Sports

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department spent on sport in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire, (c) East Midlands and (d) England in each of the last five years. [169026]

Hugh Robertson: Funding in constituencies, local authorities and regions is invested on the basis of applications for funding and the figures do not reflect the large amount of funding channelled through our key partners, such as National Governing Bodies of Sport, to increase the number of people playing sport and support talented people fulfil their potential. Funding for National Governing Bodies is reflected in the national figures as all of Sport England's awards are to English beneficiaries and for activity within England. Funding for the previous Physical Education and Sport Strategy for Young People (PESSYP) 2008-11 and the current School Games programme cannot be disaggregated by constituency.

8 Oct 2013 : Column 210W

Standards

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the reasons are for the time taken to publish her Department’s quarterly data summary for the second quarter of 2012-13 and the third quarter of 2012-13. [168817]

Hugh Robertson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, today.

Television: Licensing

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many businesses in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency have been pursued for non-payment of television licences since 2010. [169267]

Mr Vaizey: Neither DCMS nor the BBC, including TV Licensing, holds the requested information.

War Memorials

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received on the creation of a national memorial for war widows and orphans. [169270]

Mr Vaizey: I replied on 10 September to your letter raising this subject. I also outlined the UK Government's First World War Centenary commemoration programme and how members of the public can become involved in it.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Absenteeism

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the rates of staff (a) absence and (b) sickness absence in his Department in each of the past five years were; and what the departmental targets were in each case. [168735]

Richard Benyon: The average number of working days lost (AWDL) due to sickness by staff in core DEFRA is shown in the following table.

8 Oct 2013 : Column 211W

Rates of absence for reasons other than sickness are not routinely calculated and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.

DEFRA does not set sickness absence or other absence targets.

Accountancy

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on accountants in each year since 2010. [168591]

Richard Benyon: This question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

Air Travel

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many individual domestic air flights were undertaken within Great Britain by representatives of (a) his Department and (b) its associated public bodies in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what the cost to the public purse of each such flight was. [168770]

Richard Benyon: There were 219 individual domestic air flights undertaken within Great Britain by representatives of the core Department in financial year 2012-13. The total cost of these flights was £37,445.78. A breakdown of the individual cost per flight is as follows.

