allows departments and the devolved Administrations to carry forward unspent budget provisions into future years to discourage wasteful end-year spending has in practice, led to accumulated stocks that would further increase the deficit if they were spent. Therefore the Government plan to replace the existing EYF system from 2011-12. Further details of the new system will be set out later this year.
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with (a) Welsh Assembly Government Ministers and (b) Ministers of other devolved Administrations on proposed changes to the rules regarding end-year flexibility. [41912]
Danny Alexander: Delivering the spending plans announced in the Government’s 2010 spending review will require a robust framework to control spending. The end-year flexibility (EYF) system which allows Departments and the devolved Administrations to carry forward unspent budget provisions into future years to discourage wasteful end-year spending has, in practice, led to accumulated stocks that would further increase the deficit if they were spent. The Government plan to abolish the existing EYF system at the end of 2010-11 and replace it with a new system from 2011-12 which will retain an incentive to avoid wasteful end-year spending and strengthen spending control.
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In past discussion with the devolved Administrations it was agreed during the spending review that the devolved Administrations can carry forward planned reductions in spending from 2010-11 to 2011-12 if they wish, and the Government will, stand by their existing commitment to the Northern Ireland Executive to draw down end-year flexibility (EYF) in the current year and their commitment to carry forward underspends for the Department of Justice under the terms of the £800 million funding package which accompanied the devolution of policing and justice.
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much end-year flexibility remains unspent by the Welsh Assembly Government. [41913]
Danny Alexander: HM Treasury publish data for all UK Government Departments including the devolved Administrations in the 2009-10 Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (Cm 7911).
Details of EYF draw-downs were included in written ministerial statements made at times during supplementary estimate rounds. Information on the Welsh Assembly Government EYF draw-down for 2010-11 was detailed in a written ministerial statement made on 14 February 2011.
Following the draw-down of EYF in 2010-11 spring supplementary estimate, WAG have a balance of undrawn EYF of £367,310,000 (£128,016,000 resource cash and £239,294,000 resource depreciation).
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the end-year flexibility relating to (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland was for each year since 1999-2000 for which figures are available. [41914]
Danny Alexander: Amounts eligible for carry forward under the departmental expenditure limit EYF scheme are published in the Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (PEOWP). Copies of the 2001-02 to 2009-10 editions are on the Treasury’s public website and may be viewed at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pes_peowp.htm
A summary is shown in the following table.
| Total EYF stocks for the devolved Administrations | |||
| £000 | |||
| PEOWP edition | Scottish Executive | Welsh Assembly Government | Northern Ireland Executive |
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the current procedures are regarding the treatment of end-year flexibility monies between his Department and the devolved administrations. [41915]
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Danny Alexander: In October 2010 HM Treasury published “Funding the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly Statement of Funding Policy”. The statement represents the continuation of long-standing conventions that have guided funding for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Chapter 11 of this publication sets out the current arrangements regarding end-year flexibility for the devolved Administrations. This publication is in the public domain and can be found on the Treasury’s public website at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spend_sr2010_fundingpolicy.htm
Excise Duties: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has assessed the merits of freezing fuel duty on liquefied petroleum gas until 2018. [42811]
Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Katy Clark) on 13 December 2010, Official Report, column 557W.
Exports: Alcoholic Drinks
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many litres of (a) beer and (b) wine the UK exports to other EU countries per annum; and what estimate he has made of the size of the legitimate market for (i) beer and (ii) wine in the EU in litres per annum; [41861]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2011, Official Report, column 496W, on excise duties, what steps he is taking to tackle drawback duty fraud. [41937]
Justine Greening: Trade statistics on UK exports of beer and wine are published at:
www.uktradeinfo.com
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) do not hold figures on the estimated size of the legitimate market in the EU.
HMRC monitor and audit businesses making large volumes of drawback claims. Claims are selected for verification and actively challenged to ensure that all UK and EU conditions are met before a claim is authorised. HMRC also co-operate with authorities in other member states to validate drawback claims relating to supplies to businesses in the EU.
Financial Services: Regulation
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on implementation of the Retail Distribution Review; and if he will make a statement. [37483]
Mr Hoban: The Retail Distribution Review (RDR) is the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), an independent body. The FSA will implement the RDR.
The FSA has published final rules in all the key areas of the RDR, which will take effect from 1 January 2013. It will start monitoring individual advisers more closely this year and tackle issues in conjunction with their firm and accredited body. The FSA will begin a nationwide
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programme of RDR roadshows for smaller firms later in the year and will also offer separate events for larger firms.
Lorely Burt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will discuss with his G20 counterparts recent progress on the work by the Financial Stability Board on improving consumer protection in financial services. [42204]
Mr Hoban: The Financial Stability Board (FSB) is currently developing a consultation on approaches to consumer protection. The UK is seeking to take a full role in the consultation process to inform the FSB’s thinking, and that of other G20 members, and is currently in discussions with the FSB to determine how we can most effectively contribute.
Karl McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that the management and staff appointed to the Financial Services Authority are suitably experienced and qualified for the purposes of ensuring the integrity of financial services regulation. [42230]
Mr Hoban: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is an independent body and, as such, determines the appropriate qualification levels for its staff.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has discussed with (a) his US counterpart and (b) the Chair of the G20 Finance Ministers the findings and recommendations of Sir David Walker's report on the governance of banks and other financial institutions. [42283]
Mr Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. It is not the Government's practice to provide details of such meetings.
Mr Darling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what governance arrangements he proposes for the (a) Prudential Regulatory Authority and (b) Financial Policy Committee; when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to establish these bodies; and if he will make a statement. [42559]
Mr Hoban: The Government set out proposals for reforming financial regulation—including the governance arrangements for the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Policy Committee—in a consultation document (Cm 8012) presented to Parliament on 17 February 2011. This document outlines the Government's intention to present a draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in the spring. Subject to parliamentary timetabling, the Government will introduce legislation to Parliament in mid-2011.
Fiscal Policy
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times and on what dates the Government breached the Golden Rule, as set out on page 16 of the Code for Fiscal Stability, since 1997. [41444]
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Justine Greening: According to the March 2010 Budget, the previous Government met the Golden Rule over the previous economic cycle which ran from the first half of 1997 to the second half of 2006. Based on outturns for 2007-08 and 2008-09 for the current balance and forecasts to 2014-15 produced by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) in their pre-Budget forecast, published on 14 June 2010, the previous Government were set to run deficits on the current balance in every year.
The OBR has not published estimates of the output gap prior to 2009. The estimates prior to 2009-10 are based on Treasury estimates of trend output and the output gap from the March Budget.
The OBR have indicated that they expect to publish analysis of the output gap prior to 2009 this year which will explore different methodologies for evaluating it.
Friendly Societies: Regulation
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed by the Financial Services Authority working on the regulation of friendly societies; and if he will make a statement. [42859]
Mr Hoban: The matter concerned is the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), whose day-to-day operations are independent from Government control and influence. I have asked the FSA to write to the hon. Member on the issue he raises.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he has met (a) Sir John Vickers, (b) Hector Sants and (c) the Chief Executive of UK Financial Investments Ltd to discuss policy on building societies and friendly societies; and if he will make a statement. [42860]
Mr Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and implementation. It is not the Government's practice to provide details of such meetings.
