Sports: Voluntary Work

Clive Efford: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many former Games Makers have volunteered to help organise local sport activities as a result of being involved in the London 2012 Paralympic and Olympic Games; and if he will make a statement; [166188]

(2) how many 2012 Games Makers have been contacted by Join In (a) within one month, (b) within three months, (c) within six months, (d) within nine months and (e) to date since the end of the London 2012 Paralympic Games; and if he will make a statement; [166189]

(3) what proportion of Games Makers contacted by Join In have refused to get involved in activities organised; what reasons have been given for such refusals; and if he will make a statement; [166190]

(4) when Join In was first able to access contact details of the 2012 Games Makers; and if he will make a statement; [166191]

(5) by what means Join In has attempted to contact 2012 Games Makers; how many attempts at contact failed due to changes in contact details; and if he will make a statement. [166192]

Mr Hurd [holding answer 18 July 2013]:Join In was established to embed the volunteering legacy of the 2012 Games. It does this through various channels

2 Sep 2013 : Column 105W

including social media, direct contact, as well as promotions via radio and print media. Join In owns a database of 18,000 people who regularly e-mails it with information about volunteering opportunities. It also has access to the volunteering section of the LOCOG database with details of 53,000 people, mostly Games Makers. Join In has contacted those on the LOCOG database on various occasions and estimates that of the database some 17,000 e-mail addresses are no longer active.

We do not hold information on the number of refusals to get involved, nor of the reasons for any refusal.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the potential for hostile governments and non-state actors to employ drones in an offensive manner against the UK or its Overseas Territories is considered as part of the National Security Risk Assessment. [R] [166499]

Miss Chloe Smith: The National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) provides a comprehensive assessment and prioritisation of all major extant and emerging risks which seriously threaten the UK's national security interests. The NSRA focuses on strategic level threats, and uses a range of generic state-led and non-state led threats to our national security interests. The employment of an array of offensive technologies, including drones, was considered when assessing these generic threat scenarios.

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many questions answered by his Department included fewer than four pages of statistics in the Official Report for the last month; [166696]

(2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that all answers provided by his Department containing tables of statistical data which would not require more than four pages in the Official Report are published in full rather than by reference to a hyperlink. [166720]

Mr Maude: My Department does not collect the information requested.

Tables longer than four pages are routinely placed in the Library of the House. Hyperlinks are often given when information is already in the public domain.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Animal Welfare

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on linking the use of funding from international finance institutions to agricultural and food producers to improve animal welfare standards. [166692]

Mr Heath: The Government are fully committed to raising animal welfare standards internationally and are prepared to explore all practical options to this end. However, we believe standards will only be effectively and consistently applied if those responsible for the animals concerned are convinced of the efficacy of the

2 Sep 2013 : Column 106W

particular measures. With this in mind, we are currently exploring the potential nationally for the livestock industry to be more actively involved in the process of defining appropriate standards and to reduce the burden of bureaucracy by them entering into voluntary commitments (underpinned by robust science and veterinary expertise). Our intention is to encourage a similar approach at global level through the OIE (the international animal health and welfare organisation) where the UK already plays a leading role in shaping global standards.

Billing

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many creditors to his Department owed more than £10,000 remained unpaid for more than (a) 30 days, (b) 45 days, (c) 60 days, (d) 75 days and (e) more than 90 days in each of the last three years. [166373]

Richard Benyon: The following table shows the number of organisations owing core DEFRA more than £10,000 as at 31 March for each year given. We are able to provide the information in the following format: numbers of organisations that had amounts outstanding for 0-30 days, 31-60 days, 61-90 days and 91 plus days.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the document entitled, Monitoring the humaneness of badger population reduction by controlled shooting, provided by his Department to Humane Society International/UK on 16 May 2013, in response to a Freedom of Information request, was heavily redacted. [166300]

Mr Heath: Information was redacted from the document in question since not doing so could adversely affect public safety and/or damage the environment. Non-disclosure of information in this manner is permitted and is in accordance with the Environmental Information Regulations, which include specific exceptions.

British Overseas Territories

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs where the British Overseas Territories rank in his Department's international priorities. [166431]

Richard Benyon: Support for the protection of the natural environment of the UK Overseas Territories is a high priority for DEFRA. The new Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund (Darwin Plus), overseen by DEFRA, dedicates around £2 million per annum to the 14 Overseas Territories.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 107W

Buildings

Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2013, Official Report, column 826W, on buildings, whether he has received any approach by potential purchasers to all or some of the 49.7 hectares of land known as Old Rectory Farm which is contiguous with Wisley Airfield; and if he will make a statement. [165752]

Richard Benyon [holding answer 16 July 2013]: There have been three approaches to core DEFRA expressing interest in purchasing all or some of the land which is known as Old Rectory Farm.

Coastal Areas

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if his Department will estimate the income generated by walking and recreation in coastal communities; [166791]

(2) if his Department will estimate the income generated by the England coast path for coastal communities; [166792]

(3) if his Department will estimate the income generated by walking and recreation by county. [166794]

Richard Benyon: DEFRA does not hold figures for the income generated by walking and recreation in coastal communities or by county. However, annex 4 of the impact assessment of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, which was published in March 2010, included an assessment of the costs and benefits of the provisions on coastal access under part 9 of that Act.

Natural England has recently commissioned a literature review on the benefits and costs of public access and countryside recreation. The review estimates that walking as a countryside leisure activity in England involves an expenditure of £6.14 billion a year, supporting £2.8 billion in income and up to 246,000 jobs overall.

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the future implementation of the England coast path project. [166793]

Richard Benyon: Part 9 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 imposes a coastal access duty on the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Natural England. This has the objective to secure a coastal route for open-air recreation around the English coast along with an associated coastal margin. The Act allows the Secretary of State and Natural England to fulfil the duty in stages over a number of years. One stretch of the coast path at Weymouth Bay was opened last year.

The Government are continuing the programme to extend the coastal path network around the English coast. We have recently approved Natural England's proposals for a further two stretches of the English coast between North Gare and South Bents in Durham, Hartlepool and Sunderland and between Allonby and Whitehaven in Cumbria. Any necessary establishment works are expected to be completed in time for the two coastal paths to be opened early next year.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 108W

Drownings: Young People

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many children and young people in England died from drowning in lakes, rivers or the sea in each month since July 2008. [167321]

Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Glen Watson, dated September 2013:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many children and young people in England died from drowning in lakes, rivers or the sea, in each month since July 2008. (167321).

Table 1 provides the number of deaths where the underlying cause was accidental drowning in natural water or involving watercrafts, for persons aged under 20 years, in England, for deaths occurring each month between July 2008 and December 2012 (the latest year available).

Deaths from intentional self-harm or assault by drowning and submersion, and drowning and submersion of undetermined intent have not been included in Table 1.