Cost of each flight

£623.95

£529.55

£377.45

£339.93

£317.11

£312.22

£274.72

£273.52

£268.50

£246.19

£233.50

£229.22

£217.51

£206.61

£193.70

£189.53

£177.32

£157.07

£152.22

£146.72

£145.55

£142.52

£137.95

£133.66

£130.10

£126.42

£118.03

£114.50

£110.22

£106.98

£105.22

£97.52

£95.07

£91.53

8 Oct 2013 : Column 212W

£89.02

£78.53

£77.41

£73.27

£66.99

£64.24

£60.94

£58.52

£45.70

£35.00

£571.55

£504.90

£372.57

£339.93

£317.11

£312.22

£273.52

£273.52

£267.55

£242.52

£231.52

£228.95

£217.51

£202.03

£190.93

£189.03

£175.05

£157.07

£149.10

£146.72

£145.55

£142.03

£137.32

£133.24

£129.49

£125.27

£118.03

£114.50

£109.98

£105.82

£104.12

£95.24

£95.07

£90.52

£87.07

£77.99

£75.55

£73.27

£66.62

£63.53

£60.00

£58.00

£41.50

£35.00

£558.72

£393.47

£363.97

£339.93

£315.93

8 Oct 2013 : Column 213W

£293.50

£273.52

£268.57

£266.19

£242.05

£231.52

£227.57

£214.49

£202.03

£190.67

£187.07

£172.07

£156.72

£147.32

£145.98

£144.02

£139.07

£136.72

£133.09

£128.87

£123.57

£117.87

£113.05

£109.56

£105.82

£103.93

£95.14

£95.07

£89.41

£83.53

£77.59

£75.55

£70.53

£66.54

£62.70

£60.00

£57.50

£40.94

£20.60

£553.22

£390.24

£354.66

£336.00

£313.00

£289.05

£273.52

£268.50

£265.93

£241.92

£229.42

£222.99

£210.57

£196.05

£190.67

£184.72

£157.07

£155.53

£147.32

£145.94

8 Oct 2013 : Column 214W

£144.02

£139.00

£134.07

£132.00

£128.78

£121.99

£115.65

£110.50

£109.00

£105.55

£103.53

£95.14

£94.53

£89.41

£83.24

£77.52

£74.57

£69.52

£66.54

£61.22

£60.00

£56.24

£40.00

£10.00

£529.55

£389.72

£346.72

£321.22

£312.72

£287.98

£273.52

£268.50

£248.05

£238.95

£229.42

£222.72

£210.57

£194.05

£189.57

£182.93

£157.07

£152.22

£146.72

£145.55

£142.52

£138.90

£134.07

£131.01

£126.52

£119.53

£114.50

£110.22

£109.00

£105.46

£97.55

£95.14

£93.50

£89.05

£83.01

8 Oct 2013 : Column 215W

£77.41

£74.10

£67.90

£66.40

£61.00

£60.00

£51.50

£40.00

Part (b) of this question could only be answered at disproportionate cost.

Animal Welfare

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) financial and (b) other support his Department gives to animal rescue centres. [169018]

Mr Heath: Animal rescue centres do not receive any Government funding or direct assistance.

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animal rescue centres there were in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire, (c) the East Midlands and (d) England in each of the last five years. [169059]

Mr Heath: This information is not held by any Government Department.

Animals: Exports

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the (a) annual value added to the UK economy by and (b) annual loss to the UK's slaughter and processing sectors arising from the export of live animals for fattening and slaughter outside the UK. [169275]

Mr Heath: The export of live animals for slaughter and fattening make up a small proportion of animals fattened and slaughtered within the UK. There has been no assessment made of either annual value or annual loss to the economy and the UK's slaughter and processing sectors, respectively.

Apprentices

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many apprentices were employed by (a) his Department, (b) each of its Executive agencies and (c) its key delivery partners in each of the last three years. [165251]

Richard Benyon [holding answer 15 July 2013]: The number of apprentices employed by core DEFRA, its Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) over the last three financial years are set out in the following table.

8 Oct 2013 : Column 216W

No other DEFRA bodies have apprentices in the year stated.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many apprenticeships his Department offered to people aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 21 and (c) 22 to 26 years old in each year since 2010; [165873]

(2) what strategies he has to create apprenticeships in his Department; and what plans he has to promote such strategies. [165891]

Richard Benyon: A breakdown by age group of the total number of apprenticeships employed by core DEFRA since 2010 is set out in the following table:

We are constantly reviewing our approach to recruitment (including that of apprentices) and the development needs of our staff based on our workforce needs. Any future selection of apprentices will be either through:

The Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme for 18 to 21-year-olds.

For any other apprentices by following the advice on good practice given in the Civil Service Apprenticeship Framework.

Billing

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many invoices were processed by his Department in the last financial year for which figures are available. [169353]

Richard Benyon: DEFRA Shared Services processed a total of 32,486 invoices in the financial year 2012-13 on behalf of Core DEFRA.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences have been issued allowing marksmen to take part in the pilot badger culls. [169310]

Mr Heath: Two licences have been issued by Natural England to permit cull companies to control badgers.

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make available data from the Government's two pilot badger

8 Oct 2013 : Column 217W

cull trials on the number of badgers culled in each of the pilot areas

(a)

at the midway point and

(b)

on completion of the pilot culls. [169539]

Mr Heath: Details of the two badger cull pilots, including the number of badgers culled in each of the pilot areas, will be published in due course following their completion.

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy that raw data on the (a) proportion of area engaged and (b) proportion of badger population culled in each of the two pilot badger cull areas is published within a week of the completion of the projects. [169540]

Mr Heath: Details of the two pilot culls, including information on the proportion of the area covered and of the badger population culled, will be published in due course following their completion.

Buildings

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many square metres of office space his Department (a) owns and (b) rents in London; and what the value is of that property. [169421]

Richard Benyon: The data requested are available online from the data.gov.uk website.