Government Departments: Redundancy Pay
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many special severance payments have been reported to his Department to date; and what estimate he has made of the total monetary value of such payments for each Government department. [41953]
Danny Alexander: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I can confirm, however, that the Treasury takes this responsibility seriously, requiring Departments to be able to justify and defend payments in value for money terms taking account of legal risks, and to review HR systems if weaknesses are identified.
Income Tax
Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) England, (b) the North West, (c) Cumbria and (d) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency will no longer be subject to income tax following the increase in allowance in April 2011. [42029]
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Mr Gauke: In the June 2010 Budget, it was estimated that 880,000 persons would be taken out of tax in the United Kingdom as a result of the £1,000 increase in the personal allowance in 2011-12. 734,000 of these individuals reside in England, of which 106,000 reside in the North West.
These estimate are based on 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes data projected to 2011-12 in line with the June 2010 Budget assumptions. It is not possible to produce reliable estimates for parliamentary constituencies and counties (Cumbria and Westmorland and Lonsdale) due to small sample sizes at these levels of geography.
Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) England, (b) the North West, (c) Cumbria and (d) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency are in each income tax band. [42034]
Mr Gauke: Estimates of the number of taxpayers in (a) England, (b) the north-west, (c) Cumbria and (d) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency, categorised by their highest marginal tax rate for 2007-08, the latest year available, are provided in the following tables.
| Table a: Number of taxpayers in England | |
| Tax year 2007-08 | |
| Number | |
| (1) Rounded to 3 significant figures | |
| Table b: Number of taxpayers in the north-west region (1) | |
| Tax year 2007-08 | |
| Number | |
| (1) Rounded to 3 significant figures | |
| Table c: Number of taxpayers in Cumbria (1) | |
| Tax year 2007-08 | |
| Number | |
| (1) Rounded to the nearest thousand | |
| Table d: Number of taxpayers in Westmoreland and Lonsdale constituency (1) | |
| Tax year 2007-08 | |
| Number | |
| (1) Rounded to the nearest thousand Notes: 1. Tables show number of taxpayers by their highest marginal tax rate. 2. Estimates at each rate may not sum to the total due to rounding. Source: Survey of Personal Incomes, 2007-08 See: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/inc-distribution-note.pdf | |
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Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions: Non-payment
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of employees who have paid national insurance contributions and income tax which have not been passed on to HM Treasury by employers in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [41959]
Justine Greening: The information requested is not available.
There is an in-built time lag between tax and national insurance being deducted from employees’ pay under PAYE and it being paid over to HMRC. Monthly deductions are due by the 19 of each month—or the 22 when payments are made electronically.
For that reason there could be, at any given time, any number of employees who have had tax and NIC deducted but whose employers have not paid it over to HMRC as they are not yet required to do so.
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many companies have been prosecuted for non-payment of income tax on behalf of employees in each region of the UK in each of the last five years; [41960]
(2) how many companies have been prosecuted for (a) non-payment of employee national insurance and (b) non-payment of employer national insurance in each region of the UK in each of the last five years. [41997]
Mr Gauke: The number of prosecutions arising from criminal investigations by HMRC into theft of deductions is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost. Prosecutions are undertaken by the relevant independent prosecuting authorities.
The recovery of unpaid tax debt is a civil matter. In such cases HMRC seek action through the county court (in England and Wales), sheriff’s court (in Scotland) and magistrates court (in Northern Ireland).
Individual Savings Accounts: Interest Rates
Katy Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will bring forward proposals to improve the interest rates offered on individual savings accounts; [42695]
(2) if he will assess the effect of present levels of inflation on the monetary value of savings in individual savings accounts. [42696]
Mr Hoban: The Bank of England is charged with meeting the Government's inflation target, helping to deliver price stability. The effect of inflation on the capital value of savings will also depend on the interest rate on the account.
The Bank of England has operational independence to set interest rates. Interest rates offered on individual savings accounts (ISAs) are a commercial decision for ISA providers.
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A number of banks and other institutions offer interest rates significantly above the Bank of England base rate, and savers can ensure they get the best possible income from their savings by shopping around.
The Consumer Financial Education Body, soon to be known as the Money Advice Service, publishes comparative tables of savings accounts and the interest rates offered as part of its Moneymadeclear initiative.
The ISA industry has also agreed to publish interest rates on all ISA statements from April 2012. I believe that this increased transparency is an important step, and I have encouraged providers to do this sooner if possible.
Members: Correspondence
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Financial Secretary to the Treasury expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North of 26 November 2010, regarding the retail distribution review and independent financial advisers. [38566]
Mike Crockart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh West’s letter to him dated (a) 5 November 2010 and (b) 13 January 2011 with regard to his constituent Mr Brian Neilson. [41999]
Mr Hoban: I wrote to all hon. Members on 21 February to set out the Government’s overall position on retail distribution review. This letter was in response to any outstanding correspondence that hon. Members may have raised.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 11 November 2010 with regard to Ms K. Chung. [41271]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) sent a detailed response to the right hon. Gentleman on 23 December 2010 explaining that they were replying on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
HMRC has posted a copy to the right hon. Gentleman's parliamentary office as it would appear he did not receive the original letter.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 11 January 2011 with regard to Mr J D Remington. [42808]
Mr Hoban: I have replied to the right hon. Member.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 4 January 2011 with regard to Mr J Burchardt. [42809]
Justine Greening: I wrote to all hon. and right hon. Members on 21 February to set out the Government's overall position on fuel duty related issues. This letter was in response to any outstanding correspondence that Members may have raised.
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National Insurance Contributions
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further representations he has received on regions which have not been included in the national insurance holiday scheme since 15 January 2011; and whether he has given further consideration to extending the scheme. [40991]
Mr Gauke: HM Treasury receives a wide range of representations on matters covering its responsibilities. In keeping with the custom of successive Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details.
The objective of the scheme is to support the transition to a more sustainable model of economic growth by reducing labour costs in those regions currently most reliant on public sector employment. In considering how best to meet this objective, the Government have therefore not given further consideration to extending it to regions least reliant on public sector employment.
NHS: Redundancy Pay
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many special severance payments were reported to his Department by (a) NHS acute trusts, (b) foundation trusts, (c) mental health trusts, (d) special health authorities, (e) strategic health authorities, (f) primary care trusts, (g) ambulance trusts and (h) care trusts in the last three years; and what the total (i) monetary value and (ii) number of payments was for each organisation in each such year. [41938]
Danny Alexander: The information is not held in the form requested and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. However, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Department of Health, the right hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr Burns) on 10 February 2011, Official Report, columns 428-30W.
Pensions
Craig Whittaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to review closed direction pensions transfers; [41026]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects of closed direction pensions transfers for employees moving between the public sector and a social enterprise on (a) affordability of public sector pensions and (b) competition between providers of public services; [41027]
(3) what assessment he has made of the effects of uncapped defined benefit public sector pension schemes on labour market mobility; and if he will make a statement. [41028]
Danny Alexander [holding answer 17 February 2011]: The Independent Public Service Pensions Commission is considering which organisations should have access to public service schemes, as set out in its Terms of Reference. Its final report is expected before Budget.
