| Table C : Offences currently (1) recorded as homicide involving the use of a knife or sharp instrument, 1997-98 to 2009-10 | |||||||||||||
| England and Wales, Recorded crime (number) | |||||||||||||
| Police force area, England and Wales | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
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| (1) As at 28 September 2010; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. | |||||||||||||
Local Government Finance
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much each local authority received from each (a) revenue and (b) capital funding stream from her Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; how much funding her Department allocated from each such stream in each year; and what the change was in the level of funding in each such stream between those years in (A) cash and (B) real terms. [49251]
Damian Green: The following table shows the combined resource (revenue) and capital funding for ‘Support for Local Authorities’ included in the (published) 2010-11 and the 2011-12 estimate. It also shows the change in funding in both cash and real terms.
| Home Office area providing support for local authorities | Reference in Home Office supply estimate (£000) | 2010-11 estimate (£000) | 2011-12 estimate (£000) | Increase/(decrease) in cash terms (£000) | Movement in cash terms (percentage) | Movement in real terms (percentage) |
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To produce a detailed list of funding changes for every local authority individually would incur disproportionate cost to the Home Office. However, the breakdown of funding by police force is available within the published “Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2010/11” and “Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2011/12”.
As the 2010-11 financial year is still in progress, we are not yet able to provide final spend to local authorities for this financial year; out-turn against the estimate will be published in the 2010-11 annual report and accounts.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to the letter of 21 February 2011, on visas for overseas students. [48891]
Damian Green [holding answer 24 March 2011]:I wrote to the hon. Member on 25 March 2011.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister for Immigration plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 17 February 2011 on Mrs Saima Noreen Rashid. [49773]
Damian Green: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 25 March 2011.
National Wildlife Crime Unit: Finance
Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department plans to provide for the National Wildlife Crime Unit in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13. [49543]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office will provide the following:
(a) £144,000 in 2011-12; and
(b) £136,000 in 2012-13.
Offences Against Children
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with her European counterparts on establishing joint investigation teams to investigate abuse and exploitation of children overseas. [49401]
Damian Green: The UK Government are strongly committed to tackling human trafficking, and police led joint investigations that have been established with our European counterparts to investigate the abuse and exploitation of children is an approach that has proven to be highly effective.
The success of Operation Golf in safeguarding trafficked children from ongoing exploitation is a testament to the value of joint investigations and the new Human Trafficking Strategy will place renewed emphasis on the upstream elements of our approach to tackling these important issues.
Offences Against Children: British Nationals Abroad
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has plans to review the effectiveness of legislation governing the prosecution of British nationals who commit sexual offences against children overseas. [49402]
James Brokenshire: The legislation was strengthened through the Policing and Crime Act 2009, to restrict overseas travel of sex offenders and through the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, to remove the condition of dual criminality so that a prosecution can be brought in this country even though the act committed was not an offence that took place in the UK.
We will work with the police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure they utilise these powers fully.
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British nationals were arrested on suspicion of crimes of sexual abuse and exploitation of children overseas in the last five years. [49437]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office does not hold this information centrally. The investigation of suspected sexual abuse and exploitation of children overseas is not distinguished from domestic investigations on police data systems.
Departmental Theft
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what items with a value of over £100 have been taken without authorisation from her Department since her appointment; and what steps have been taken to recover such items. [48439]
Damian Green: Information Communications Technology (ICT) items with an estimated value of over £100 in the following table were reported as having been taken between 12 May 2010 and the end of December 2010. Figures are collated and checked quarterly and are not yet available for the last quarter.
Arrangements for the management of physical assets other than ICT across the Home Office estate vary, and central data on thefts and losses are therefore collated annually at the end of the financial year. Further information cannot, therefore, be provided now, other than at disproportionate cost.
There have been no reported incidents of personal items over the value of £100 being taken without authorisation.
Action taken to recover any missing item will depend on the circumstances in which it was taken but will include referral to the police.