The link is:

http://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/epims

Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the expenditure on office refurbishment by (a) his Department and (b) his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each year since 2010-11. [169448]

Richard Benyon: The expenditure on office refurbishment by core DEFRA in each year since 2010-11 is as follows:

The expenditure on office refurbishment by the Department's non-departmental public bodies in each year since 2010-11 is as follows:

This answer includes VAT where this is non-recoverable.

This answer only covers fitting out works and major projects, as other works are deemed to be maintenance and repair.

Expenditure is recorded in the same financial reporting year as the cost was recorded in the accounts.

8 Oct 2013 : Column 218W

Carbon Emissions

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on offsetting costs for energy-related carbon dioxide in the last year for which figures are available. [169579]

Richard Benyon: It is Core DEFRA's policy to invest in energy efficiency and carbon reduction initiatives rather than on carbon offsetting. Core DEFRA has not spent any money on energy-related carbon offsetting in the last financial year (2012-13).

Charities

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that his Department does not give grants to charities whose principal officers or employees engage in criminal activity at protests. [169667]

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA awards grants to a wide range of bodies. It considers all relevant factors when assessing grant applications against the criteria for the scheme, including value for money. That process does not routinely seek information on the activities of employees or principal officers, other than the activity for which the grant is made.

Christmas Cards

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his private ministerial office spent on sending Christmas cards in 2012. [168680]

Richard Benyon: The cost of sending Christmas cards from the Secretary of State in 2012 was £37.

Coastal Erosion

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to protect the (a) UK coastline and (b) Saltdean, Telscombe Cliffs and Peacehaven stretch of coastline from erosion. [169333]

Richard Benyon: The Government are on course to spend £2.3 billion on preventing flooding and coastal erosion over the current spending review period. The Environment Agency has a strategic overview role for managing coastal change alongside local authorities, which undertake the role of coast protection authority. Together the Environment Agency and coast protection authorities monitor coastal change, predict trends and make strategic plans through the 22 Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) for England and Wales.

The Saltdean, Telscombe Cliffs and Peacehaven stretch of coastline is covered by the “Beachy Head to Selsey Bill” SMP. This proposes a policy of 'hold the line' for the majority of the frontage. However, at Telscombe and between Newhaven and Peacehaven, 'no active intervention' is proposed.

Lewes district council and Brighton and Hove city council are the coast protection authorities in this area and have appointed consultants to produce a “Newhaven

8 Oct 2013 : Column 219W

to Brighton Marina” Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy. The strategy will evaluate the most sustainable option to maintain the coastline over the next 100 years in order to deliver the policies set out within the SMP.

Deloitte

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Huddersfield of 15 July 2013, Official Report, column 478W on accountancy, what the purpose of each contract with Deloitte is. [168213]

Richard Benyon [holding answer 10 September 2013]:The following table sets out the available information on contracts between core DEFRA and Deloitte correlating to the spend data referred to in PQ 0662 from the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr Sheerman) from 2009-10 onwards.

We do not have a central record of contracts in place before 2009-10 and cannot therefore provide the requested information for that period.

Employment Agencies

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many employment agency staff are currently employed under the Swedish Derogation in (a) his Department and (b) each executive agency and non-departmental public body for which he is responsible. [168080]

8 Oct 2013 : Column 220W

Richard Benyon [holding answer 9 September 2013]: Core DEFRA currently has 41 people provided through an employment agency under the Swedish Derogation model.

The Rural Payments Agency currently has seven people provided through an employment agency under the Swedish Derogation model.

Natural England currently has 114 people provided through an employment agency under the Swedish Derogation model.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff working in his Department are employed through agencies using the Swedish Derogation; how many staff receive less than the living wage; and if he will make a statement. [168137]

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA currently has 41 people provided through an employment agency under the Swedish Derogation model all whom receive at least the national minimum wage.

Of those 41 people, 13 in London receive less than the London living wage and one person outside London receives less than the national living wage.

Environmental Civil Sanctions (England) Order 2010

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he has made on the review of civil sanctions granted in the Environmental Sanctions (England) Order 2010, as required by section 67 of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008. [169673]

Richard Benyon: The review of civil sanctions granted in the Environmental Sanctions (England) Order 2010 is ongoing. This includes a social research element which is currently out for procurement tender. DEFRA aims to publish the full report in spring 2014.