The commission's report concluded that current pension structures, combined with the requirement to provide broadly comparable pensions under the Fair Deal policy, are a barrier to non-public service providers, potentially reducing the efficiencies and innovation in public service
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delivery that could be achieved. In response, the Government announced they would review the Fair Deal policy, to report by summer 2011.
In addition, the interim report concluded there is a need to facilitate, or at least not prevent, many different ways of providing public services and mobility between public and private sectors but that extending access to public service pension schemes for non-public service employees does not appear to offer a long-term sustainable solution.
Personal Income
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many single parent families resident in (a) Newcastle Upon Tyne North constituency, (b) the North East and (c) England he expects to have their annual income reduced as a result of implementation of the proposed changes to child benefit. [24475]
Mr Gauke: Information on household income and composition for single parent child benefit claimants is not available at parliamentary constituency or regional level.
The number of single parent families affected by the removal of child benefit from households containing a higher-rate taxpayer in England is estimated to be around 50,000.
Public Sector: Borrowing
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of Government borrowing was on 15 September 2008. [34511]
Justine Greening: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) together with HM Treasury produces a monthly bulletin on the public sector finances. As such, only month end figures are available.
As at 30 September 2008, public sector net debt (PSND) stood at £566.0 billion (39.5% of GDP).
Stamp Duty Land Tax: Carbon Emissions
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many homes have attracted the zero rate of stamp duty in respect of zero carbon homes since October 2007; [41848]
(2) how much has been claimed in stamp duty relief in respect of zero carbon home purchases since October 2007; [41849]
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of zero carbon homes currently under construction expected to qualify for stamp duty land tax relief. [41851]
Mr Gauke: For transactions completed between October 2007 and December 2010 claims for zero carbon homes relief from stamp duty land tax were made on 65 home sales, where the selling price was above £125,000. The relief claimed on these sales amounted to £182,000. The number of zero carbon homes currently under construction is not available.
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Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals for a stamp duty rebate for homes participating in the Green Deal. [41850]
Mr Gauke: The Government are developing the Green Deal, which will enable households and businesses to invest in energy efficiency at no upfront cost and repay this through the expected savings on their energy bill. We currently intend that the Green Deal will operate independently of any tax incentives.
Stamp duty land tax policy, like that of all taxes, is kept under review through the normal Budget process.
Taxation: Financial Services
Alun Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was paid on profits by banks in each of the last 10 years. [42244]
Mr Hoban: HM Revenue and Customs do not currently publish statistics of tax paid on profits by banks. Historical financial sector Corporation Tax receipts, which will include banks, is published in Table 11.1 on the HMRC National Statistics website. The latest update is available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/table11_1.pdf
Taxation: Low Incomes
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce the level of taxation for people who earn no more than the national minimum wage. [41089]
Mr Gauke: At the June 2010 Budget, the Chancellor announced that the 2011-12 income tax personal allowance for those aged under 65 would be increased by £1,000 in cash terms, taking it from £6,475 now to £7,475 in 2011-12.
The June Budget estimated that the increase in the personal allowance will lift 880,000 of the lowest income taxpayers out of income tax altogether, and will be worth up to £170 a year for 23 million basic rate taxpayers. The Government's longer term goal is to raise the allowance to £10,000, with real terms steps in that direction every year.
An individual working full time on the current adult national minimum wage (which will apply until October 2011) of £5.93 per hour would have gross annual earnings of approximately £10,800.(1) Assuming this is their only source of income, the £1,000 cash increase in the personal allowance would decrease their income tax liability by 20% relative to the plans inherited from the previous administration. This is based on estimates from the June 2010 Budget.
The national minimum wage applicable after 1 October 2011 is subject to future uprating decisions.
(1)This assumes the individual is working 35 hours a week, and is paid for 52 weeks in the year at the same hourly wage rate.
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Taxation: Multinational Companies
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of Exchequer receipts of exempting UK-registered companies from corporation tax on foreign branches in (a) 2011, (b) 2012, (c) 2013 and (d) 2014. [41386]
Mr Gauke: The taxation of foreign branches measure, as set out in draft legislation in December, was estimated to have a steady state cost of £100 million a year by the end of the scorecard period 2014-15.
Specific figures and the five-year time-series will be made available at Budget 2011 when the policy is finalised.
VAT
David Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department assessed the merits of increasing the rate of value added tax to 22.5% prior to May 2010. [33272]
Mr Gauke: I am not aware of, or accountable for, any assessments made by my Department before May 2010 on the merits of increasing VAT to 22.5% since it is an established convention that a new Administration does not generally have access to any papers of a previous Administration of a different political complexion that would reveal former Ministers' opinions.
VAT: Clothing
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of children in respect of whom there is a liability to pay value added tax for the purchase of adult-sized clothing and shoes; and if he will bring forward proposals to exempt value added tax on all clothing and shoes for children. [41329]
Mr Gauke: No such estimates have been made. Children's clothing is zero-rated for VAT. Under longstanding agreements with our EU partners we can retain our existing VAT zero rates but we cannot apply any new ones or extend the scope of existing zero rates. There is no provision in our agreements with our EU partners that would permit the exemption of children's clothing.
VAT: Electronic Books
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the Government's policy on the rate of value added tax charged on electronic books; and if he will make a statement. [42068]
Mr Gauke: Under EU law, VAT on electronic books must be charged at the standard rate. Existing agreements with our EU partners do not allow the UK or other member states to extend the scope of their existing reliefs.
Welfare Tax Credits: Uprating
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what savings to the public purse his Department expects to make as a result of using the consumer prices index for the uprating of tax credits in (a) 2015-16 and (b) each of the subsequent five years. [35882]
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Justine Greening: This measure was part of a package of changes announced at the June Budget 2010. The costing was updated at the spending review and is given in the following table:
| Saving to the Exchequer (£ million) | |
The costing does not take account of the various other measures announced in the June Budget and spending review 2010 since it was first costed as part of the overall package.
Estimates beyond 2015-16 are unavailable.
Deputy Prime Minister
Alternative Vote: Referendums
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2011, Official Report, column 340W, (a) when and (b) where he has met members of the campaign team supporting a yes vote in the proposed referendum on the alternative vote not on Government premises but with an official or officials paid from the public purse in attendance; who participated in each meeting; and whether any departmental resources were used to facilitate each meeting. [42744]
The Deputy Prime Minister: There have been no meetings between myself and the Yes Campaign on non-Government premises with officials in attendance.
BBC
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what recent meetings (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Office have had with the director-general of the BBC; and whether pensions were discussed at those meetings; [25013]
(2) when he plans to answer question 25013, on the BBC and pensions, tabled on 15 November 2010. [42366]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 22 November 2010, Official Report, column 138W.
Members: Conduct
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to bring forward proposals for electors in a constituency to recall their elected Member of Parliament. [42675]
Mr Harper: The Government are committed to bringing forward legislation to introduce a power to recall Members of Parliament where they have engaged in serious wrongdoing. We are currently considering what would be the fairest, most appropriate and robust procedure.