29 Mar 2011 : Column 233W
| Items stolen between 12 May and 31 December 2010 | ||||
|
|
Core Home Office | UKBA | Identity and Passport Service | Criminal Records Bureau |
Theft: Motor Vehicles
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures her Department has in place to identify cars registered in Great Britain which are stolen and subsequently offered for sale in other European countries. [49551]
James Brokenshire: The police share information on vehicles stolen in the UK with Interpol. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) shares information with participating member states via the EUCARIS system (European Car and Driving Licence Information System). This allows authorities in participating member states, when registering a vehicle, to check if it has been stolen.
UK Border Agency
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the implementation of the UK Border Agency’s gender-based guidelines; and if she will make a statement. [49747]
Damian Green: A revised gender asylum instruction (gender issues in the asylum claim) was produced in September 2010. Training material for decision-makers has been updated in line with the revised gender asylum instruction. A six-month quality audit review on gender asylum claims will report in May 2011. This will establish how well decision-makers are implementing the new guidelines on gender.
In relation to the provisions within the immigration rules for victims of domestic violence the Home Office definition of domestic violence is referred to in the guidance which applies to all applicants regardless of gender.
Justice
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
20. Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress his Department has made in its review of the work of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. [49340]
Mr Blunt: We are not reviewing the work of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. We are reviewing the terms of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. We intend to bring forward proposals in due course.
Magistrates: Expenses
21. Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has for reform of the payment of expenses to and compensation for time given by magistrates; and if he will make a statement. [49341]
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Mr Djanogly: Clearly the time given voluntarily by magistrates is of significant value in supporting the criminal justice system. We want magistrates to be suitably recompensed for out of pocket expenditure when they provide public service. We are considering changes to the current expenses system, in consultation with the magistracy, with a view to aligning current rates payable to those common across the public, private and the third sectors. We believe such changes better accord with public expectations around payment of expenses and HMRC guidance.
There are currently no plans to reform financial loss allowances, which compensate magistrates for loss of earnings in respect of their volunteered time.
Access to Legal Redress
22. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to ensure equal access to legal redress. [49342]
Mr Djanogly: My hon. Friend’s question potentially covers almost every area covered by my Department. However, of topical note are the consultations on both Lord Justice Jackson’s proposals for civil costs and the reform of legal aid.
Final impact and equality assessments will be published alongside our responses to the consultations, which will set out the way forward.
Imprisonment: Public Protection
24. Karen Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners serving indeterminate sentences of imprisonment for public protection have completed their tariffs. [49344]
Mr Blunt: On 17 November 2010, there were 6,375 prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection or Detention for Public Protection in prisons or secure hospitals. 3,173 of those prisoners are held beyond their tariff expiry date, excluding offenders who have been recalled to custody following release.
Public Order Offences
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to increase the length of sentences which may be handed down for public order offences. [49343]
Mr Blunt: We have no plans to increase the maximum penalties for public order offences. Sentencing in individual cases is entirely a matter for the courts, taking account of sentencing guidelines issues by the independent Sentencing Council and of all the circumstances of each case.
Alternatives to Prison
Philip Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2011, Official Report, column 1283W, on sentencing, what advice the Sentencing Guidelines Council issues to magistrates and judges in circumstances where an offender (a) has no fixed abode and a curfew or
29 Mar 2011 : Column 235W
unpaid work would be appropriate and
(b)
has advised the court of plans to leave the UK for a long time or permanently. [49415]
Mr Blunt: The Sentencing Guidelines Council issued Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines in 2008. These do not contain advice specific to the circumstances detailed in the question. They do advise magistrates that the requirements imposed in a community order must be suitable for the individual offender and, among other things, will be influenced by the ability of the offender to comply, and the availability of the requirements in the local area. The guidelines also advise that whenever the court reaches the provisional view that a community order may be appropriate, it should usually request a pre-sentence report from probation. The pre-sentence report will provide information on the offender that will help the court to decide whether to impose a community order and, if so, whether particular requirements are suitable for an individual offender.