Fisheries: Morocco

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to propose that the new protocol to the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement should be limited to Morocco's exclusive economic zone. [169329]

Richard Benyon: The new protocol to the fisheries partnership agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco has not yet been agreed by the Council and the European Parliament.

The protocol as initialled would apply to waters off Morocco and Western Sahara, the majority of which is under the de facto administration of Morocco.

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy that the new protocol to the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement states the geographic limits of the area to which it will apply. [169644]

Richard Benyon: The Government agree that any new protocol to the fisheries partnership agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco should clearly state the geographic area to which it would apply.

8 Oct 2013 : Column 221W

Floods: Tees Valley

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding he will provide to increase the flood resilience of Guisborough. [168950]

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency has planned a flood scheme for Guisborough to begin in 2016-17. The estimated cost of this scheme is £1.1 million and will protect approximately 94 properties.

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding he will provide to increase the flood resilience of (a) Skinningrove, (b) Brotton, (c) Loftus, (d) Skelton and (e) surrounding areas. [168951]

Richard Benyon: DEFRA provide funding to improve flood resilience through Flood and Coastal Risk Management Grant in Aid. This funding is invested in capital schemes and on-going programmes of maintenance to improve flood resilience. A list of the current programme of works in the above locations is provided as follows.

(a) Skinningrove

£3.78 million has been planned for a local authority led coastal erosion scheme. This will protect 149 properties. £30,000 will be invested to replace one of the flood warning sirens in Skinningrove and to undertake maintenance work on the existing flood walls and gates. These flood management assets protect 179 properties.

(b) Brotton

The Environment Agency is working with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council (as the Lead Local Flood Authority) to consider solutions to surface water and ordinary watercourses at Brotton.

(c) Loftus

£90,000 will be invested to repair a degraded culvert and to undertake work to increase the clearance under Haugh Bridge at Loftus. This will increase the protection to 27 properties.

(d) Skelton

The Environment Agency is working with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council (as the Lead Local Flood Authority) to consider solutions to surface water and ordinary watercourses at Skelton.

(e) Surrounding areas

£9.4 million from the Projects for Acceleration and Growth funding will be invested in Port Clarence protecting approximately 350 properties. This work will start in 2015 and take two years to complete. A further £1.6 million will be invested in Lustrum Beck protecting approximately 200 properties.

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding he will provide to increase the flood resilience of Teesside. [168952]

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency recently completed a coastal flooding and erosion protection scheme at Redcar at a cost of £25 million.

Currently, over £18 million of investment is planned for the flood resilience of Teesside.

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding he will provide to increase the flood resilience of Saltburn. [168953]

Richard Benyon: Historically there has been very little flooding in Saltburn. The Environment Agency is working with the local authority, Redcar and Cleveland Council, to investigate the cause of flooding that occurred on

8 Oct 2013 : Column 222W

6 September. However, at this stage, there are currently no specific flood management improvements identified in this area.

With no previous history of flooding there are no flood defence assets within Saltburn. DEFRA continues to provide funding to the Environment Agency to support communities across Teesside in understanding and responding to their flood risk.

Grants

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department gave to (a) CPRE, (b) Cheltenham Animal Shelter, (c) Friends of the Earth, Scotland, (d) Green Alliance, (e) Freedom Foods Ltd, (f) Greenpeace, (g) Mammals Trust, (h) RSPCA, (i) RSPB, (j) Salmon and Trout Association, (k) The Country Trust, (l) The Mammal Society, (m) The National Trust, (n) The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and (o) Friends of the Earth, Wales in each of the last two years; and for what reasons each such contribution was made. [167836]

Richard Benyon: This table sets out the amounts paid to the organisations listed in financial years 2011-12 and 2012-13:

The money paid to these organisations contributed to a wide range of DEFRA's objectives, including establishing the Green Alliance Circular Economy Task Force, a multi-objective flood management project and wild bird disease surveillance. The figure for RSPB includes grants made under the Darwin initiative for biodiversity projects overseas and research contracts, for example, in relation to farmland birds.

Litter: Beaches

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to better educate the public on the need to pick up litter from beaches. [169215]

8 Oct 2013 : Column 223W

Richard Benyon: DEFRA works with and supports Keep Britain Tidy to campaign to change people's behaviour around litter, and to call on everyone to “Love where you live”.