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the level of funding to be provided by her Department to the agricultural sector for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions under the Greenhouse Gas Action Plan in each of the next four financial years. [41933]
Mr Paice: In England, the farming industry has made a commitment to lead the way to drive down agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the Greenhouse Gas Action Plan. A framework for action was published in February 2010, and this outlines how reductions could be made through more resource-efficient practices, i.e. measures that involve simple changes at minimal or no extra cost to farmers. As well as enabling a reduction in emissions, these practices would also improve farmers' competitiveness.
The industry partnership is now working towards the publication of a Delivery Plan, which will set out how they intend to put the action plan into practice. DEFRA has advised and encouraged the partnership to produce a robust plan, and has supported its development by loaning a policy official to coordinate and facilitate its preparation.
As outlined in the business plan, DEFRA is committed to supporting and developing British farming, and this includes providing the necessary advice and knowledge to enable the sector to reduce on-farm emissions through measures that make good business sense. Additional financial support that DEFRA provides includes:
investing £12.6 million over a five-year period, in partnership with the devolved Administrations, to improve the agriculture Greenhouse Gas Inventory, which aims to strengthen our understanding of on-farm emissions, thus enabling better targeting of actions and fully capturing the positive actions that farmers are already taking;
commissioning a pilot project to develop and trial methods for delivering integrated environmental advice for farmers, which includes reducing GHG emissions.
Animal Welfare: Circuses
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she proposes to implement prohibitions on the use of wild animals in circuses. [41404]
Mr Paice: 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.
British Sugar
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with representatives of British Sugar. [38605]
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Mr Paice [holding answer 7 February 2011]:My officials have had regular contact with representatives of British Sugar, including in recent weeks, regarding the impact of the severe weather on beet supplies and processing.
Common Agricultural Policy
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of progress by the European Commission on publishing proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. [39389]
Mr Paice: I welcome the official start of negotiations on the future of the common agricultural policy (CAP) following the publication of the Commission's communication in November 2010. The UK has now considered and responded to these proposals; the response is available on DEFRA's website. Legislative proposals are due in summer of this year, and the UK will continue to work with the Commission to ensure ambitious reform of the CAP which will deliver good value for farmers, taxpayers, consumers and the environment.
Dairy Farming: Contracts
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce a mandatory code of practice highlighting best and worst practice in raw milk contracts. [41815]
Mr Paice: There are currently no plans to introduce a mandatory code of practice in relation to raw milk contracts.
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make mandatory the use of written contracts between farmers and dairy companies. [41816]
Mr Paice: Proposals on the use of written contracts between farmers and milk processors are currently progressing through the EU legislative process as part of the Commission’s proposed dairy package. As drafted, these would allow member states to decide whether or not to make such contracts compulsory in their territory.
The Government’s preference on contracts is for the least prescriptive approach, leaving the detail of contracts for contracting parties to agree. A decision on any domestic legislation relating to these proposals cannot be made until the legislation contained in the proposal is in its final form.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff have left her Department’s employ since May 2010. [42302]
Richard Benyon: 724 staff (679.38 full-time equivalents) left DEFRA and its Executive agencies between 31 May 2010 and 31 January 2011.
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The answer includes only those staff who were on the payroll of DEFRA or its Executive agencies. Unpaid staff, employment agency temporary workers and consultants are excluded.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff her Department employed at the latest date for which figures are available. [42383]
Richard Benyon: On 31 January 2011 the number of staff employed by DEFRA and its Executive agencies was (a) 9,716 (headcount) and (b) 9,147.81 full-time equivalents.
The answer includes only those staff who were on the payroll of DEFRA or its Executive agencies. Unpaid staff, employment agency temporary workers and consultants are excluded.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by her Department in May 2010. [42399]
Richard Benyon: On 31 May 2010 the number of staff employed by DEFRA and its Executive agencies was (a) 10,266 (headcount) and (b) 9,686.39 full-time equivalents.
The answer includes only those staff who were on the payroll of DEFRA or its Executive agencies. Unpaid staff, employment agency temporary workers and consultants are excluded.
Departmental Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations her Department introduced between 30 November 2010 and 8 February 2011. [42075]
Mr Paice: The Department made the following 12 statutory instruments between 30 November 2010 and 8 February 2011:
1. Inshore Fisheries and Conservation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2011 (SI 2011/177).
2. The Animal Welfare (Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes) (Appointed Day) Order 2011 (SI 2011/150).
3. The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2011 (SI 2011/95).
4. Uplands Transitional Payment Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1150).
5. The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/3033).
6. Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/3034).
7. Legislative and Regulatory Reform (Regulatory Functions) (Amendment) Order 2010 (SI 2010/3028).
8. Plant Health (England) (Amendment) (No 2) Order 2010 (SI 2010/2962).
9. Agriculture (Cross compliance) (No 2) Regulations 2009 (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2941).
10. Licensable Means of Fishing Order 2010 (SI 2010/2910).
11. Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (England) Regulations 2010 (SI2010/2693).
12. Spring Traps Approval (Variation) (England) Order 2010 (SI 2010/2882).
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Departmental Translation Services
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for which services provided by (a) her Department and (b) its associated public bodies interpreters provide services in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available. [42892]
Richard Benyon: Interpreters are commissioned on an ad hoc basis by individual Core DEFRA business units out of delegated budgets. Information on interpretations is not held centrally and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. Core does not hold this information for associated public bodies.
Fairtrade Initiative: Public Sector
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for International Development on the proposal to introduce a 50% minimum standard for fairly traded tea and coffee procured by central Government departments, prisons and the armed forces under Government Buying Standards. [41998]
Mr Paice: I have written to all Government Departments saying we will introduce Government Buying Standards for food and food services, with proposed criteria based around improving sustainability and ensuring value for money.
The Secretary of State for International Development and I agree that the Government Buying Standards should encourage the use of fairly traded tea and coffee, and current proposals are that at least 50% of tea and coffee supplied should be certified as such.
There is nothing to stop Departments from procuring more fairly traded goods than this minimum, however all Departments will want to ensure that increased costs to the taxpayer are minimised. We have asked for further evidence of equivalent costs to be submitted by the Fairtrade Foundation.
Fisheries: Quotas
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the (a) EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and (b) her Norwegian counterpart on catch quotas for fish. [42413]
Richard Benyon: As UK Fisheries Minister, I lead on discussions with our European counterparts on the discarding of fish and catch quotas.
The EU and Norway agreed their position on catch quotas at the annual bilateral meetings in December 2010. These meetings were attended by UK officials. The agreement was endorsed at the Fisheries Council in December where UK Ministers negotiated with the European Commission and member states to agree fishing opportunities for 2011. The importance of trialling the catch quota management system formed an important part of those negotiations.
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There will be further discussions at the High Level Political Meeting on Discards on 1 March with member state Ministers and the Commission on the topic of minimising discards, which will include catch quotas and the reform of the common fisheries policy. The UK will continue to lead the way within the EU on finding practical solutions to the discard issue.