Figures shown in Table 1 are for deaths occurring, rather than deaths registered in each calendar month. Due to the length of time it takes to complete a coroner's inquest, it can take months or even years for a death to be registered. The median delay for deaths due to accidental drowning in 2011 was 169 days; therefore figures for 2011 and 2012 may be incomplete due to registration delays. Further information on registration delays for a range of causes of death can be found on the ONS website:

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/impact-of-registration-delays-on-mortality-statistics/index.html

2 Sep 2013 : Column 109W

Environment Protection: British Overseas Territories

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which policy documents his Department uses to allocate (a) legal, (b) scientific, (c) policy and (d) financial resources to support environmental stewardship in the British Overseas Territories. [166442]

Richard Benyon: Territory Governments are constitutionally responsible for the protection and conservation of their natural environments. As outlined in the White Paper on the Overseas Territories, which has a whole chapter dedicated to the environment, the Government are committed to supporting the Territories in fulfilling these responsibilities. The Communiqué of the Joint Ministerial Council in 2012 details the specifics of each commitment. The guidance material provided for the Darwin Plus scheme also informs the allocation of resources to Overseas Territories to support their environmental stewardship.

Equality

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent by his Department (a) in total and (b) on staff costs on promoting equality and diversity in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many people are employed by his Department for this purpose. [165453]

Richard Benyon: The staff costs of promoting equality and diversity in each of the last three years and the number of staff employed for this purpose are as shown in the following table:

The non-pay costs specifically attributable to promoting equality and diversity are not held in a way that enables them to be identified separately.

Fisheries: Gibraltar

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance his Department has provided to the Government of Gibraltar with regard to illegal fishing by Spanish vessels in the Southern Waters of Gibraltar Special Area of Conservation. [166459]

Richard Benyon: DEFRA is aware of current difficulties regarding Spanish fishing vessels operating in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW). Should DEFRA receive a request for advice or assistance from HM Government of Gibraltar (HMGoG), the Department would aim to assist in any way it can. Under the Gibraltar Constitution, HMGoG are responsible for the management of the marine environment, including

2 Sep 2013 : Column 110W

the Nature Protection Act. It is the responsibility of the Royal Gibraltar Police to enforce Gibraltar law, including illegal fishing, within BGTW.

Food: Retail Trade

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the environmental effects of the business model used by large food retailers in the UK. [165152]

Mr Heath: We meet representatives of the major food retailers on a regular basis and discuss environmental sustainability issues.

We have no plan to make an assessment of the environmental effects of the business models used by these retailers. However, many of these businesses have their own sustainability strategies, which they share with DEFRA. They are also signatories to voluntary agreements such as the British Retail Consortium's “A Better Retailing Climate” initiative and the Courtauld Commitment on reducing food and packaging waste, while the British Retail Consortium itself has also recently joined the soft drinks sector's sustainability “roadmap” as a supporter.

Fracking

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the risks of (a) water contamination and (b) air pollution arising from fracking for shale gas. [166229]

Richard Benyon: The Government's previous Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir John Beddington FRS, asked the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering to review the scientific and engineering evidence concerning the risks associated with hydraulic fracturing as a means to extract shale gas. The review's key finding was that the health, safety and environmental risks from fracking for shale gas can be managed effectively in the UK.

The Environment Agency must make an assessment of the risk of pollution to groundwater on a case by case (site by site) basis. The Environment Agency would require an operator to apply for an environmental permit for groundwater activity before hydraulic fracturing could commence, if it determined that there could be a risk of pollution of groundwater at a site. This permit would put conditions on the operation that would control the risks of pollution in order to safeguard groundwater and water quality.

Similarly, the Environment Agency would require an environmental permit application if waste gases resulting from the activity were to be burnt in a flare, potentially causing air pollution.

Greyhounds

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many greyhounds were put to sleep for (a) welfare and (b) economic reasons in 2012. [167327]

Mr Heath: The Government do not hold annual records of the numbers of greyhounds euthanized.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 111W

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to improve the welfare of racing greyhounds. [167328]

Mr Heath: The Welfare of Racing Greyhounds (England) Regulations 2010 provides minimum standards for the welfare of racing greyhounds in England. In addition, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 provides more general protection for all kept animals, including racing greyhounds. If anyone has any concerns about the welfare of greyhounds at a race track or anywhere else they should contact the relevant local authority or the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what environmental evaluations of High Speed 2 have been conducted by his Department; and if he will publish all reports that have been prepared for Ministers on that matter. [166745]

Richard Benyon: No environmental evaluations of High Speed 2 (HS2) have been conducted by DEFRA. HS2 Ltd is the Government's developer of the railway and DEFRA officials work closely with the company, Natural England, the Environment Agency and colleagues at the Department for Transport, to ensure that its environmental assessments are in line with Government policy.

The Department for Transport will be publishing an Environmental Statement for Phase 1 of HS2 alongside the hybrid Bill before the end of this year.

Insecticides

Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on (a) the banning of chlorpyrifos and (b) the licensing of chlorpyrifos for professional use only; and if he will make a statement. [166596]

Mr Heath: Following the recent incident in the River Kennet, which is thought to be as a result of chlorpyrifos entering the water, several parties have raised concerns about the authorisation of chlorpyrifos. Once the investigation into the cause and nature of that incident has been completed, the implications for authorisation and controls on pesticides will be fully considered.

Chlorpyrifos products are only authorised for use by professionals.

Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures (a) are in place and (b) have previously been in place to assist with the safe disposal of (i) chlorpyrifos and (ii) similar pesticides. [166597]

Mr Heath: Longstanding UK law requires that those disposing of any pesticide authorised for professional use and its remnants take reasonable precautions to ensure that this does not endanger human health or the environment. This includes all products containing chlorpyrifos.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 112W

The Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products which can be found on the Gov.UK website outlines measures that should be taken to meet this requirement. Individual products carry instructions regarding safe disposal and additional, guidance is also provided by organisations such as the industry Voluntary Initiative for Pesticides.

Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action his Department is taking to assess the dangers posed by chlorpyrifos to the UK's water courses; and if he will make a statement. [166598]

Mr Heath: All pesticides are subject to regular review to make sure that they meet current safety standards. This is a two-stage process, with a review of the active substance approval by the EU being followed by national reviews of the related products.

Chlorpyrifos is at the second stage of that process; the EU has confirmed approval of the active substance and the chemicals regulation directorate is reviewing existing product authorisations. The likelihood of chlorpyrifos getting into water and the risk that this would pose to people and to the environment will form part of this assessment.

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has (a) carried out and (b) funded into non-chemical methods of pest control for oil seed rape; and if he will make any useful findings of such research available to farmers ahead of the two year suspension of some uses of neonicotinoid insecticides. [166782]

Mr Heath: Non-chemical methods of pest control for oilseed rape are currently very limited. This is due in part to the historical availability of a range of insecticides, and therefore an underdeveloped research area in identifying non-chemical methods. Additionally, for those pests with the greatest potential for causing significant yield losses, high levels of control are required, particularly in those seasons favourable to population development. A range of cultural techniques and the awareness of the value of natural predators do already form a very important component in the overall integrated control programme.