Keep Britain Tidy administers the Blue Flag programme and Quality Coast Awards in England. These international campaigns aim to improve the environmental management and public awareness of coastal areas. Keep Britain Tidy also runs the Eco-Schools programme, which works with schools to develop young people's awareness of local environmental quality issues, and to change littering habits from a young age.

DEFRA's marine executive agency, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), is one of 39 European partners including NGOs, governments, educational institutes and commercial interests working on the EU MARLISCO project, which is aimed at addressing the social and economic impacts of marine litter by encouraging attitude and behaviour change.

Litter: Brighton

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the Big Beach Clean-up in Brighton in July 2013; what his policy is on clean beaches; and if he will make a statement. [169216]

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has not made any assessment of the Big Beach Clean-up in Brighton.

It is never acceptable to litter and individuals must take personal responsibility for their actions. Local authorities are required to keep their relevant land clear of litter and refuse; this includes beaches above the high water mark. The standards they are expected to achieve are set out in the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse. Local authorities are advised to monitor and clean beaches below the high water mark areas as appropriate, and to do as much cleansing as is practicable. It is recognised that beaches present unique challenges and they may not always be cleaned to the maximum standard possible because of the terrain, conditions, accessibility and the need to be sensitive to habitats.

DEFRA works with and supports the work of Keep Britain Tidy, which runs the globally recognised Blue Flag beach award in England. This year, 55 beaches in England were awarded a Blue Flag, and 113 achieved the new Seaside Award (formerly the Quality Coast Award).

Livestock: Disease Control

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the surveillance review of potentially-diseased animals to be published. [169389]

Mr Heath: The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency will publish details of the new model for veterinary scanning surveillance in England and Wales in the next few weeks.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received on current levels of surveillance in (a) England and (b) north Yorkshire. [169390]

8 Oct 2013 : Column 224W

Mr Heath: Following the recommendation of the Surveillance Advisory Group, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) initiated the Surveillance 2014 project. The project aims to create a new, more effective and financially sustainable surveillance system, including improving access through better geographical coverage; better partnership working; and developing deeper specialist skills and knowledge.

The project undertook a public consultation between 13 December 2012 and 15 February 2013 and gathered over 370 responses. The consultation and summary of responses are published on the AHVLA website at:

www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/about-us/consultations

As the responses were submitted via an online survey and by e-mail, it is not possible to know how many were from north Yorkshire. However, during the consultation period, there was also a series of 10 open regional workshops which included one at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate that was attended by 33 delegates. A summary of the information gathered at the workshops is also published on the AHVLA website at:

www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/files/surveillance14-consultation-summary-app2.pdf

Livestock: Transport

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2013, Official Report, column 499W, on livestock: transport (1) upon whom each statutory notice concerned was served; [168434]

(2) what type of animal the breaches concerned in each case; [168435]

(3) in what circumstances each statutory notice concerned was served; and for what specific reason each such notice was served. [168436]

Mr Heath: Information on the transporters who received statutory notices cannot be provided. To do so in respect of those transporters that are sole traders would, we believe, contravene data protection laws. In cases where the infringement is serious, such information might prejudice any investigation and possible prosecution being taken by the relevant local authority. For further details on the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency’s regulatory policy in relation to welfare during transport legislation is available at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/publication/advice-wato-enforcement/

In each case, sheep were the animals concerned.

Of the seven notices served, six notices were served at the supervised loadings and one of the notices was served in the port. The notices were served for the following reasons: two notices were served for documentary irregularities; two notices were served because animals were not fit for the intended journey; and three notices were served for breaches of the technical rules set out in the regulation.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2013, Official Report, column 674W, on livestock: transport, on what grounds those 18 vehicles that were subject to additional checks by

8 Oct 2013 : Column 225W

Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency inspectors at the port of exit were selected for those additional checks. [169245]

Mr Heath: Vehicles are selected for additional checks at the port on the basis of a combination of risk analysis and random selection.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2013, Official Report, column 674W, on livestock: transport, for what reasons Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency inspectors did not select all 46 vehicles for additional checks on departure. [169246]

Mr Heath: All of the vehicles were subject to inspection at point of loading onto the vehicle. To inspect all of the vehicles again would not be proportionate.