Fisheries: Subsidies
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely level of grants for the fishing fleet in the next four years. [41754]
Richard Benyon: Based on current information, we estimate that the likely level of grants available to the UK fishing fleet over the next four years is around £38 million from the European Fisheries Fund. A further £19 million is available under the fund for aquaculture, inland fishing, processing and marketing, and sustainable development of fisheries areas. In addition we are paying light dues of around £135,000 a year and up to £342,000 in funding e-logbooks for over 15 metre vessels.
Flood Control
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which flood defence schemes under the improvement programme for 2011 to 2015 are being reviewed with a view to cancellation. [41833]
Richard Benyon: No schemes are being reviewed with a view to cancellation. All schemes already under construction will be completed.
Flood Control: Cornwall
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what expenditure her Department has incurred on West Cornwall Flood risk assets health and safety improvements; and if she will make a statement; [41485]
(2) what the cost to the public purse is of the Furze Brook Ottery St Mary culvert and screen improvements; [41559]
(3) what the cost to the public purse is of the Drakewalls Stream screen improvements; [41560]
(4) what the cost to the public purse is of the Braunton flood defence improvements; [41561]
(5) what the planned cost to the public purse is of the Sladesbridge stone wall repairs; [41600]
(6) what the planned cost to the public purse is of the (a) South Devon (b) North Devon and (c) East Cornwall flood risk assets health and safety improvements; [41601]
(7) what the planned cost to the public purse is of the Cornwall main river trash screens installation of closed circuit television cameras; [41602]
(8) what the planned cost to the public purse is of the Truro tidal defence improvements; [41603]
(9) what the planned cost to the public purse is of the Polperro trash screen improvements; [41604]
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(10) what the planned cost to the public purse is of the Stoke Canon River Culm flood alleviation scheme. [41605]
Richard Benyon: The following table for flood defence schemes within the South West Regional Flood Defence Committee programme indicates the total flood defence grant in aid required for each of the schemes listed.
DEFRA has national policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk management and provides funding through grant in aid to the Environment Agency, which also administers grant for capital projects to local authorities and internal drainage boards (collectively known as operating authorities).
| £ | ||
| Location | Spend to date | Funding required from 2011-12 onwards |
|
West Cornwall Flood risk assets health and safety improvements |
||
Flood Control: Finance
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department has allocated to flood defence schemes in each year of the spending review period; and if she will make a statement. [41835]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA is providing the Environment Agency with a capital budget of £258.8 million a year for the duration of the spending review period which will fund the majority of flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes. The Environment Agency also has a resource budget for spend on activities including maintenance of existing defences, flood forecasting, and incident response.
By the end of the period, DEFRA expects to spend at least £2.1 billion on flooding and coastal erosion risk management activity (including flood defence schemes, maintenance of existing defences, developing flood forecasting technologies and heightening public awareness of flood risk) and to improve protection for at least 145,000 homes.
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Foot and Mouth Disease: Disease Control
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on border controls to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease into the UK from other countries where there are outbreaks; which countries are subject to such border controls at present; and if she will make a statement. [41501]
Mr Paice [holding answer 17 February 2011]:Before a non-European Union (EU) country is approved to export to the EU, the exporting country must have acceptable disease status, the recognised standard for relevant control authorities and guarantees from the country with regard to compliance with EU import rules and results of EU missions to these countries.
All meat imported from non-EU countries must be accompanied by veterinary certification. Imports of products of animal origin (POAO) and live animals are checked at approved facilities at border inspection posts (BIPS).
All consignments of imported meat have a documentary check on the veterinary certification, and an identity check, to match the goods to the certification. A minimum of 20% of consignments of meat imported from non-EU countries undergoes a physical check by an official veterinary surgeon, and this rises to 50% for poultry and game. All consignments of live animals are physically checked. A random, non-discriminatory proportion (3%) of animals entering via a BIP are tested as part of compliance checks.
DEFRA’s International Disease Monitoring (IDM) monitors outbreaks of high impact diseases around the world. Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is among those diseases of major concern. When DEFRA becomes aware of a new animal disease outbreak in another country, we carry out an initial rapid risk assessment of the risk of introduction of that disease into the United Kingdom (UK) and may produce a preliminary outbreak assessment. If this preliminary assessment concludes that a full qualitative risk assessment is not justified, then we will publish the preliminary outbreak assessment here:
www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimai/diseases/monitoring/index.htm
There is a continual low risk of introduction of FMD into the UK and the EU from any affected region, including Africa, the Middle East and Central/East Asia, primarily through illegal imports. We currently consider that generally there would be a negligible risk of the introduction of FMD from an affected country through legal imports because of the system of approval and certification laid down in EU law for countries approved for export to the EU.
Since November 2010 to today, South Korea has reported over 140 outbreaks of FMD strain O across the country in a re-emergence of disease. North Korea has similarly recently reported FMD. The disease is considered endemic in several other Asian, African, Middle Eastern and South American countries and there are a few countries which are officially FMD free either with or without vaccination. Closer to home, outbreaks are occurring regularly in North Africa (eg Egypt and Libya) and the Middle East (eg Iran and Iraq) and Turkey has reported over 1,400 outbreaks of FMD in the last 12 months. In January 2011, an incursion into Bulgaria just two kilometres from the Turkish
28 Feb 2011 : Column 50W
border was reported to the European Commission. This incursion in wild boar and domestic animals has led to special protective measures being put in place by the EC for Bulgaria, in terms of biosecurity, transport and the movement of susceptible animals and POAO.
UK Border Agency (UKBA) is responsible for anti-smuggling checks at the Great Britain border on POAO. The Department for Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland (DARDNI) is responsible for these controls in NI. Personal imports of meat and dairy products (which may carry diseases such as FMD) are banned from outside of the EU.
UKBA frontline staff are employed as multifunctional anti-smuggling staff with a responsibility to tackle a range of risks at the border, including dealing with illegal imports of POAO. Enforcement staff are deployed on a mobile and flexible basis and, at major ports and airports, are supported by the use of detector dogs specifically trained to detect POAO, as well as X-ray technology.
DEFRA and UKBA continue to work together to ensure that UKBA delivers an enforcement strategy that targets the entry routes that pose the greatest threat of introducing animal disease (including FMD) and responds flexibly to changing patterns in risk. DEFRA provides UKBA with a bespoke global risk map that categorises countries into Red, Amber and Green risks according to the prevalence of animal diseases that can be transmitted in products. UKBA uses this map to inform its risk-based targeting activities. Countries considered endemic for FMD and other diseases, such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and African Swine Fever, are always on the list, but the list of countries is constantly being updated. UKBA also uses historical data on type of products seized, high-risk routings and origin, methods of concealment and risk trends; specific intelligence; results of operational checks; and information from other enforcement agencies.
UKBA also responds to specific disease notifications, such as serious disease outbreaks, for which it can increase controls if necessary. For example, following the recent outbreak of FMD in Bulgaria (part of the EU), we have worked with UKBA to reduce the risk of unregulated products entering the UK from the affected region. This is an exceptional measure as customs powers do not normally apply to intra-EU movements of POAO goods.
The re-emergence of FMD in Asia and the Middle East and the incursion into Bulgaria highlights in particular the importance of farmer awareness in observing good biosecurity and reporting disease promptly, as well as how problematic disease control is, once it has emerged. We will of course continue to monitor the situation and work closely with UKBA to reduce the risk of disease incursion.