DEFRA-funded Project PS2141 “integrated pest management of pollen beetles in oilseed rape: The way forward” is currently being undertaken by Rothamsted and the university of Reading and includes looking at non-chemical methods for controlling this pest for oilseed rape. The project will draw together all the research DEFRA has previously funded in this area. In terms of non-chemical methods, the project objectives cover: examining prospects for natural, semi-chemical-based alternatives and for biological control of pollen beetles and examining possibilities for improved habitat management (including conservation biocontrol) to reduce the risk of pollen beetle infestation. The outcomes of this research should be available early next year and the key messages will be picked up and disseminated to the growers by the groups mentioned as follows.

The Insecticide Resistance Action Group (IRAG) and HGCA (the cereals and oilseed division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) are

2 Sep 2013 : Column 113W

also good sources of advice for farmers. HGCA-funded research has formed the basis of advice on cultural methods, and natural predators (described above), and are included in their guide on pest management in cereals and oilseed rape. IRAG looks specifically at resistance issues in the UK and developing advice on resistance management. It has a wide-ranging membership across industry and regulators. Guidance is produced regularly, via the IRAG website, disseminating grower body outputs. An example is the collaborative approach and joint advice given in response to the development of pollen beetle resistance to pyrethroids in oilseed rape. HGCA research refined existing historical thresholds, and this is included in their information sheet (18) on monitoring and control of pollen beetle in oilseed rape. This includes IRAG advice, which is reviewed and updated each year, and also gives a risk assessment, and advice on the importance of natural predators. HGCA information sheet 12 mentions opportunities for enhancing natural control through agronomic practices such as trap cropping. A knowledge of the insect pest's biology and making use of the optimum sowing rates for the oilseed rape can also help the farmer.

Insects

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2013, Official Report, column 731W, on pollinators, whether his review of policy and evidence and national pollinator strategy will consider the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on bees and other pollinators. [166017]

Mr Heath: The review referred to in the answer of 4 July 2013, Official Report, column 731W is designed to develop a better understanding of the various factors that can harm these insects and the changes that Government, other organisations and individuals can make to counter their impact. Pesticides, including neonicotinoids, are one of the relevant factors but there are many others. These include changes in land use, the type of crops grown, alien species and climate change.

The Government have an ongoing commitment to keep the evidence on neonicotinoids and pollinators under active consideration. We are currently considering the further work that is needed on this issue, taking into account the European Commission's commitment to review the available evidence in 2015.

Landfill

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the Committee on Climate Change's recommendation of banning food waste from landfill. [166149]

Richard Benyon: We have received the Committee on Climate Change's report: “Meeting Carbon Budgets—2013 Progress Report to Parliament” and will be publishing a detailed response in October.

The Government agree that we need to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill. Our experience from looking into the case for a restriction on wood waste highlighted the complexities and costs of landfill restrictions across the board. Before bringing

2 Sep 2013 : Column 114W

forward proposals on restricting any materials, we need to be content that restrictions are the best-value way of moving material up the waste hierarchy and that the costs to businesses and the public sector are affordable.

Meat: Ritual Slaughter

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure appropriate labelling of meat that has come from animals who have not been stunned due to ritual slaughtering. [166799]

Mr Heath: We are currently awaiting the results of an EU Commission study on method of slaughter labelling and will look at what options are available for providing information to consumers in light of these EU developments. Where any information of this nature is provided voluntarily, it must be accurate and must not be misleading to the consumer.

Members: Correspondence

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 31 May 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms L. Molona. [166968]

Richard Benyon: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs responded to the letter from the right hon. Member with regard to Ms L. Moloney on 12 June 2013.

Nature Conservation: Ascension Island

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made as to whether the Ascension Island Government's draft Marine Protection Ordinance will fulfil that Territory's responsibilities under the Convention on Biological Diversity. [166445]

Mark Simmonds: The UK Government have not received a formal request from the British Virgin Islands Government for technical assistance in drafting this Bill. We stand ready to consider such assistance and/or representation if requested to do so by the Territory Government.

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) technical assistance his Department has provided and (b) representations his Department has made to the Ascension Island Government with regard to the draft Marine Protection Ordinance. [166453]

Mark Simmonds: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

The UK Government have not received a formal request from the Ascension Island Government for technical assistance in drafting this Ordinance. We stand ready to consider such assistance and/or representation if requested to do so by the Territory Government.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 115W

Nature Conservation: British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) terrestrial protected areas and (b) marine protected areas in each of the four British Overseas Territories have been covered by the UK's ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity. [164975]

Richard Benyon: The four UK Overseas Territories that the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has been extended to are: British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Gibraltar; and St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The designation of terrestrial protected areas and marine protected areas is a responsibility devolved to Territory Governments. Therefore we do not hold a central record of how many terrestrial protected areas or marine protected areas are designated in the Overseas Territories to which the UK's CBD ratification has been extended.

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment his Department has made as to which protected areas designated for biodiversity conservation in the British Overseas Territories, to which the Convention on Biological Diversity has been extended, are more threatened; [166433]

(2) how many (a) terrestrial and (b) marine protected areas have been designated for biodiversity conservation in the (i) three uninhabited British Overseas Territories, (ii) four British Overseas Territories to which the Convention on Biological Diversity has been extended and (iii) other seven British Overseas Territories; [166439]

(3) what proportion of the total land area is covered by protected areas designated for biodiversity conservation in the (a) three uninhabited British Overseas Territories, (b) four British Overseas Territories to which the Convention on Biological Diversity has been extended and (c) other seven British Overseas Territories. [166444]

Richard Benyon: The four UK Overseas Territories that the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has been extended to are: British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Gibraltar; and St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Responsibility for the designation of Terrestrial Protected Areas and Marine Protected Areas (MPA) is devolved to Overseas Territory Governments. We do not therefore hold a central record of how many Terrestrial Protected Areas or MPAs have been designated in the Overseas Territories, or the proportion of the total area they cover. Neither have we made an assessment of which of these protected areas is most threatened.

For the Uninhabited Overseas Territories, we hold the following information:

The British Indian Ocean Territory declared a no-take MPA in 2009 across its maritime zone of 640,000 km².

Prior to ratifying the Antarctic Treaty, 1959, which places Antarctic sovereignty issues in abeyance, the UK had only declared a three-mile territorial sea around the British Antarctic Territory. However, in 2009, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources agreed an MPA of 94,000 square kilometres on the Southern Shelf of the South Orkney Islands.

In 2012 the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands declared a sustainable-use MPA of one million square kilometres in size (equivalent to four times the terrestrial area of the United Kingdom), including over 20,000 square kilometres of no-fishing zones.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 116W

The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty provides for the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and designates Antarctica as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science. Under the Protocol, over 30 areas of the British Antarctic Territory have, to date, been designated as Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. A further four areas have been designated as larger scale Antarctic Specially Managed Areas. The vast majority of these designations include reasons specifically relating to biodiversity conservation. A full list can be can be found at:

http://www.ats.aq/e/ep_protected.htm

Within the British Indian Ocean Territory there are 55 islands, of which seven islands are fully protected, in addition to the island of Diego Garcia which has part protection.