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether, when the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency checks journey logs under Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport, consideration is given to the requirement for drivers of livestock vehicles to comply with the rules on driving times set out in Regulation EC 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport. [169495]

Mr Heath: The legislation on welfare during transport (Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005) stipulates what member states shall check when approving journey logs. Among other things, Article 14 requires that the journey log is realistic and indicates compliance with the terms of the

8 Oct 2013 : Column 226W

Council Regulation. It does not require any checks of compliance with other legislation, including that relating to the rules on road transport.

Meat: EU Action

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the EU Commission on mechanically separated meat; and if he will make a statement. [169512]

Mr Heath: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for policy on mechanically separated meat (MSM). During the summer, senior FSA officials met senior European Commission officials including the director-general for health and consumers. They reaffirmed the need for EU level discussions as a matter of urgency, further to the publication of a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) scientific opinion on the safety of MSM derived from poultry and pork and the continued uncertainty relating to the interpretation of the EU rules and guidance on MSM.

Ministers’ Private Offices

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many full-time equivalent staff of each Civil Service grade are currently employed in the private office of each Minister in his Department; and what the pay band of each such member of staff is. [168718]

Richard Benyon: The number of staff (in full-time equivalents) currently working in each of the Minsters' Private Offices is shown in the following table:

National Wildlife Crime Unit

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit was provided by (a) his Department, (b) the Home Department, (c) the Scottish Government, (d) the Northern Ireland Executive, (e) the Association of Chief Police Officers and (f) other bodies in each of the last eight years. [169676]

Richard Benyon: The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) was launched in October 2006.

For the financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08, a detailed breakdown of different organisations' contributions to the funding is not available but the Unit received £308,417 and £476,296 respectively. For subsequent financial years the breakdown is given in the following table:

8 Oct 2013 : Column 227W

8 Oct 2013 : Column 228W

Nature Conservation: Crime

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Law Commission about its review of wildlife legislation; and if he will make a statement. [169670]

George Eustice: Officials have had a number of discussions with the Law Commission during the course of this project.

The Law Commission has now completed its consultation on reforming wildlife law legislation. It will publish a report shortly setting out its conclusions following consultation. We have agreed that the project should move to the next stage, which includes the drafting of a legislative instrument and a report setting out the Law Commission’s final recommendations for reform.

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many wildlife crime incidents were dealt with by (a) Natural England and (b) the Environment Agency in each of the last five years; and how many of those incidents led to prosecutions in each year. [169674]

Richard Benyon: The following table shows the wildlife crimes dealt with by Natural England relating to the Wildlife arid Countryside Act 1981, and the prosecutions which resulted:

The Environment Agency has no prosecution powers under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. It can prosecute fisheries offences which may include poaching, one of the UK's six wildlife crime priorities. Data are not yet available for 2011-12 onwards and it is not possible to separate out how many of the offences detailed in the following table are poaching offences.

Press: Subscriptions

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which newspapers, periodicals and trade profession publications his private ministerial office subscribes to on a (a) daily, (b) weekly, (c) monthly and (d) quarterly basis. [168699]

Richard Benyon: Newspapers, periodicals and trade profession publications for private ministerial offices subscribed to on a (a) daily, (b) weekly, (c) monthly and (d) quarterly basis are as follows:

Daily

The Financial Times

The Times

The Daily Telegraph

The Independent

The Guardian

The Sun

The Daily Mirror

The Daily Mail

The Daily Express

Weekly

The Economist

Farmers Weekly

Farmers Guardian

Private Eye

The Fishing News

Monthly

None

Quarterly

Vachers Quarterly

Public Relations

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its associated public bodies spent on (a) external public relations consultants and (b) public affairs consultants, in each of the past three years; and for what purposes such consultants were engaged. [168662]

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA has not spent any money on external public relations or public affairs consultants in the last three years.

8 Oct 2013 : Column 229W

CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) contracted Redhouse Lane in 2010 to review their marketing approach, develop a messaging toolkit and deliver workshops. This was to enable CEFAS to raise its profile among potential new customers in the public sector and wider commercial markets. Seeking work with the private sector is a key part of CEFAS’ remit. The cost of this contract was £17,800.

