Ash Trees
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the number of ash trees in each local authority area. [130931]
Mr Heath: No recent estimate has been made by local authority area. However, the 45 County Reports for England from the Forestry Commission's National Inventory of Woodland and Trees published in 2001 gives information of the area of woodland where ash is the principal species and an estimate of the number of ash trees outside woodland. These reports are available on the Forestry Commission's website.
Avian Pox
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to tackle the new strain of avian pox which reduces the survival of great tits especially juvenile birds. [130360]
Mr Heath: Avian pox in wild birds in the UK has been present for many years and affects many species of wild bird. The great tit is not a threatened wild bird species in Britain and so far evidence does not indicate that the new strain is any more virulent than existing ones. Thus, currently available data do not indicate that the new strain of the disease is at present likely to threaten the British (national) population of this species.
Avian pox is a viral infection and (as with most viruses) there is no specific treatment for the disease. At present therefore, surveillance of the disease and mapping the distribution is the most appropriate scientific approach.
Researchers working on avian pox in great tits are partners in the DEFRA funded GB Wildlife Disease Surveillance Partnership, delivering wildlife disease surveillance to Government. One of the partners, the DEFRA supported Animal Health and Veterinary
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Laboratories Agency Diseases of Wildlife scheme, which has undertaken wildlife disease surveillance in England and Wales since 1998, is helping with this monitoring and has diagnosed cases of avian pox recently in birds submitted to its regional laboratories, in conjunction with one of the other partners, the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London.
Biodiversity
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate his Department has made of the potential (a) value of and (b) environmental benefits arising out of his pilot biodiversity offsetting schemes; [130277]
(2) what support his Department has provided to the six pilot authorities for biodiversity offsetting; [130278]
(3) how many biodiversity offsets have taken place under his local authority pilot schemes; [130279]
(4) how many biodiversity offsets have been delivered under Planning Policy Statement 9 to date; and if he will make a statement. [130281]
Richard Benyon: The options impact assessment for biodiversity offsetting suggests that using offsetting across England, over the period 2011-30, could deliver benefits ranging from £210 million to £415 million a year. The costs could range from £195 million to £375 million a year. However, the analysis is based on a range of assumptions that need further testing during the pilot phase. Offsetting could potentially also add value in providing a simple, clear and straightforward mechanism for developers, local authorities and others which improves consistency, while at the same time delivering the biodiversity outcomes required by planning policy.
Two of our guiding principles for offsetting are that any biodiversity offsetting approach should build on existing protection for biodiversity and that it should aim to deliver real and additional conservation benefits. For example, this can be achieved by expanding and restoring habitats and contributing to enhancing ecological networks.
The local authorities in the six pilot areas have been provided with support by Natural England. Lead advisers are advising on and supporting the preparation of offsetting strategies, helping to raise awareness, evaluate potential offset providers, and advising on the technical application of the biodiversity offsetting metric. Officials within DEFRA facilitate learning and sharing between the pilots.
The pilots began in April 2012 and the first six months have been spent developing offsetting strategies and raising awareness. There are ongoing discussions between the local authorities and developers on potentially viable offsets but to date no offsets have been delivered as part of the pilots.
Bovine Tuberculosis
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the oral contribution of the right hon. Member for North Shropshire of 23 October 2012, Official Report, column 856, when he plans to place a note in the Library on the cost of preparations for the two cancelled badger culls. [130553]
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Mr Heath: As promised by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), in his oral statement to the House on 23 October 2012, Official Report, columns 835-36, about bovine tuberculosis, the note outlining the cost to Government of the preparations for the two badger control pilots has been placed in the Library of the House.
Fisheries: Africa
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to persuade the EU to (a) take action to prevent illegal fishing by EU-flagged fishing trawlers off the coast of Africa and (b) support more effective enforcement action against illegal fishing trawlers off the coast of Africa; and if he will make a statement. [129872]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 26 November 2012]:I fully support the implementation of the EU's Illegal Unregulated and Unreported Fishing Regulation and my Department works closely with the Commission in helping to ensure member states’ vessels comply with its provisions. I also welcome the Commission’s intention to review the regulation to consider whether further measures are needed.