In respect of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, the Wildlife and Protected Areas Ordinance 2011 affords an extremely high level of protection to terrestrial habitats and flora and fauna throughout South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are developing plans for Specially Protected Areas, which can be designated under the Wildlife and Protected Areas Ordinance, and will undertake stakeholder consultation on those plans in due course.

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment his Department has made as to which species are at most imminent risk of global extinction in the (a) three uninhabited British Overseas Territories, (b) four British Overseas Territories to which the Convention on Biological Diversity has been extended and (c) other seven British Overseas Territories; [166438]

(2) how many (a) critically endangered species and (b) globally threatened species there are which occur in (i) England, (ii) the UK and (iii) the British Overseas Territories. [166443]

Richard Benyon: DEFRA does not undertake annual assessments of globally threatened species present in the UK, England and the UK Overseas Territories but the latest information by country is available on the IUCN Red List website. This is accepted as the authoritative source on assessing extinction risk for the world's species.

Currently this shows that there are 82 IUCN Red List threatened species in the UK (there is no separate England entry). The number for individual Overseas Territories is as follows, although some species may occur in more than one Territory:

2 Sep 2013 : Column 117W

Of those species that have been studied, there are 101 critically endangered species in the UK Overseas Territories and 29 critically endangered species in the UK.

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made as to whether the scientific evidence needs of biodiversity conservation in the British Overseas Territories are adequately addressed in his Department's 31 evidence plans. [166440]

Richard Benyon: The evidence needs of biodiversity conservation in the British Overseas Territories are specifically addressed in the Department's Biodiversity and Ecosystems Evidence Plan. This is aligned to underpin the policy agenda, as set out in Biodiversity 2020, with robust and wide-ranging evidence and analysis, and integrated approaches. Objective 9.2 of the Evidence Plan is to improve the evidence base in the UK Overseas Territories to assist in meeting international commitments, in particular the control and management of invasive species.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 118W

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent in financial terms on biodiversity conservation in (a) England and (b) the British Overseas Territories in each of the last three years. [166441]

Richard Benyon: Territory Governments are constitutionally responsible for the protection and conservation of their natural environments. Details of DEFRA spend on biodiversity conservation in England and in the British Overseas Territories in each of the last three years, as well as 2012-13, are provided in the following table. These figures represent DEFRA programme spend and spend by the wider DEFRA network but do not include staff costs. They also include total agri-environment scheme expenditure and the DEFRA biodiversity research programme, of which a major share is judged to be spent on biodiversity in England.

Estimated public expenditure by DEFRA network organisations on biodiversity conservation in England and the British Overseas Territories.

DEFRA spend on biodiversity conservation in the British Overseas Territories includes commitments under the Darwin Initiative and support for projects to address invasive non-native species. It also includes spend by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science. It does not include spend by others. In addition, since 2010 DEFRA has provided funding amounting to nearly £67,000 to biodiversity conservation projects in the UK Overseas Territories through the Flagship Species Fund.

Nature Conservation: British Virgin Islands

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of whether the Government of the British Virgin Islands' draft Environmental Management and Conservation of Biodiversity Bill will advance that Territory's responsibilities under the Convention on Biological Diversity. [166434]

Mark Simmonds: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

It is the responsibility of the British Virgin Islands Government to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Convention on Biological Diversity. If requested we will work with the Territories to which the Convention on Biological Diversity been extended to help them meet their obligations.

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) technical assistance his Department has provided and (b) representations his Department has made to the government of the British Virgin Islands with regard to that Territory's draft Environmental Management and Conservation of Biodiversity Bill. [166435]

Mark Simmonds: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

The UK Government have not received a formal request from the British Virgin Islands Government for technical assistance in drafting this Bill. We stand ready to consider such assistance and/or representation if requested to do so by the Territory Government.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 119W

Nature Conservation: Cayman Islands

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of whether the Government of the Cayman Islands' draft National Conservation Bill will fulfil that Territory's responsibilities under the Convention on Biological Diversity. [166436]

Mark Simmonds: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

It is the responsibility of the Cayman Islands Government to ensure that they meet the requirements of the convention on biological diversity. If requested we will work with the territories to which the convention on biological diversity has been extended to help them meet their obligations.

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) technical assistance his Department has provided and (b) representations his Department has made to the Cayman Islands Government with regard to that Territory's draft National Conservation Bill. [166437]

Mark Simmonds: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

The Cayman Islands Government first drafted a National Conservation Law in 2001. The UK Government reviewed the draft in November 2001. Since then the draft has been amended several times. The UK Government stand ready to consider further technical assistance and/or representation if requested to do so by the Cayman Islands Government.

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of waste management practices on biodiversity conservation in the Cayman Islands. [166458]

Mark Simmonds: Environmental issues, including waste management and biodiversity conservation, are the responsibility of the Cayman Island Government. The UK Government stand ready to consider technical advice in these areas if requested to do so by the Territory Government.

Nature Conservation: St Helena

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made as to whether the St Helena Government's draft Environmental Protection Ordinance follows best practice and will enable delivery of that Territory's responsibilities under the Convention on Biological Diversity. [166452]

Mark Simmonds: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

It is the responsibility of the St Helena Government to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Convention on Biological Diversity. If requested we will work with

2 Sep 2013 : Column 120W

the Territories to which the Convention on Biological Diversity has been extended to help them meet their obligations.

Noise: Pollution Control

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress his Department has made on noise policy since the publication of the 2010 Noise Policy Statement; and if he will make a statement. [166584]

Richard Benyon: Since the publication of the Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE) in 2010, DEFRA has worked closely with other Government Departments to embed the vision and aims in policies developed across Whitehall. These include the National Planning Policy Framework, the National Policy Statements that support Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, the Public Health Outcomes Framework indicator set, and the Aviation Policy Framework.

In addition, the policy has been implemented through the EU environmental noise directive noise action planning process. This has created a framework and mechanism enabling the relevant authorities to identify, investigate and, where necessary, treat those locations exposed to the highest levels of noise from transport sources.

We also continue to develop evidence and appraisal methods to support the implementation of the NPSE.

Northcote House

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department used the facilities at Northcote House, Sunningdale Park, Berkshire in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [164820]

Richard Benyon: Following a review of learning and development across Government the National School of Government which delivered training on the Sunningdale Park site closed in March 2012. Data on which individuals may have used the site were not retained.

Ofwat

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the level of consultancy fees commissioned by Ofwat was in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [166626]

Richard Benyon: In 2012-13 Ofwat has spent £5.378 million on consultancy services. Ofwat's spending fluctuates during the regulatory cycle, rising as it moves towards the end of a price review period. Consultancy is a more efficient way of managing these peaks than maintaining a larger permanent staff over the whole period.

Pets: Sales

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to examine the effectiveness of pet shop licensing legislation. [166865]

2 Sep 2013 : Column 121W

Mr Heath: There are no plans to examine the effectiveness of pet shop licensing legislation. The Government consider that the Pet Animals Act 1951 together with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 provide local authorities with suitable powers to investigate allegations of poor welfare in pet shops.