Birds of Prey: Conservation
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions there have been for the illegal killing of birds of prey in each of the last five years. [49606]
Mr Blunt: The number of defendants proceeded against at the magistrates court for offences related to the protection of wild birds under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, England and Wales, in 2005 to 2009 (latest available), is provided in the following table.
Data held centrally on the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database do not include information about the circumstances behind each case other than that which may be identified from a statute. It is not possible to separately identify birds of prey from other species.
Please note that court proceedings data for 2010 are planned to be published in the spring of 2011.
| Number of defendants proceeded against at the magistrates court for offences under section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (1) ,England and Wales, 2005-09 (2,3) | |||||
| Statute | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 (4) | 2009 |
| (1) Offences include: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, section 1 Protection of wild birds Protection of nests and eggs of wild birds (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice | |||||
Bribery Act 2010
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to publish guidance on corporate hospitality under the Bribery Act 2010. [49875]
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Mr Djanogly: The issue of corporate hospitality will be covered in the guidance I will be publishing shortly under section 9 of the Bribery Act about commercial organisations preventing bribery. This will make clear that corporate hospitality which seeks to improve the image of a commercial organisation, better to present products and services, or establish cordial relations, is recognised as an established and important part of doing business, and it is not the intention of the Act to criminalise such behaviour.
Civil Proceedings: Legal Aid
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was paid from civil legal aid budgets in disbursements in the last three years for which figures are available. [49435]
Mr Djanogly: The information is provided in the following table.
| £ million | |||
|
|
2007-08 (1) | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| (1) Disbursements under legal help in 2007-08 cannot be disaggregated from the tailored fixed fee scheme whereby a single fixed fee was paid which included the disbursement. | |||
Legal Aid
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) with reference to his Department’s impact assessment on the Green Paper on legal aid reform, in which year the total number of legal aid cases cited as the baseline figure for this assessment were brought; [49358]
(2) if he will calibrate the figures in his Department’s impact assessment on proposed changes to legal aid on the basis of March 2010 data; [49359]
(3) how many people will lose access to civil legal aid as a result of the proposals in the Green Paper, Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales; [49361]
(4) what criteria his Department used to calculate the number of people that would lose access to legal aid under the proposals in the Green Paper, Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales; [49362]
(5) how many people will be affected by changes proposed in the November 2010 Green Paper, Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales. [49363]
Mr Djanogly: The Impact Assessments were based on 2008-09 closed case data.
It is our intention to publish final impact assessments alongside the Government’s finalised proposals, and these will be based on 2009-10 financial data.
The Impact Assessments published alongside the consultation paper contain estimates of the potential impacts of the proposals in addition to details on the methodology used in assessing the potential impacts of the proposals.
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National Probation Service for England and Wales: Contracts
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) on what occasions W.S. Atkins have breached the terms of the contract for maintenance and cleaning of and catering in the probation estate in each year of the contract; and what subsequent action was taken in each case; [49360]
(2) if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of terminating the contract with W.S. Atkins for maintenance, cleaning and catering in the probation estate; [49455]
(3) what plans his Department has for letting the next contract for maintenance, cleaning and catering in the probation estate; [49456]
(4) when the existing contract for maintenance, cleaning and catering on the probation estate is due to end. [49458]
Mr Blunt: Atkins fulfils an asset management function for the probation service and provides a 24-hour accommodation help desk supporting the management of the probation estate. It does not provide a maintenance, cleaning or catering service.
Responsibility for facilities management (FM) (including maintenance, cleaning and catering) lies with Amey and Interserve FM. These contracts have a term of five years from 30 June 2008, optionally extendable by two years. Contract payments for Amey, Atkins and Interserve are linked to performance. Plans for their succession are at an early stage and details are not yet available.
Offenders: Rehabilitation
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department raised from investors in order to run the Peterborough Social Impact Bond payment by results pilot. [49826]
Mr Blunt: The Department has not raised any money from investors to run the Social Impact Bond pilot at Peterborough prison. The money was raised by Social Finance whose investors will receive a return on their investment from the Department if the bond achieves the required reduction in reoffending.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has underwritten the Social Impact Bond payment by results pilot at Peterborough prison. [49827]
Mr Blunt: The Department has not underwritten the Social Impact Bond pilot at Peterborough prison. Investors managed by Social Finance bear the implementation and operational costs of the scheme and will receive a return on their investment from the Department if the bond achieves the required reduction in reoffending. Otherwise no payment will be made.