The UK has stringent controls in place to prevent the importation into the UK of illegal fish caught off the coast of Africa, and in fact recently rejected consignments which did not comply with our controls. My officials are also members of the executive committee of the International Monitoring Control and Surveillance (IMCS) Network whose objective is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of monitoring control and surveillance through co-operation to combat IUU fishing. This includes providing support to less developed countries in Africa to assist in building enforcement capacity through exchange of expertise and knowledge and information sharing.
In July 2012 the UK also jointly convened a capacity building workshop in Cape Town for African coastal states and regional organisations, aimed at improving countries’ ability to take effective enforcement action against illegal fishing.
Flood Control: Finance
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding has been made available to local authorities to alleviate flood risk in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the cost to the public purse of the repair of flood damage has been in each of the last 10 years. [130806]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 29 November 2012]: The information is as follows:
The total funding made available to local authorities by DEFRA to alleviate flood risk in 2011-12 in England was £47.3 million and for 2012-13 the total was £57.1 million. DEFRA provides grant in aid funding to local authorities for flood and coastal risk management work and to support new roles and responsibilities under the Flood and Water Management Act (FWMA) 2010.
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| £ million | |||
| Capital Flood Defence grant in aid | Funding to support work required under the FWMA | Total | |
| (1) Tba | |||
Capital grant allocations for 2013-14 are currently being determined and will be announced in February 2013.
In addition, local authorities receive funding to support their ongoing flood and coastal erosion risk management activities and costs via Formula Grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government.
The Bellwin scheme provides emergency financial assistance to help local authorities meet uninsurable costs they incur when dealing with the aftermath of an emergency in their area. The amounts that have been paid in respect of the recent major flooding events are:
| £ million | |
|
September 2008 Floods in Morpeth, Shropshire and Herefordshire | |
| (1) Claims being processed | |
I shall write separately to the hon. Member on the payments made for flood incident damage prior to 2007.
Gangmasters
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many cases the Gangmasters Licensing Authority has brought to the Crown Prosecution Service for prosecution of people for being unlicensed gangmasters in each of the last three years; [130700]
(2) how many prosecutions there have been for people being unlicensed gangmasters in each of the last three years; [130701]
(3) what the (a) shortest and (b) longest sentence received for being an unlicensed gangmaster is; [130702]
(4) what the average sentence is handed down to a person who has been prosecuted for being an unlicensed gangmaster. [130703]
Mr Heath: Figures on the number of prosecutions and convictions are set out in the following table:
| England and Wales | Scotland | N. Ireland | ||||
| No. of files submitted to prosecuting authorities | Convictions | No. of files submitted to prosecuting authorities | Convictions | No. of files submitted to prosecuting authorities | Convictions | |
| Note: Cases submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service or to the Procurator Fiscal in Scotland may take up to two years to come to court; therefore, the figures are not strictly comparable on a year to year basis. | ||||||
The courts have not yet handed down a custodial sentence. Sentences have included absolute discharge (3), fines, community service and probation orders, suspended sentences and the awarding of prosecution costs. It is not possible to arrive at an average sentence but the range of sentences across the nations of the UK is illustrated below:
England and Wales: Fines between £300 and £5,000; Costs between £300 and £10,900; Community service orders between 140 and 200 hours; Disqualifications from holding directorship of two years and five years
Scotland: Procurator Fiscal's Warning as alternative to trial; Fines between £200 and £2,500; Community service orders of 200 hours with 18-month probation
Northern Ireland: Sentences ranging from absolute discharge to £750 fine plus costs; two cases awaiting sentence
There have been additional, police-led, investigations involving GLA offences. In some instances GLA offences have been set aside in favour of human trafficking charges.
Livestock: Exports
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many livestock have died in the last year in the course of the live export trade. [130248]
Mr Heath: The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) does not hold records for the numbers of animals that have had to be euthanized as a result of becoming unfit during a journey, for exports of all species from the United Kingdom. However, in relation to the trade in live animals currently being exported through Ramsgate port, AHVLA records show that during 2012 (up to the end of October) its inspectors identified 45 animals that were not fit to continue with their journey and required them to be euthanized. This represents 0.1% of the total number of animals (36,850) exported through the port over the same period.
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Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received from animal rights groups on cruelty in the live exports trade. [130249]
Mr Heath: In addition to internal meetings, I have had two recent discussions with the hon. Member for South Thanet (Laura Sandys), on exports from the port of Ramsgate.