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of the issue of people running large puppy breeding operations from their own home without a suitable licence. [166866]

Mr Heath: The Government have not made any assessment around claims of people carrying out large scale dog breeding operations. However, the existing laws on the breeding and sale of dogs provide powers to local authorities to investigate allegations of large scale dog breeding operations taking place in inappropriate conditions.

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what consideration he has given to prohibiting the sale of puppies in pet shops; [166867]

(2) what assessment he has made of the suitability of pet shops as a place to provide for the welfare needs of young puppies before they are sold. [166868]

Mr Heath: The Government have no proposals to prohibit the selling of dogs from pet shops. It is for local authorities to decide whether an individual pet shop is suitable to sell particular animals, including dogs. Conditions can be placed on individual pet shop licences restricting the animals that can be sold. If anyone is concerned about the welfare of animals in a pet shop they should report the matter to the relevant local authority.

Rabies

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local authorities (a) have a contingency plan in place in the event of a rabies outbreak and (b) are currently reviewing such a plan. [166840]

Mr Heath: The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 places a statutory duty on local authorities to maintain and review emergency plans for scenarios which threaten serious damage to human welfare or the environment. Local authorities must carry out and then review risk assessments to decide what plans are required, and when they might need revising. Information on which local authorities are currently reviewing animal disease plans is not held centrally.

Recycling: Fires

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2013, Official Report, column 10W, on recycling, how many fires were at regulated sites. [166617]

Richard Benyon: The table shows the number of fires recorded by the Environment Agency at both regulated and unregulated sites for the period 2001-12.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 122W

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2013, Official Report, column 10W, on recycling, how many sites have received notice or warnings about the way material was being stored at the sites before a fire occured. [166618]

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency records information on breaches of permits, but it would incur disproportionate cost to look at the individual circumstances of each of the 3,048 fire incidents at regulated sites since 2001.

Environmental permits may specify the maximum quantities of waste that may be stored. Operators may also be required to produce accident management plans that include measures to prevent fire.

Regulation

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the title is of each regulation his Department (a) introduced and (b) revoked in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013 to date; and if he will make a statement. [165911]

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA has introduced 202 statutory instruments between May 2010 and 3 July 2013 but no primary legislation. In addition 224 regulations were revoked either in whole or in part. These regulations will be placed in the Library of the House.

Regulations due to be introduced during the period July to December 2013 are listed in the Statement of New Regulation published in July 2013:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-innovation-skills/series/one-in-two-out-statement-of-new-regulation

Rural Areas

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what opportunities his Department provides for stakeholders to comment on proposals for new environmental land management schemes. [166788]

Richard Benyon: Stakeholders have been involved at every stage of scheme development to date. They have actively taken part in individual review groups which have examined each of the current scheme options and considered the scope for additions or amendments.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 123W

DEFRA officials hold regular informal monthly meetings with representatives of industry and environmental non-governmental organisations to discuss emerging thinking and to seek views on the development of the new environmental land management scheme. Representatives of particular interest stakeholder organisations also meet with officials on request and have had the opportunity to submit and present their own propositions for new scheme design.

Updates and discussions on particular aspects of new scheme design take place with all stakeholders at quarterly Natural England-led Agri-environment Stakeholder Group meetings.

In addition, DEFRA also runs two groups to ensure the proposals for a new scheme are appropriately challenged. These are a farmers' panel and a group of senior stakeholders, academics, think tanks and others.

Regular updates on scheme development and associated matters are provided through a scheme bulletin available on the Natural England website at

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/farming/funding/developments.aspx

This is also available via Twitter. The bulletin contains a link to a Natural England-managed mailbox for the submission of views and suggestions.

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultation his Department has undertaken with stakeholders in respect of new environmental land management schemes. [166789]

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has not yet formally consulted on the new environmental land management scheme currently being developed. However, there has been regular informal consultation with stakeholders about the various stages of development to date.

We will continue to discuss initial scheme design with stakeholders during the summer, ahead of formal consultation on the new programme which is expected to follow in the autumn.

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration he has given to providing funding for landowners for walking and access infrastructure under new environmental land management schemes. [166790]

Richard Benyon: Continued funding for permissive access infrastructure, as currently provided through Environmental Stewardship, is under consideration. This forms part of our work to develop a new environmental land management scheme which will replace Environmental Stewardship, as part of the next Rural Development Programme. No firm decisions have yet been taken on what might be funded by the new programme.

Rural Community Energy Fund

Mr Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the Rural Community Energy Fund's capacity to fund low carbon waste removal projects. [165993]

2 Sep 2013 : Column 124W

Richard Benyon: The Government support the generation of energy from waste. As part of the modelling for the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) both community-scale anaerobic digesters and combined heat and power units were among the technologies assessed for funding. Details about the support now available through the RCEF for these and other technologies can be found at:

www.wrap.org.uk/content/rural-community-energy-fund

Senior Civil Servants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many senior civil servants left his Department and public bodies under voluntary exit and received a severance payment in each of the last three years; and what the value of such payments was. [164400]

Richard Benyon: The information following shows the number of senior civil servants and equivalent staff (SCS) who left core DEFRA, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies under voluntary exit in the years specified. This includes all non-compulsory departures under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.

Changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme were introduced in December 2010, which reduced the amounts of compensation payments available. The reformed scheme allows for greater distinction between voluntary and compulsory exits and is designed to encourage voluntary rather than compulsory departures.

The figures for 2012-13 will be published as part of the Annual Report and Accounts.

Sky Lanterns

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the dangers posed by Chinese lanterns. [166848]

Mr Heath: I have received a number of recent representations on this issue from farming groups and other interested parties. Because of the concerns that people have about the possible impacts of sky lanterns, DEFRA and the Welsh Government commissioned an independent report to improve the evidence-base. Published in May 2013, the report brings together and evaluates the available evidence, including submissions from the farming sector and the results of a survey of stakeholders. While farmers have lost livestock due to ingested wire from sky lanterns, this research suggests that the risk of injury and death to cattle and impact on the environment is low.

Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Expert Taskforce

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written statement of 16 July 2013, Official Report,

2 Sep 2013 : Column 125W

columns 78-9WS, on Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Taskforce, what

(a)

powers,

(b)

budgets and

(c)

staffing the Chief Plant Health Officer will be given; whether these will be on an equivalent basis to those given to the Chief Animal Health Officer; and if he will make a statement. [166850]

Mr Heath: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs laid a written ministerial statement on 16 July 2013, Official Report, columns 78-79WS, which updated the House on progress on the Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Expert Taskforce recommendations, including the appointment of a Chief Plant Health Officer.

DEFRA will be launching an exercise later in the summer to recruit a senior-level Chief Plant Health Officer in response to the taskforce's recommendation. She or he will play a prominent and influential role in advising Ministers, industry and others about the risks posed by plant pests and diseases and will also ensure that measures are in place to manage those risks and minimise their impact. In the event of a major disease outbreak, the Chief Plant Health Officer will lead the operational response, providing clear leadership and accountability.