Prisoners: European Court of Human Rights
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners held in UK prisons have cases (a) before and (b) pending at the European Court of Human Rights. [49638]
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Mr Djanogly: The Government do not keep statistics on how many applicants to the European Court of Human Rights are prisoners held in UK prisons.
The Government do not receive details of all applications made to the Court. In particular, the Government are not advised of the details of a significant number of applications that are declared inadmissible by the Court. This may include applications made by prisoners held in UK prisons. In relation to those applications which have been communicated to the Government by the Court, the information communicated may not always reveal whether the applicant is a prisoner in a UK prison, although we would normally expect this to be apparent from the facts of the case.
Prisons: Drugs
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions in each of the past three years illicit drugs have been discovered inside HM Prison Full Sutton. [49637]
Mr Blunt: There have been a total of 46 finds of substances presumed to be illicit drugs at Full Sutton over the last three years: 18 finds in 2010; 15 finds in 2009; and 13 finds in 2008.
Reoffenders
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2011, Official Report, columns 1280-1W, on sentencing, how many of the offenders recalled and returned to custody in the period from 1 July 2010 to 30 September 2010 were recalled to serve (a) their full sentence and (b) a shorter sentence. [49442]
Mr Blunt: Of the 4,163 offenders recalled between 1 July and 30 September 2010, 4,050 were returned to custody by 31 December 2010. Offenders recalled to custody are given review hearings by the Parole Board to determine whether to uphold the recall or re-release offenders. Written outcomes of these hearings are recorded centrally but are not collated. Collating data would exceed cost limits.
Social Security Benefits: Appeals
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his assessment is of (a) current and (b) future demand for First Tier social security tribunal services in (i) Torbay and (ii) Devon. [49460]
Mr Djanogly: Demand for social security and child support (SSCS) is forecast nationally. Therefore, the Tribunals Service does not hold information on demand for SSCS services within either Torbay or Devon. Nationally we expect to receive about 415,000 SSCS appeals over the financial year 2010-11 and to receive 422,000 in 2011-12. The Tribunals Service has responded strongly to this additional demand by increasing its capacity to dispose of appeals through the recruitment of additional staff and judiciary as well as a range of business improvements. The number of cases disposed of has increased by 36% from 222,300 in April 2009-January 2010, to 302,700 in April 2010-January 2011.
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animals: Clones
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward proposals to implement the European Parliament’s proposal to ban the sale of meat and dairy products from cloned animals and their descendants; and if she will make representations in support of this proposal at the EU Agriculture Council. [49207]
Mr Paice [holding answer 28 March 2011]:Food from cloned animals is currently regulated under the EU Novel Food Regulation and must be approved before it can be marketed. There have been no applications in any EU member states to authorise food from any cloned animals.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the European Food Safety Authority have advised that, for cattle and pigs, current evidence suggests that meat and milk from healthy clones or healthy descendants of clones is as safe as that from traditionally bred animals. The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes reached the same conclusion on 25 November 2010.
The Government’s position is that a ban or temporary suspension on the sale of food from cloned animals and their descendants would be disproportionate in terms of food safety and animal welfare.
The Government consider that EU welfare legislation is sufficient to deal with any welfare issues that may arise for the clone or the surrogate dam.
Biofuels
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the proportion of agriculture in the UK that provides biofuels in the latest period for which figures are available. [49635]
Mr Paice: DEFRA does not collect definitive figures on the area of crops grown for the production of biofuels in the UK.