Forestry Commission
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many acres of forest land the Forestry Commission owns in (a) Oxfordshire and (b) Oxford West and Abingdon constituency; and where such land is located. [38387]
Mr Paice: The following table lists the location, name, size and ownership type of land managed by the Forestry Commission in Oxfordshire. The Forestry Commission does not manage any land in the Oxford West and Abingdon constituency.
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| Grid Reference | Wood Name | Ownership Type (1) | Area (hectares) |
| (1 )The public forest estate is owned by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and placed at the disposal of the Forestry Commissioners under section (3)1 of the Forestry Act 1967. | |||
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what dates she has met Ministers in the Scottish Government to discuss the operation of the Forestry Commission since May 2010. [41433]
Mr Paice: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has regular correspondence with Scottish Ministers. She has not met them to discuss the operation of the Forestry Commission but I met Richard Lochhead MSP on 14 February 2011 to discuss matters including the Forestry Commission.
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of Forestry Commission woodlands has been sold since 2010. [41267]
Mr Paice: Since the end of 2010, 937 hectares of land has been sold by the Forestry Commission in England. This represents less than 1% of the Forestry Commission public forest estate.
Public Forest Estate: Sales
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she has to sell Forestry Commission land holdings of each type. [35474]
Mr Paice: The consultation on the future of the Public Forest Estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on the sale of land managed by the Forestry Commission in England in (a) West Midlands and (b) nationally. [38855]
Mr Paice [holding answer 9 February 2011]:Since the beginning of October last year we have received over 5,000 representations on the sale of the public forest estate.
We are not able to break these representations down into those that specify the sale of land managed by the Forestry Commission in the West Midlands.
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Forests: Endangered Species
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on protecting threatened or endangered species in forests in England owned by (a) the Forestry Commission and (b) private owners (i) in total and (ii) per 100,000 hectares of forest under each category of ownership in the last five years. [39048]
Mr Paice [holding answer 8 February 2011]: Spend on specific endangered species is not recorded separately but forms part of the wider spend on biodiversity. While all sustainable forest management can benefit biodiversity, the Forestry Commission has spent the money shown in the following table specifically for the benefit of biodiversity on the public forest estate.
| £ | ||
| Financial year | Spend on public forest estate | Spend per 100,000 hectares of public forest estate |
We do not collect data on the money spent by private owners on biodiversity in their forests.
Public Forest Estate: Sales
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hectares of Forestry Commission land have been put up for sale in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales, (d) England and (e) Yorkshire and the Humber since 6 May 2010; and how many hectares have attracted offers from or been sold to (i) private buyers, (ii) community or charitable bodies and (iii) other public bodies. [39049]
Mr Paice [holding answer 8 February 2011]: Forestry is a devolved matter and sale of land managed by the Forestry Commission in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the respective administrations. The Forestry Commission does not operate in Northern Ireland.
In England the Forestry Commission phases its asset sales programme over the year and the decision on the exact date that properties are placed on the market is made in conjunction with its selling agents. These dates were not recorded by the commission until July 2010. Since this time 2,037 hectares of land have been placed on the market, with 1,631 hectares being sold to private buyers and 114 hectares to public bodies. There have been no sales to community or charitable bodies in this period. In Yorkshire and the Humber 157 hectares have been placed on the market since July 2010 and 100 hectares have been sold to private buyers between 6 May 2010 and 10 February 2011.
The Forestry Commission does not record information on offers made to its agents prior to the final accepted offer. However, all of the remaining woodland from the 2010-11 sales programme is under various stages of completion. Of this, 170 hectares are “sale agreed” to community or charitable bodies and 969 hectares “sale agreed” to private buyers, including 194 hectares in Yorkshire and the Humber.
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Public Forest Estate: Timber
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the standing volume of wood supplies entering the market from the public forest estate in England was in each year since 1997; and what estimate the Forestry Commission has made of the volume to be sent to market in each of the next 10 years. [39129]
Mr Paice [holding answer 8 February 2011]: Timber production from the public forest estate in England by cubic metre overbark (i.e. the volume of wood including the bark) standing volume (as opposed to felled volume) from 1999 to 2000 is listed in the following table. The figures for earlier financial years are not available.
Estimated volume for future years from the Forestry Commission's 2005 production forecast is 1,430,000 cubic metre overbark standing for each year from 2011-12 to 20015-16 and 1,403,000 cubic metre overbark standing each year from 2017-18 to 2020-21.
|
|
Volume (1) (m (3) obs) |
| (1) Volume rounded to the nearest thousand (1,000). Volume measured in cubic metre overbark standing (m(3)obs). | |
Public Forest Estate: Sales
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the sale of woodland leased to the Forestry Commission. [39384]
Mr Paice: Leasehold land managed by the Forestry Commission would be considered for disposal on a case by case basis in line with the selection criteria for the 2011-12 asset sales programme. All sales are currently on hold until after the independent panel, which will be appointed to examine forestry policy in England, has reported in the autumn.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her proposed guarantee of continued certification of any woodland transferred from the public forest estate will be subject to the (a) Forest Stewardship Council and (b) programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification scheme. [39385]
Mr Paice: The consultation on the future of the public forest estate has been ended and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.
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Public Forest Estate: Access
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of established conifer plantations owned and managed by the Forestry Commission provide access opportunities for (a) walkers, (b) cyclists, (c) equestrians and (d) others. [40900]
Mr Paice [holding answer 14 February 2011]: The Forestry Commission does not record the provision of recreation facilities by tree species and age. Approximately, 160,000 hectares of the public forest estate benefit from access rights on foot through dedication under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. A further 26,000 hectares of access land in the New Forest predate the Act. The Forestry Commission estimates that over 163,000 hectares of the public forest estate have open, permit-free, access for horse riders. Cyclists are welcome on most of the areas where there is foot access and access for horse riders.
Public Forest Estate: Sales
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many acres of woodland or forest in (a) England, (b) Staffordshire and (c) Stafford constituency were sold by (i) the Forestry Commission and (ii) other public bodies in each of the last 13 years. [41062]
Mr Paice: I have placed documents in the House Library detailing the area of land sold by the Forestry Commission since 1997 by calendar year from 1997 to 2002 and by date of sale from 2003 to 2010.
DEFRA does not hold data on woodland or forest that was sold by other public bodies and we do not record sales by constituency.
Mr Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition of ancient is used in her Department’s consultation paper on forestry. [41838]
Mr Paice: The definition of ancient woodland used was
“woodland which has been in continuous existence since 1600AD”.
This is the standard classification used for the National Inventory of Ancient Woodlands maintained by Natural England.
The consultation on the future of the public forest estate has been halted. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to put in place arrangements to protect access rights to community woodland which is leased to the Forestry Commission under her proposals for the sale of the public forest estate. [41555]
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provision has been made in the consultation on the future of land operated by the Forestry Commission for respondents to state that they wish there to be no change in the current arrangements; and if she will make a statement. [42229]
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Mr Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what protection is in place for the preservation of ancient woodland in her proposals for the disposal of the public forest estate; [41935]
(2) which areas of woodland in Sherwood constituency are affected by her Department’s consultation paper on forestry. [41991]
Mr Paice: The consultation on the future of the public forest estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.