Like the Chief Veterinary Officer, the Chief Plant Health Officer will have direct access to Ministers and the authority to act when necessary. The Secretary of State has recently initiated monthly biosecurity meetings to assess the latest risks to plant health, animal health and from non-native invasive species. The Chief Plant Health Officer will report directly to Ministers and other senior officials at those meetings and will be able to call on the appropriate resources to tackle threats.

The Secretary of State will publish a full response to all of the Taskforce recommendations later this year.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Written Statement of 16 July 2013, Official Report, columns 78-9WS, on Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Taskforce, what steps he has put in place to (a) avoid the introduction into the UK of the emerald ash borer and (b) reduce the threat to tree health and bio-security from the global trade in soil; what assessment he has made of whether the emerald ash borer would reproduce effectively in and kill the ash trees showing resistance to Chalara; and if he will make a statement. [166851]

Mr Heath: The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) would be a potentially damaging pest to ash trees in the UK, including those showing resistance to Chalara fraxinea, if it were introduced and allowed to establish. It is not present in the UK or elsewhere in the EU; the Plant Health (England) Order 2005 (as amended) and the Plant Health (Forestry) Order 2005 (as amended) include requirements to protect against its introduction. Specific measures are in place to ensure that imported ash trees and wood are free of the pest. Ash trees cannot currently be imported, due to the restrictions in place in connection with Chalara fraxinea. Following the UK pressing for these measures to be reviewed for the EU as a whole, new legislation is now being prepared which will further strengthen the protection in place.

The Plant Health (England) Order 2005 (as amended) and the Plant Health (Forestry) Order 2005 (as amended)

2 Sep 2013 : Column 126W

include requirements to protect against the risk of introducing harmful plant pests via soil. These include a prohibition on importing soil from most countries outside Europe. Where small quantities of soil are attached to plant roots to sustain their vitality, the soil must meet specific import requirements on pest freedom. We are currently working with the European Commission and other member states to assess the effectiveness of these controls and consider what further measures might be necessary to protect the EU as a whole. As a first step, the European Food Safety Authority has been asked to produce a scientific opinion on this issue.

Trees: Imports

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) larch, (b) oak, (c) plane, (d) horse chestnut, (e) elm and (f) pine trees were imported into the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [166005]

Mr Heath: Since the beginning of October 2012 there have been no imports of larch, oak, plane, horse chestnut, or sweet chestnut trees from outside the EU into England or Wales. There were 152 Pinus pentaphylla (Japanese white pine) and 10 Ulmus parvifolla (Chinese elm) imported as bonsai from Japan. These are different species to the English elm (Ulmus procera) or the common pine for which there were also no recorded imports.

Movements of trees within the EU single market are not officially recorded routinely. However, DEFRA introduced a statutory notification scheme on 17 January 2013 for certain tree genera (including ash, oak, sweet chestnut and plane) moved into England from other EU member states. Since then, there have been no notifications for ash trees, which remain subject to import and movement restrictions as part of the management strategy against Chalara fraxinea. There have been 214,554 oak trees, 2,300 plane trees and 21,040 sweet chestnut trees notified. There is no statutory notification required for elm, horse chestnut, larch and pine in England or Wales. The Plant Health (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2013 introduced statutory notification of pine in June 2013 for Scotland. A similar requirement is currently being considered in England and Wales for possible introduction later this year.

The Forestry Commission also records trees imported from the EU for forest reproductive purposes. Since October 2012 there have been 81,825 oak trees (30,000 of those are also included in the DEFRA figures), 33,500 larch, 20,275 pine and 7,300 sweet chestnut imported into England and Wales for that purpose. There are no records for elm during this period. Horse chestnut and plane are not species considered for forest reproductive material, therefore imports are not recorded for this purpose.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many ash trees were imported into the UK in the latest period before the ash import ban was implemented. [166006]

Mr Heath: Prior to the introduction of the import and movement restrictions of ash plants for planting, some 0.56 million bare-rooted ash plants (Fraxinus

2 Sep 2013 : Column 127W

excelsior) were imported into the UK during 2011 for forestry purposes. A survey of UK growers conducted in November 2012 by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) indicated that imported ash could represent as much as 3.5 million trees per year. This is significantly higher than the previous figure because the survey includes imports for purposes other than forestry and species of Fraxinus other than F. excelsior.

DEFRA implements the EU Plant Health regime (directive 2000/29/EC) in England and, under a concordat, in Wales. Separate arrangements apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Most imported trees are introduced through England, even if intended for other parts of the UK. Movements of trees within the EU single market are not officially recorded routinely. However, DEFRA introduced a statutory notification scheme on 17 January 2013 for certain tree genera (including ash, oak and plane) moved into England from other EU member states. Since then, there have been no notifications for ash trees, which remain subject to import and movement restrictions as part of the management strategy against Chalara fraxinea.

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many questions answered by his Department included fewer than four pages of statistics in the Official Report for the last month; [166703]

(2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that all answers provided by his Department containing tables of statistical data which would not require more than four pages in the Official Report are published in full rather than by reference to a hyperlink. [166728]

Richard Benyon: From 17 June to 17 July 2013, DEFRA answered 385 parliamentary questions. Of these, 41 answers contained statistics that were less than four pages in length.

The Office of the Leader of the House provides guidance to all Departments on the practice of answering parliamentary questions by reference to Government websites.

The guidance advises that the answer should give the Member the factual information requested (including supplying paper copies of the website pages); with an additional line in the answer indicating that the information is already made readily available.

The full Guide is available on the Cabinet Office website at:

http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work

A copy of the guidance relating to referring to websites has already been placed in the Library and the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons intends to review the Guide to Parliamentary Work later this year.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Advertising: Health

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take in relation to the use of distorted body images in advertising; and if he will make a statement. [165932]

2 Sep 2013 : Column 128W

Jo Swinson: The Government are aware of and concerned about the impact that cumulative, distorted and unrealistic images can have on people's self-esteem and wellbeing. Since 2010 we have run a Body Confidence Campaign, which works with the media, advertising, retail and fashion industries. The campaign promotes positive and diverse representations of appearance in the media and other cultural forms, strengthens individual media literacy and resilience to low body confidence, and supports young people's aspirations and confidence in their contribution to society. The programme is evidence-based and guided by an expert advisory group drawn from industry, academia and the third sector.

The Campaign worked with the Professional Publishers Association to develop an industry award to recognise and reward best practice in the area of diverse body images in magazines. This is called the PPA Diversity Award and the first winner (Essentials Magazine) was announced at the annual PPA awards ceremony in June 2012.

The Campaign worked with the Media Smart Trust, a charity run by the advertising industry, to produce online resource packs for parents and teachers to help them educate children about the images used in advertising, how they can be distorted, and the impact this can have on individuals. These packs have been downloaded over 30,000 times and can be found at

www.mediasmart.org.uk/resources/bodyimage

The Campaign has also been involved with the development of Pretty As A Picture, produced by Credos, the research arm of the advertising industry. This researched the opinions and attitudes of young women to the images represented in advertising, and published the findings in an attractive and accessible format. This report can be viewed at

www.credos.org.uk/publications

The Advertising Association is currently launching a new project to understand BME attitudes to advertising, which will explore BME expectations and aspirations, brand preferences and media use.