Some information on the area of oilseed rape grown for use in biofuel production is available from the Energy Aid scheme. The latest published information shows that in 2009 there were almost 86,000 hectares of oilseed rape grown under this scheme in England. This is equivalent to around 16% of the total area of oilseed rape grown in England and less than 2% of the total croppable area in England. These figures may not capture all oilseed rape grown for biofuel production; only that declared under this particular scheme. Oilseed rape grown on other land which may have been used for biofuel production is not known because there is no way of identifying the end use of the crop.
Sugar beet is grown in the UK for bioethanol production. In 2009 we estimated that around seven thousand hectares was used to produce bioethanol. This is equivalent to around 6% of the total area of sugar beet grown in the UK and less than 0.2% of the total croppable area in England. It should be noted that this is a derived figure that includes an element of data extrapolation rather than final figures.
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A UK biorefinery using wheat to produce bioethanol started production in 2009 but we are unable to provide information on its wheat use since this would breach data confidentiality requirements.
Carbon Emissions
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support her Department is providing to encourage the up-take of low-carbon and energy efficient equipment and machinery in the agricultural sector in each of the next four financial years. [48588]
Mr Paice: DEFRA is committed to ensuring that the agricultural sector reduces its greenhouse gas emissions through the adoption of more resource-efficient practices, such as more targeted application of nitrogen fertilisers and matching nutrition needs to that of livestock. Such practices make good business sense and often meet other environmental objectives, on water quality, air quality and conservation, for example.
The Government are also keen for farm businesses to improve their energy efficiency through the uptake of low-carbon and energy efficient equipment. We are working closely with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), which leads on energy policy, to ensure that its policies include farm businesses.
Alongside this, the enhanced capital allowance (ECA) scheme provides 100% first year capital allowances for businesses purchasing qualifying energy-saving plants and machinery. Further details are available on the Energy Technology List website:
www.eca.gov.uk/etl
HM Treasury leads on the ECA scheme and DECC is responsible for the Energy Technology List.
Charities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department provided to each charity it funds in each of the last five years; and how much she has allocated for funding to each such charity in each of the next five years. [48292]
Richard Benyon: Grants to charities are awarded by all of DEFRA’s delivery bodies, and information regarding these grants are held by the relevant delivery bodies, rather than being held centrally. DEFRA’s accounting system records expenditure with charities, but does not distinguish between direct funding for activities and payment for goods and services. The detailed data for the last five years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In addition, DEFRA does not have information available on how much will be spent with individual charities over the next five years.
Dairy Farming: Milk
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking in relation to the price for milk paid to dairy farmers. [49550]
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Mr Paice: The Government are not involved in setting milk prices; these are the result of commercial decisions. However the market must work fairly and be transparent. I am working with the Dairy Supply Chain Forum to try to achieve this.
We are also establishing a Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) to monitor and enforce the Groceries Supply Code of Practice. The GCA will investigate complaints from anyone in the supply chain who is directly or indirectly affected by a breach of the Code and can deal with them anonymously. This means suppliers from both the UK and overseas will be able to complain confidentially for the first time about breaches of the Code. A Bill is currently being drafted.
Departmental Redundancy
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many civil servants in her Department have been offered voluntary redundancy since April 2010; and if she will make a statement. [49193]
Richard Benyon: Since April 2010, as at 17 March 2011, nine civil servants in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies have been offered voluntary redundancy. Of these, a total of five accepted the offer.
For the same period, 429 civil servants in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies have been offered voluntary departure packages. Of these, a total of 41 have accepted.
Uptake of acceptance from the remaining individuals will not be known until 31 March 2011 at the latest.
Departmental Theft
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what items with a value of over £100 have been taken without authorisation from her Department since her appointment; and what steps have been taken to recover such items. [48443]
Richard Benyon: Official items lost or stolen are all recorded as ‘losses’. The following table shows reported losses in DEFRA and its network bodies, with an estimated value of over £100 (at the time of loss). Figures are from 12 May 2010 to 21 March 2011.
| Description | Quantity |
All reported incidents are investigated and if theft is suspected these are reported to the police. Staff are advised to report to the police losses of equipment while out of the office.