I also recently met with Compassion in World Farming in order to discuss a range of animal welfare issues, including the export of live animals.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent investigation his Department has undertaken into the welfare of livestock in the course of the live export trade. [130250]
Mr Heath: I have now received the report by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency on their internal review of procedures following the regrettable events on 12 September at Ramsgate. At the request of Kent Trading Standards as prosecuting authority and on the basis of legal advice, the report will not be made publicly available until investigations or any prosecution action is completed.
Livestock: Transport
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to develop (a) higher standards for animal welfare and the transport of live animals than those required by minimum standards under EU law and (b) a comprehensive system of inspection and enforcement regime for all ports in England; and if he will make a statement. [130537]
Mr Heath: This Government will continue to ensure that those responsible for the transport of livestock for slaughter meet all the requirements of the EU welfare in transport legislation. This legislation imposes tough conditions on the transport industry, particularly in relation to export journeys, including the need for observance of maximum journey times and rest periods, validated journey logs for each journey, specially approved vehicles, prior authorisation of the transporter and competency training of drivers. The Government have no plans to develop higher standards than these, which in any case could only apply to transport solely within this country and in relation to trade with countries outside the EU.
Natural Capital Committee
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times the Natural Capital Committee has reported to the Economic Affairs Committee since May 2012; and if he will make a statement. [130981]
Richard Benyon: Since May 2012 the Natural Capital Committee has written to the Economic Affairs Committee once, regarding its terms of reference.
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Polar Bears
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent discussions (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have had with their EU counterparts on the proposal of the US administration to add polar bears to CITES, Appendix I; and what position the UK has taken during these discussions; [130338]
(2) what his policy is on the US administration's proposal to add polar bears to CITES, Appendix I. [130339]
Mr Heath: DEFRA officials have participated in discussions with EU counterparts about the USA's proposal to include the polar bear in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) at the forthcoming Conference of Parties to CITES in March 2013. We are actively considering the proposal but have yet to adopt a final position.
Discussions with EU colleagues have not taken place at ministerial level.
School Milk
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2012, Official Report, column 685W, on school milk, what funding his Department has provided in subsidies for (a) school milk and (b) nursery milk in each of the last 10 years. [130747]
Mr Heath: The Rural Payments Agency has paid out the following amount of Primary School National Top-Up subsidy in each of the last 10 financial years to approved claimants. This scheme is funded in equal one third measures by DEFRA, DOH and DFE.
| Financial year | National Top Up (net amounts paid) (£) |
| Source: Rural Payments Agency | |
In the last 10 years DEFRA has not provided any subsidy for the Nursery Milk Scheme which is funded by the Department of Health.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2012, Official Report, column 685W, on school milk, how many portions of school milk have been (a) consumed and (b) counted for purposes of claiming EU school milk aid in each of the last 10 financial years. [130748]
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Mr Heath: Specific information on portions of school milk consumed is not held by DEFRA.
However, we are able to arrive at an approximate amount of the number of portions which are claimed under the EU school milk scheme each financial year based on the annual amount in kilolitres to which subsidy is paid divided by the most commonly supplied carton size, 189ml. The following table covers the last ten financial years.
| Financial year | Kilolitres paid on | Assuming 189ml carton size |
| Source: Rural Payments Agency | ||
Seas and Oceans: Scotland
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had on the (a) procedural and (b) resource reasons for the changes to the timetable for Scotland's National Marine Plan. [130692]
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Richard Benyon: The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 requires that a marine plan which includes provisions relating to retained functions may only be published with approval of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson).
The timing of when the Scottish Government submits its National Marine Plan for approval is a matter for the Scottish Government.
White Fish: North Sea
Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the Report by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science on the number of mature cod in the North sea, what his policy is on quotas for North sea cod fishing in each of the next three years; and what estimate his Department has made of the levels of mature cod in the North sea. [130933]
Richard Benyon: The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science advise that there has been a gradual improvement in the status of the North sea cod stock over the last few years.
The weight of mature cod (spawning stock biomass) has increased from its historical low in 2006 of 26.2 kt to 65.3 kt at the start of 2012. This equates to an estimated 21.2 million mature cod in the North sea.
In agreeing quotas for North sea cod we will continue to be guided by scientific advice on how to recover this cod stock, aiming to achieve both maximum sustainable yield by 2015 and the reduction of cod discards.