In July I met with the Chair of the Advertising Association and the CEO of Pearl & Dean to discuss further ways in which the advertising sector can work to support and promote positive body confidence. A number of projects are currently being scoped, including the possibility of incorporating training in body confidence and diversity into industry programmes, and the details of these will be announced once they are finalised.

The Body Confidence Campaign also supports and encourages good practice across industry. Examples of this include initiatives by retailers such as Debenhams, who have produced a Look Book featuring models of different ages, sizes and physical abilities, and have made a commitment to use un-airbrushed photography. The Campaign supports the organisation Models of Diversity, which campaigns for a wider range of races, ages, shapes, sizes and abilities to be represented across the modelling industry, and participated in their recent documentary on models with disabilities. This documentary can be viewed at

www.modelsofdiversity.org

2 Sep 2013 : Column 129W

Apprentices

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what strategies he has to create apprenticeships in his Department; and what plans he has to promote such strategies. [165883]

Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has a strategy in place to promote and offer apprenticeship opportunities to all existing staff at grades AA to SEO (excluding Fast Streamers who have their own development programme) across levels 2 to 4 in a range of subject areas that meet the capability priorities of the civil service. Since October 2012, 44 staff have taken up this opportunity, which was recently promoted as part of Adult Learners Week. As part of the strategy the Department also offers apprenticeships in subjects relevant to BIS professions such as communications and finance and in the longer term the intention is to extend the offer to apprenticeships at level 5 and beyond where this meets business needs.

BIS has undergone a major restructure which has seen staff numbers reduce by 20% since 2010, but is now in a position to expand the apprenticeships opportunities available to young people. There are six apprentices under 21 in the Department at present and the Department's offer includes apprenticeships in finance and the Government's first communications apprentices who joined the Department in June 2013.

BIS has played a key role in the development of the new civil service apprenticeship offer and is welcoming six young apprentices into the Department in September, with plans to take on at least another six in the second phase of the scheme in early 2014.

HR Directors from across BIS and partner organisations have established a network to share ideas and best practice on the recruitment, development and support of apprenticeships so that opportunities can be expanded across the BIS family.

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many apprenticeships funded by the Skills Funding Agency in the next year will be based in (a) Mansfield, (b) Bassetlaw constituency, (c) Sherwood, (d) Nottingham city, (e) Ashfield and (f) Newark; [166514]

(2) in which sectors apprenticeships will be provided by the Skills Funding Agency in 2013 in (a) Nottingham city, (b) Ashfield, (c) Gedling, (d) Sherwood and (e) Bassetlaw constituency; [166515]

(3) in which sectors apprenticeships funded by the Skills Funding Agency in 2013 in Mansfield will be provided; [166529]

(4) how many apprenticeships funded by the Skills Funding Agency in 2013 will be based in Gedling. [166530]

Matthew Hancock: The Government have no role in deciding the location or type of apprenticeships being done, and therefore do not have this information. This Government’s skills policy has shifted from forcing skills providers to meet detailed centrally determined skills targets, to giving providers, employers and learners the flexibility and ownership to determine which skills will best provide employment and respond to skills gaps in the local and national economy.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 130W

Local employers and providers have the local knowledge and professional expertise to best identify the skills that are most valuable, not bureaucrats in London. The apprenticeship reforms will strength this approach.

As apprenticeships are real jobs with training, the locations and sectors where apprenticeships are available are therefore determined by employers offering apprenticeships and recruiting apprentices.

Final data for the full 2012/13 academic year will be available by January 2014 along with provisional data for the first quarter of the 2013/14 academic year. Final data for the full 2013/14 academic year will be available by January 2015.

Apprentices: Nottinghamshire

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills who has been contracted to provide the apprenticeships funded by the Skills Funding Agency in (a) Newark, (b) Bassetlaw, (c) Sherwood, (d) Gedling, (e) Ashfield and (f) Nottingham city. [166901]

Matthew Hancock: The providers of Government-funded apprenticeships within each local authority are published in a supplementary table to a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). Information is not published at the parliamentary constituency level.

http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4027FBE2-EA08-4040-8A39-828C06648A3D/0/January2013_ Participation_by_Provider_Funding_Stream_Learner_and_ Learning_Characteristics201112.xls

Arms Trade: Exports

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the First Report of the Committees on Arms Exports Control, Scrutiny of Arms Exports and Arms Control, Annex 13: Extant arms export licences to Countries of concern, Ev w170, Letter from the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to the Chair of the Committees, dated 10 May 2013, and Ev w264, Letter from the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to the Chair of the Committees dated 20 May 2013 on the Standard Individual Export Licence (Permanent) for equipment employing cryptography and software for equipment employing cryptography of the value £7,765,450,000 to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, how many companies the licence was granted to; for what reasons the value of the licence is higher than others for similar goods; and if he will provide further details on what the licence was granted for. [166871]

Michael Fallon: This licence was granted in the first quarter of 2013 to a single company and permits the export of equipment and software for building public mobile phone networks in residential areas and for small businesses. The exporter has confirmed that the high value of the licence is based on the expectation of a large number of orders over the two-year validity of the licence.

All export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated European Union (EU) and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Export licences are not issued where they would be inconsistent with the criteria.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 131W

Billing

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many creditors to his Department owed more than £10,000 remained unpaid for more than (a) 30 days, (b) 45 days, (c) 60 days, (d) 75 days and (e) more than 90 days in each of the last three years. [166365]

Jo Swinson: Departmental finance records show that the following number of creditors owed over £10,000 remained unpaid in each of the last three calendar years. For ease, the year to date figure has also been provided.

The Department takes prompt payment very seriously and on average over 99% of all creditor invoices are paid within 30 days and of these, 95% are paid within five working days. Delays in payments are rare and most often occur when invoices are disputed.

Business: Yorkshire and the Humber

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many small and medium-sized businesses in Haltemprice and Howden constituency were offered Enterprise Finance Guarantee loans in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 to date. [167023]

Michael Fallon: Enterprise Finance Guarantee loans are provided by participating lenders with the support of the Government guarantee.

The following table details the volume of EFG loans provided to businesses and includes loan offers and actual loans drawn down for the Haltemprice and Howden constituency as follows:

Conditions of Employment: Cambodia

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has discussed with Tate and Lyle the alleged use of child labour in that company's supply chain in Cambodia. [166237]

Jo Swinson: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) has not had any discussions with Tate & Lyle on this matter.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 132W

Credit: Interest Rates

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of people who have taken out a payday loan in (a) Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency, (b) Renfrewshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK. [166678]

Jo Swinson: The Government do not keep any data on the number of people who have taken out a payday loan in (a) Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency, (b) Renfrewshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK. Estimates of the number of households in Great Britain using payday loans varies from 330,000 according to the YouGov Debt track survey (2011) to around 1.5 million (2012) according to the Aviva Family Finances Survey.