Farmers
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on farmers establishing co-operatives. [49556]
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Mr Paice: The Government strongly support the concept of collaboration by farmers. However decisions about whether or not to establish an agricultural co-operative can only be made on a commercial basis by the individual farmer, or group of farmers concerned. While the co-operative business model may not suit everyone, it is widely acknowledged that farmer-owned co-operatives and other forms of collaborative enterprise can offer a number of important benefits. These include increased purchasing and negotiating power for their members and the ability to enhance their members' returns by investing in facilities that give added value to their products. Support for co-operation and for the establishment of supply chain collaboration has been provided, and will continue to be provided, under the rural development programme for England.
Farmers: Common Agricultural Policy
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to consult farmers on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; and if she will make a statement. [49545]
Mr Paice: DEFRA Ministers and officials regularly discuss reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with a range of UK stakeholders, including farmers. The European Commission is expected to release regulatory proposals on the future of the CAP post-2013 towards the end of this year. DEFRA’s intention is to consult UK stakeholders on these proposals and I would encourage farmers to make their views known.
Farmers: Nitrates
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost to farmers of establishing new nitrate vulnerable zones; and if she will make a statement. [49547]
Richard Benyon: The current nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) designations and Nitrates Action programme came into force on 1 January 2009 through the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2008. The annual cost to the agricultural sector of implementing these regulations was estimated as being from £48.5 million to £68.6 million.
The actual cost is likely to be less than the range estimated for two reasons:
(i) the total area of land eventually designated as NVZs comprises 62% of England, rather than the 70% on which the 2008 estimates were based; and
(ii) Britain successfully negotiated a derogation from the livestock manure N farm limit (one of the more demanding requirements set by the nitrates directive), which could reduce the costs to the dairy sector by up to £21.7 million a year.
Fly-tipping
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information her Department holds on the (a) level and (b) types of fly-tipped waste recovered from (i) public and (ii) private land which was (A) recycled and (B) sent to landfill in 2010-11. [49886]
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Richard Benyon: Local authorities are required to report the number and size of fly-tipping incidents they deal with, the waste type involved, the land category on which the incident occurs and any enforcement action taken. The Environment Agency also reports the larger scale and hazardous fly-tipping incidents it deals with. There is no requirement for private landowners to report fly-tipping data to Government, though some do on a voluntary basis.
The fly-tipping official statistics for England are published on the DEFRA website; the latest published data are for 2009-10. Information for 2010-11 is still being collected.
A breakdown of the number of incidents and types of waste reported to the Fly capture data recording system by local authorities, the Environment Agency and a limited number of private landowners in England in 2009-10 is provided in the following table:
| Number of incidents recorded by: | |||
| Waste type | Local authorities | Environment Agency | Private landowners |
Local authorities report how much of their waste overall is recycled or sent to landfill but this information is not available specifically for fly-tipped waste.
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidences of fly-tipping were recorded on (a) public and (b) private land in each local authority area in 2010-11. [49887]
Richard Benyon: Tables detailing the number of incidents of fly-tipping recorded by (i) local authorities (ii) the Environment Agency and (iii) private landowners, on public and private land by local authority area for 2009-10 have been deposited in the House Library. Information for 2010-11 is still being collected.
Food: Waste
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the contribution of food waste to greenhouse gas emissions in each of the last four years. [49238]
Richard Benyon:
The report ‘The Water and Carbon Footprint of Household Food Waste in the UK’, jointly published in March 2011 by the Waste and Resources
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Action Programme (WRAP) and the WWF, estimates that the associated greenhouse gas emissions for avoidable and possibly avoidable household food waste are 25.7 million tonnes CO2 equivalent; of this, 20 million tonnes CO2 equivalent is estimated to be from avoidable food waste.
‘Waste arisings in the supply of food and drink to households in the UK’, a report published by WRAP in March 2010, estimates that a further 10 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions is associated with supply chain food waste.
These figures are not available for earlier years, and no estimates have been made to cover all waste streams.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to reduce levels of food waste over the comprehensive spending review period. [49239]
Richard Benyon: The Government are reviewing all aspects of waste policy and delivery in England, including food waste, with a principal aim of ensuring we are taking the right steps towards a ‘zero waste economy’. Preliminary findings of the review will be published in May 2011.