Public Forest Estate: Christchurch
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many access permits have been granted in respect of (a) ponies and traps and (b) horses by the Forestry Commission for access to (i) Hurn Forest, (ii) Sopley and Avon Common and (iii) Ramsdown Plantation since January 2010. [42197]
Mr Paice: Permits issued by the Forestry Commission in Dorset are not limited to individual woodlands, but are for all the freehold public forest estate in the county. Since January 2010 the Forestry Commission has issued 23 access permits for ponies and traps and 125 permits for horse riding.
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011, Official Report, column 706W, on land: Christchurch, how the book value of woodland on the public forest estate in Christchurch constituency is calculated. [42336]
Mr Paice: Book values for the woodland on the public forest estate are assessed by external valuers who carry out a sample valuation of a range of woodlands within each of the Forestry Commission’s forest districts. This is then used to give a single value per hectare valuation for the district. This hectare value is then applied to all woodland within that forest district.
Public Forest Estate: Access
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on ensuring that approved cycling clubs and organisers retain present levels of access to land managed by the Forestry Commission in the event of any sale of such land; and if she will make a statement. [40183]
Mr Paice [holding answer 11 February 2011]: The consultation on the future of the public forest estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.
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Public Forest Estate: North Yorkshire
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to designate (a) Dalby, (b) Cropton Forest and (c) Kielder Forest as protected Heritage Forests. [42373]
Mr Paice: The consultation on the future of the public forest estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.
Public Forest Estate: Nottinghamshire
Mr Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what ancient woodland in Sherwood constituency is owned by the Forestry Commission. [41934]
Mr Paice: The public forest estate is owned by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and placed at the disposal of the Forestry Commissioners under section (3)1 of the Forestry Act 1967.
There are two areas of ancient woodland, including restored plantation on ancient woodland sites, on the Forestry Commission public forest estate in Sherwood constituency. Cutts Wood is a 46 hectare block that is entirely ancient woodland. In addition, Birklands straddles the constituency boundary with 270 hectares of ancient woodland in the Sherwood constituency.
Mr Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ensure that the Forestry Commission publishes its recent reports on specific woodlands in Sherwood constituency. [41993]
Mr Paice: The Forestry Commission holds many reports on a wide range of issues relating to the management of its woodland and collects detailed information on all its woods as part of the Forest Design Plan preparation process. These plans set out how the woods should develop over the next 30 years and include felling and regeneration plans. The Forest Design Plans for the woods the Forestry Commission manages in the Sherwood constituency, the background information, and most other reports, are available for inspection at the local Forestry Commission office at Edwinstowe.
Public Forest Estate: Timber
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information her Department holds on the (a) volume of timber (i) of each species and (ii) from each forest in the public forest estate in the UK placed on the market in the latest period for which figures are available and (b) average price achieved in each case. [41228]
Mr Paice [holding answer 15 February 2011]:Forestry is a devolved matter and detailed records of timber production in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not held by DEFRA.
28 Feb 2011 : Column 57W
Figures for the volume of hard and softwood timber sales and the average price these achieved were provided in the answer I gave on 15 February 2011, Official Report, columns 704-05W. The Forestry Commission also compiles statistical information covering various aspects of forestry. This is published annually as Forestry Statistics and I will place a copy of Forestry Statistics 2010 in the Library of the House.
Public Forest Estate: Disease
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely effects on the levels of disease among the tree population of the implementation of her proposals for the disposal of Forestry Commission land. [39545]
Mr Paice: The consultation on the future of the public forest estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the information supplied to her under EC Regulation 1946/2003 by Oxitec prior to its transboundary shipment of genetically-modified mosquito eggs to (a) the Cayman Islands, (b) Malaysia, (c) India, (d) Brazil, (e) Singapore, (f) Thailand, (g) USA and (h) Vietnam. [36645]
Mr Paice: Exports of genetically modified organisms are only required to be notified to the UK Competent Authority under Regulation 1946/2003 if they are to be exported to a non-EU country for release into the environment. Exports of GMOs are not covered by this requirement if they are intended for contained use as was the case in respect of the shipment of mosquito eggs by Oxitec to Malaysia, India, Brazil, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. Information on the export of GM mosquito eggs to the Cayman Islands for release to the environment has already been placed in the Libraries of the House in response to a Lords parliamentary question from the Countess of Mar on 13 January 2011, Volume No. 723, Part No. 93.
Gun Sports
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the required conditions are for a cold weather ban on shooting; and what consultation takes place with representatives of shooting organisations in the event of such a ban. [41716]
Mr Paice:
Under section 2(6) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) the Secretary of State can introduce an order in England initiating a period (outside of the close season) of special protection for any birds included in part II of schedule 1, or part 1
28 Feb 2011 : Column 58W
of schedule 2 of the Act. A prolonged period of severe winter weather may require such a period of special protection.
The Meteorological Office records daily temperatures at a network of 22 meteorological stations throughout England, Scotland and Wales. On the 13th day of frozen conditions, if more than half of these meteorological stations are still reporting freezing conditions, a case is presented to the relevant Secretary of State requesting a suspension of waterfowl shooting due to the severe weather. Once the Statutory Instrument has been signed, it comes into force two days after the case was presented. Similar arrangements exist in Northern Ireland.
Under section 2(7) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) before making an order under subsection (6) the Secretary of State must consult a representative of persons interested in the shooting of wildfowl proposed to be protected by the order. Under these arrangements in England, Scotland and Wales the British Association of Scooting and Conservation (BASC) is considered to be the organisation that is able to represent persons interested in the shooting of birds that would be protected by any order. In Northern Ireland BASC, the Countryside Alliance—Ireland and the Scottish Association for Country Sports are all consulted, as representatives of the shooting and hunting community in Northern Ireland.
Hill Farming
Mel Stride: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps she has taken to support hill farmers. [41671]
Mr Paice: The Government set out their intention to develop affordable measures of support for hill farmers in DEFRA’s Structural Reform Plan. We will be announcing our proposals on this shortly as part of the conclusions of a review of policy on the English uplands.
Industrial Health and Safety: South West England
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to the public purse is of the Lower Axe area health and safety improvements to structures. [41534]
Richard Benyon: The Lower Axe area ‘Health and Safety Improvements to Structures’ project is being promoted by the Lower Axe Internal Drainage Board. The total scheme cost is £285,000. The Internal Drainage Board has applied to the Environment Agency for flood defence grant in aid funding at a 45% grant rate (for £130,000).
Irish Sea: Pollution
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress she has made on co-operation with the Irish government on monitoring pollution in the Irish Sea. [40952]
Mike Penning: I have been asked to reply.
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In November 2010, Ireland formally joined the BONN agreement, a joint agreement for co-operation in dealing with and monitoring oil pollution in the North sea and the Irish sea.