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of households with one or more adults in employment used (a) home collected credit, (b) payday loans and (c) all forms of high cost credit in 2012. [166758]

Jo Swinson: The following table provides data on the proportion of households within Great Britain with one or more adults working using (a) home collected credit, (b)payday loans and (c) all forms of high cost credit in 2012. These data are taken from the YouGov Debt track survey.

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of households used credit for everyday living expenses in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2011-12. [166759]

Jo Swinson: The following table provides data on the proportion of households within Great Britain reporting they used credit for everyday living expenses in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2011-12. These data are taken from the YouGov Debt track survey.

Debts

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average amount owed by households in relation to (a) student loans, (b) personal loans, (c) credit cards, (d) overdrafts and (e) high cost credit in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012 was. [166760]

2 Sep 2013 : Column 133W

Jo Swinson: The following table provides data on the average amount owed by all households within Great Britain in relation to (a) student loans, (b) personal loans, (c)credit cards, and (e) all high cost credit in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012. These data are taken from the YouGov Debt track survey. For (d) overdrafts, the survey only includes data on authorised overdrafts.

Electronic Government

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the NAO report Digital Britain published 28 March 2013, HC 1048. [166147]

Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

The National Audit Office's Digital Britain 2 report endorsed the Government's digital agenda. It recognised that the Government's aim of making public services digital by default was broadly acceptable to most people and also small and medium-sized businesses. Work is already under way to make digital the preferred means of accessing public services and to help people who cannot or do not wish to go online, access public services.

Enforcement Restriction Orders

Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will implement the enforcement restriction order, as provided for under Part 6A of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. [167038]

Jo Swinson: At this time, I have no plans to implement the enforcement restriction order regime.

Exports: Israel

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the value of UK exports to Israel was in 2012. [166879]

Michael Fallon: Data showing the value of UK exports of goods and services to Israel in 2012 are available from Table 9.3 of the ONS's UK Balance of Payments (Pink Book) publication at the following link:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bop/united-kingdom-balance-of-payments/2013/rft-part-3--chapter-9-tables--geographical-breakdown-of-the-current-account.xls

Fuel Cells

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what mechanisms his Department is considering providing to support the deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technology in transport. [166478]

2 Sep 2013 : Column 134W

Michael Fallon: UKH2Mobility, a Government and cross-industry programme, is currently evaluating the potential for use of hydrogen and fuel cell technology in travel and what support the industry might need. It is expected to report at the end of this year.

Working with the Office for Low Emissions Vehicles (OLEV) the technology strategy board has invested in excess of £41 million into fuel cell and hydrogen technologies since 2009. In this financial year 2013-14 the TSB has plans to invest a further £4.5 million into ongoing activity supporting fuel cell manufacturing and the supply chain and £5 million into technologies specifically enabling the market for hydrogen. Fuel cells and hydrogen technologies are a part of TSB's energy strategy and further investments into this area are anticipated during the current spending review period to continue to support UK companies developing products for this growing global market.

In addition hydrogen fuel cell electric cars are eligible under the existing plug-in car grant scheme, administered by OLEV, which offers motorists a grant of 25% towards the cost of the vehicle, up to a maximum of £5,000.

Insolvency

Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received on plans by creditors to introduce modifications to Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) that may make it difficult for an IVA to be provided to a debtor by a licensed insolvency practitioner; and whether he has any plans to bring forward further regulation in light of these plans. [167036]

Jo Swinson: I have received three letters on this issue; I do not have any plans to bring forward further regulation in light of these plans.

We are, however, considering Professor Kempson's recommendations following her review of insolvency practitioner fees and will respond shortly.

Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to encourage all creditors to agree to the Debt Management Plan Protocol. [167037]

Jo Swinson: BIS officials in the Insolvency Service are liaising with various trade associations representing different creditor organisations in order to encourage take up of the Debt Management Plan Protocol.

Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what assessment he has made of how many informal debt management plans might be replaced by simple IVAs; [167039]

(2) what assessment he has made of the potential effect on returns to creditors across all debt resolution procedures which may occur if the simple IVA were to be introduced; [167040]

(3) if he plans to introduce the simple IVA, as originally proposed by the Insolvency Service in November 2008; [167041]

(4) whether he plans to introduce further reform of personal insolvency procedures. [167046]

2 Sep 2013 : Column 135W

Jo Swinson: We undertook an in depth review of the personal insolvency regime 2010-11 (“Managing Borrowing and Dealing with Debt”), which asked for views on whether the regime itself was fit for purpose. The conclusion of that review was that the current options available do provide a balance between debt write-off and relief and reasonable levels of debt repayment. Therefore in the light of the responses there are no current plans to introduce legislation for simple IVAs.

However, we will be introducing major changes to the debtor petition route into bankruptcy by removing the courts and making the process administrative; we will also be evaluating the debt relief order regime next year.

The key issue for Government is to ensure that consumers in financial difficulty know where to go for free and impartial advice on the various debt remedies available to them, both formal insolvency procedures and informal debt management plans. Some debtors will prefer the formality that an individual voluntary arrangement, for example, will bring; for others, the more informal debt management plan will be the preferred route. In developing the debt management plan protocol with industry we will be collating more data on debt management plans, which will allow us to better assess how well the debt management market is meeting consumer needs.

Local Enterprise Partnerships: North East

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much of the £539.6 million announced by his Department on 27 June 2013 for the North East Local Enterprise Partnership for 2014 to 2020 will be allocated to (a) Northumberland, (b) Tyne and Wear and (c) County Durham; and if he will estimate how much funding each of these areas would have received if the EU formula for the allocation of funding had been implemented. [166882]

Michael Fallon: Apart from the Tees Valley and Durham transition region there is no more detailed breakdown of the allocations to the north eastern Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). It is up to the LEPs to lead local discussions about how the ESI funds are spent in their areas. The EU formula is only used to determine the national envelope for each category of region and, as such, local authority specific allocations have not been calculated except for where they happen to map on to transition regions.

The figure for allocations for the North East Local Enterprise Partnership is €539.6 million rather than £539.6 million. As set out in the letter of 10 July 2013 to the north eastern LEP, the allocation to County Durham, which is the transition region part of the LEP, is €145.3 million (this figure does not include the performance reserve of 7% which cannot be released until agreed targets and milestones have been met, based on a performance review to take place in 2019).

Manufacturing Industries: Research

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what Government funding has been provided for research and development in the manufacturing sector in (a) each of the last three years and (b) 2013-14. [166501]

2 Sep 2013 : Column 136W

Mr Willetts: The Government fund advanced manufacturing research and development (R&D) through support of the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), the BIS Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI) and the Engineering and Physical Research Council (EPSRC).

In 2011-12 £125 million was made available to support UK Supply Chains as part of Rounds 1 and 2 of AMSCI. Some of the projects supported include a manufacturing R&D component.

A further £120 million is being made available for AMSCI Rounds 3 and 4 from 2013-14. £20 million of this funding is allocated to financial year 2013-14 and, as with Rounds 1 and 2, some of this funding will support manufacturing R&D.