The Government have meanwhile been continuing to focus on preventing food waste arising wherever possible. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), our key delivery body on waste, continues to work with retailers and manufacturers via the ‘Courtauld Commitment’, and to provide useful advice and information to households to help them waste less via the ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ campaign.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of levels of food waste in each of the last four years. [49242]
Richard Benyon: Our understanding of food waste levels is constantly changing as new evidence comes to light. Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) research estimated that total food waste in the UK was 18-20 million tonnes in 2009; by 2010 with newer data this was revised down to an estimate of 16 million tonnes.
8.3 million tonnes of this is household food waste and 3.57 million tonnes arises from manufacture, retail and distribution. The remainder comes from areas such as the hospitality sector, prisons, schools and other public sector premises, agriculture, and horticulture.
We will continue to update our figures as new data/evidence comes to light.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce a national strategy for the reduction of food waste. [49243]
Richard Benyon: The Government are developing a renewed strategy for all waste including food waste as part of the Waste Review. Preliminary findings of the review will be published in May 2011.
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To date, the Government have sought to manage food waste in line with the waste hierarchy, which ranks waste management methods in order of environmental preference. Food waste prevention is better, environmentally, than any current treatment option, and sits at the top of the hierarchy. It can also offer financial benefits to businesses and households. The Government are currently working with the food industry and the public to reduce avoidable food waste via, for example, the ‘Courtauld Commitment’ and the Love Food Hate Waste campaign.
Marines
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the process is for the designation of marine protected areas; how her Department monitors the operation of the process; and if she will make a statement. [49569]
Richard Benyon: The process of designation of European marine sites (Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas) is set out in the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives and the associated guidance issued by the European Commission. These directives are primarily transposed by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 2007 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Proposals for all sites and their associated impact assessments are subject to public consultation. Recommendations for sites are made to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by the Government’s statutory nature conservation bodies (SNCBs) based upon the best available scientific evidence. DEFRA considers whether the recommendations meet the criteria set out in the directives. It should be noted that socio-economic factors cannot be taken into account in selecting sites. If suitable, the sites are put forward to the European Commission for designation.
The principles for designation of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) are set out in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. For the areas where the Secretary of State has responsibility for selecting MCZs, the SNCBs—Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee—have set up four regional MCZ projects to identify potential sites and have provided guidance on the process that should be followed. Each project has established stakeholder groups made up of a variety of key stakeholders in their regions to examine the evidence and put forward site recommendations and associated impact assessments. In November 2011, the SNCBs are due to come forward with their statutory conservation advice on the creation of MCZs and formally submit the regional stakeholder project recommendations and impact assessments to DEFRA. These recommendations will be based on the best available evidence, and the impacts on social and economic factors will also be considered. The independent Science Advisory Panel will comment on the extent to which these recommendations would contribute to an ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas in the UK. Government officials will consider this information and make recommendations to Ministers on proposals for a formal consultation exercise to be held in early 2012. The Government will take final decisions in light of responses to that exercise.
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Nitrates: Rivers
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the levels of nitrates in rivers; and if she will make a statement. [49546]
Richard Benyon: Levels of nitrates in waters are assessed every four years, in accordance with the requirements of the nitrates directive.
The most recent assessment was made in 2008 and related to the period 2006-2007. This assessment showed that one third of the 6,929 surface water monitoring stations had maximum nitrate concentrations above 50mg/l nitrate, which is the threshold set by the directive as an indicator of polluted water. All land draining to polluted waters must be designated as a nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ).
We are reviewing the designation of NVZs. The next assessment of levels of nitrates in rivers will be available in 2012, and any changes to NVZ designations will come into effect from January 2013.
Ouse Washes
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the environmental assessment of the Ouse washes on which her Department based its conclusion that there was a risk of a breach of European law without action including the purchase of farmland. [49421]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 28 March 2011]:I have arranged for a copy of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Report for the Ouse Washes Habitat Creation Project to be placed in the House Library.