UK and Ireland have agreed to formulate the UKIRE plan which will provide communication and response co-operation plans between our two countries. The UKIRE plan has a target for completion of May 2011.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many pollution incidents involving discharges above 0.01 tonnes there have been in the Irish Sea since 28 July 2010; and what the (a) date, (b) size, (c) name of the company reporting the incident and (d) name of the company responsible for the incident was in each case; [40996]
(2) on what date each oil pollution incident in the Irish Sea occurred in each of the last 10 years; what quantity of oil was spilled in each case; and which company was responsible; [41223]
(3) what oil pollution incidents involving more than 0.01 tonnes of spillage there have been in the Irish Sea since 2007; on what dates each occurred; what the size of the spillage was; and which company (a) reported and (b) was responsible for each; [41224]
(4) how many oil pollution incidents there have been in the Irish Sea since March 2010; and what the (a) date, (b) size, (c) name of the company reporting the incident and (d) name of the company responsible for the incident was in each case. [40948]
Mike Penning: I have been asked to reply.
Statistical details on oil spills are gathered and collated by the Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea (ACOPS). ACOPS is an environmental non-government organisation which surveys reported discharges that can be attributed to vessels and offshore oil and gas installations operating in the United Kingdom Pollution Control Zone (UKPCZ).
ACOPS produces annual reports although the work of gathering, collating and analysing the material takes about 15 months. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) anticipates that the report for 2009 will be published next month. This report will be available on the MCA's website, together with the reports for earlier years.
The MCA generally only holds data on the source of the spill and does not routinely gather data about the company responsible for the oil spill.
Data requested for 2010, can be provided only at disproportionate costs.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) location and (b) size is of each type of armament dump identified in the Irish Sea. [41217]
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Peter Luff: I have been asked to reply.
MOD information on sea dumped munitions in the British Isles, including the Irish Sea, has been placed in the public domain; it can be accessed at the following internet address:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/HealthandSafetyPublications/SSDCD/SustainableDevelopmentPolicy/DisposalofMunitionsAtSea.htm
A copy of a list of publications available at the website address given has been placed in the Library of the House. The records show an historic munitions dump in the Irish Sea located in a region known as Beauforts Dyke as defined by Notice to Mariners No 4095 issued in 1945. Dumping of munitions ceased in 1973 when agreements were reached in the London and Oslo Conventions, with the exception of a small emergency dump in 1976.
Just to the south of the Irish Sea; three small dump sites are also listed as being located off the south west Welsh coast near Milford Haven.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many radioactive pollution incidents of each type in the Irish Sea have been recorded in each of the last 30 years. [41218]
Mike Penning: I have been asked to reply.
No radioactive pollution incidents of each type in the Irish sea have been recorded in any of the last 30 years.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the quantity of (a) synthetic chemicals, (b) mercury, (c) cadmium, (d) lead, (e) zinc, (f) nickel and (g) arsenic released into the Irish Sea from establishments in the UK in each year since 2007; and what targets have been established for reducing the quantity of each released. [41219]
Richard Benyon: The estimated riverine and direct loads of cadmium, mercury, lead, zinc, lindane and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) released into the Irish sea from 2007-09 (based on an average of the upper and lower values reported) are provided in the following table. The figures include natural sources of the metals and anthropogenic releases from point and diffuse sources. Loads can vary considerably depending on the amount of rainfall in a particular area over the year.
Consolidated information on UK loads of cadmium, mercury, lead, zinc, lindane and PCBs entering the marine environment from rivers and direct sources (sewage works and industrial discharges) in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland is available centrally and reported to the OSPAR convention for the protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic. We do not hold such information on loads of nickel and arsenic.
| Tonne | kg | |||||
|
|
Cadmium | Mercury | Lead | Zinc | Lindane (g-HCH) | Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) |
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Lead is designated as a priority substance under the water framework directive, and mercury, cadmium and lindane have been designated as priority hazardous substances (PHS). These substances are all subject to progressive reduction obligations under the directive. PHSs are subject to additional objectives with regard to stopping or phasing out discharges, emissions and losses.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2011, Official Report, columns 847-8W, what the (a) date and (b) location was of each category 1 and 2 pollution incident which had an effect on water in a catchment which flowed into the Irish Sea in 2010. [42690]
Richard Benyon: A copy of the data, provided by the Environment Agency, containing (a) date and (b) location of each category 1 and 2 pollution incidents which had an effect on water in a catchment which flowed into the Irish sea in 2010, has been placed in the Library.
Livestock: Animal Welfare
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish her Department's response to the report of the Advisory Group on Responsibility and Cost Sharing on livestock welfare. [41932]
Mr Paice: Ministers are considering the advisory group's recommendations carefully. An announcement will be made by April 2011 as set out in the Government's Structural Reform Plan.
Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what basis her Department consulted the Duchy of Cornwall on the proposals for the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009; and whether any amendments were made to legislative proposals in consequence. [41612]
Richard Benyon: If a Bill’s provisions affect the interests (hereditary revenues, personal property or other interests) of the Duchy of Cornwall, it is sometimes necessary to liaise with representatives of the Prince of Wales in order to obtain “Prince’s Consent”, as part of the parliamentary process.
Since the provisions of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 affect the interests of the Crown and the Duchy of Cornwall it was necessary to obtain both Queen’s and Prince’s Consent before the Bill was passed, and it was on this basis that the Department consulted representatives of the Duchy of Cornwall.
No amendments were made to the Bill as a consequence of this process.
Meat: Food Labelling
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the proposals from the European Parliament for meat from animals slaughtered without stunning to be labelled as such; and if she will make a statement. [41636]
Mr Paice [holding answer 17 February 2011]: The European Parliament proposal that meat from animals slaughtered without stunning should be labelled was made during the Parliament’s First Reading consideration of the Commission proposal for a Food Information Regulation. In December, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council met to reach a political agreement on the Food Information Regulations but member states did not discuss the European Parliament’s proposed amendment on method of slaughter labelling. As a result this proposal is not included in the common position that will be submitted to the European Parliament shortly.
The European Parliament will undertake its Second Reading on the Food Information Regulation in the coming months in its Environment Committee and then in Plenary. If the amendment on welfare labelling is retained by the European Parliament in its Second Reading, the proposal will then go to Council for consideration.
We believe people should know what they are buying in shops or when they are eating out, and I have had discussions with the supermarkets and the food and catering industries about the role labelling and point of sale information can play in giving consumers a greater choice. All agree this is a difficult, complex and sensitive issue that cannot easily be resolved in view of the many competing interests involved. We will be looking at this further but will need to consider the impact of existing EU meat labelling Regulations, before any final decisions are taken.
Milk: EU Action
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the proposals of the EU Commission to enhance the collective bargaining power of dairy farmers in contractual arrangements made with purchasers of their milk. [41931]
Mr Paice: The Government agree that some rebalancing of negotiating power in the dairy sector could be welcome. Under the Commission proposals, milk producers could collaborate and set up producer organisations. This would be a good opportunity to enhance their bargaining power.
As for the scale of negotiations between milk producers and processors, we would prefer to see measures based on providing greater clarity of existing competition law and what producers may do collectively, based on the
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concept of a relevant market, rather than the Commission's approach of exemption from competition law and limits based upon national milk production. This would improve producers' bargaining power within the existing law.
With regard to written contracts, the Government agree with the Commission that member states should be free to decide whether to make them compulsory.