Poultry
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to (a) protect and (b) increase the hen harrier population. [49404]
Richard Benyon: In England the hen harrier “Circus cyaneus” is an extremely rare bird and is afforded strong protection under domestic legislation and European directives which together provide a powerful framework for the protection of the birds, their eggs, nests and habitats. This includes two Special Protection Areas classified in part for their breeding hen harrier populations. In addition to this legal protection, raptor persecution is currently one of the UK’s wildlife crime priorities as part of the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime.
A number of measures are being taken to increase the hen harrier population. In 2002 Natural England launched the Hen Harrier Recovery Project which aims to investigate the factors limiting hen harrier population growth and develop jointly agreed solutions with stakeholders to enable hen harrier recovery. It has set up a programme of stakeholder dialogue facilitated by the Environment Council (an independent charity which works with different organisations, including Government and non-governmental organisations, with the objective of reaching a sustainable solution) to find ways improve hen harrier
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population growth alongside the needs of grouse moor managers. DEFRA contributed £3,680 to this work in the 2010-11 financial year. In addition, the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project, supported by Natural England, seeks to demonstrate whether an economically viable grouse moor can be managed alongside a hen harrier population.
The management of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) ensures that the breeding and wintering habitats of hen harriers are in favourable conservation status.
The Environment Council is carrying out a scoping study to investigate the potential of using rearing facilities as a tool for improving the conservation status of hen harriers and DEFRA has allocated £10,000 to this work in the 2011-12 financial year.
Rural Payments Agency
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what target the Rural Payments Agency has set for time taken to deal with enquiries; and how long it took the Rural Payments Agency to respond to enquiries on average in the latest period for which figures are available. [49536]
Mr Paice: The Rural Payments Agency has a published target to reply to written correspondence within 15 working days of its receipt.
During February 2011 the agency responded to 95.5% of written correspondence within 15 days.
In the same period 88.3% of incoming calls to the agency’s customer service centre were resolved during the first call.
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms she has put in place to ensure that advice given by the Rural Payments Agency is accurate. [49444]
Mr Paice: The Rural Payments Agency provides information to its customers in a number of different ways. It responds to written correspondence and to inquiries made to its customer service centre. There is comprehensive information and guidance available on the agency’s website and in the various guidance booklets which are issued to customers.
The agency ensures that its people who deal with customers have appropriate training both in customer service and in the relevant subject matter. They also have access to scheme instructions which are developed in accordance with relevant legislation and policy. Managers undertake an appropriate level of quality checks within each different area of operation to ensure that guidance is correct and that areas for improvement or clarification are identified.
Rural Payments Agency: Information and Communications Technology
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to improve the Rural Payments Agency’s IT systems. [49445]
Mr Paice:
The Rural Payments Agency makes use of a considerable number of IT systems, reflecting its responsibility for administering over 60 common
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agricultural policy schemes, as well as other activities, such as livestock tracing. Last July the Government publicised the results of a review of the RPA, which included a detailed report on the agency’s IT systems. The report can be located at the DEFRA website. The report included a number of specific recommendations on future system requirements, which the agency is seeking to implement on a value for money basis and ensure farm subsidy payments are delivered in an accurate and timely manner.
Tuna
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to meet retailers and producers who have not committed to source tuna fished without the use of fish aggregating devices in purse seine nets. [49161]
Richard Benyon: I have no specific plans to meet retailers and producers who have not committed to sourcing tuna fished without the use of fish aggregating devices in purse seine nets. This is a recognised method of fishing and, provided they do not make misleading claims about the provenance of the fish, businesses are at liberty to trade tuna that has been caught in this manner.
I am pleased to see that more retailers and producers are sourcing tuna caught using fishing methods that are more effective in targeting specific tuna species.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on fishing for tuna using fish aggregating devices in purse seine nets. [49164]
Richard Benyon: Fishing for tuna using fish aggregating devices in purse seine nets is a legally permitted fishing method approved by a number of regional fisheries management organisations.