The Sea Fish Industry Authority (a Levy Board, funded by the Seafish industry) funded three projects totalling £250,500, over the last three financial years. These were for consumer education on increasing seafood consumption (£94,000); a consumer Seafish education campaign (£71,000); and Fish is the Dish (£85,500).

Publications

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department in each year since 2010. [168785]

Richard Benyon: Information on DEFRA research reports commissioned from external organisations (including title, subject, cost and contractor) is available on the Science Search website:

http://randd.defra.gov.uk/

Publishing

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent in each of the last three years on hard copy printing of documents for external audiences. [168627]

Richard Benyon: Our policy is to make all our publications available on the internet, and to rely on this as our primary distribution route. We aim to avoid printing and distributing hard copies of publications wherever that is practical.

This question could be answered only at disproportionate cost, because this information is not held centrally.

Rural Areas: Wind Power

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received on possible links between the siting of wind farms and water pollution in rural areas. [169268]

Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State has received no representations on possible links between the siting of wind farms and water pollution in rural areas.

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has conducted on potential links between the siting of wind farms and water pollution in rural areas. [169269]

Richard Benyon: No specific research has been done on the effects of wind farms on water pollution in rural areas. However, wind farm schemes must seek planning permission via the local authority before construction.

8 Oct 2013 : Column 230W

The planning permission must include an acceptable environmental impact statement, which includes the impacts of potential emission of pollutants and how this will be mitigated.

Environment Agency pollution incident records show no significant impact on water quality from the construction and operation of wind farms.

Satellite Broadcasting

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what subscriptions his Department has for premium satellite television channels; and what the cost of each such subscription was in the most recent year for which figures are available. [168644]

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA does not hold any subscriptions to premium satellite television channels; non-terrestrial television is received via Freeview.

Security

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many departmental identity cards or passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in his Department since May 2010. [168609]

Richard Benyon: Since May 2010, 224 departmental identity cards or passes have been reported lost and 19 reported stolen.

Staff

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of his Department's jobs have been relocated from London to each region of the UK in each of the last 10 years. [168013]

Richard Benyon: Major office relocations from the core Department in London to other parts of the UK in each of the last 10 years are estimated as follows:

8 Oct 2013 : Column 231W

Other individual posts may have relocated from London to each region of the UK but identifying this additional level of detail could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Standards

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reasons are for the time taken to publish his Department's Quarterly Data Summary for the second quarter of 2012-13 and the third quarter of 2012-13. [168820]

Richard Benyon: The Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 Quarterly Data Summary (QDS) returns for DEFRA, along with all the other Departments participating in the QDS process, were delayed owing to the development of the Cabinet Office's Government Interrogating Spending Tool (GIST). The GIST was developed in response to recommendations made in Dr Martin Read's independent report entitled ‘Practical Steps to Improve Management Information in Government'. The GIST is an online tool that allows the public to access a breakdown of Government expenditure through the Gov.UK website:

www.gov.uk

It makes the process of accessing and analysing complex QDS and OSCAR data easier and quicker, and for these reasons was seen to justify a short delay in publishing QDS data.

Televisions

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many flat screen televisions have been purchased by his Department in the last 24 months; and what the cost to the public purse was of such purchases. [168752]

George Eustice: Core DEFRA purchased three flat screen televisions in the last 24 months. The costs are shown in the following table.

Travel

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on travel for departmental officials in each of the last five years. [169013]

Richard Benyon: The following table sets out the information requested. These figures include the cost of ministerial travel.

8 Oct 2013 : Column 232W

Trillium Group

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on contracts with Trillium Group in each year since 2008. [169255]

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA has not incurred any expenditure on contracts with Trillium Group since 2008.

Veterinary Laboratories Agency: Thirsk

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will maintain the facility to conduct post mortems at Thirsk Veterinary Laboratory; and if he will make a statement. [169391]

Mr Heath: The Independent Surveillance Advisory Group (SAG) was established in 2011 so all those with an interest in veterinary surveillance could help shape a future model and ensure that all issues were thoroughly considered. The Surveillance Advisory Group's final report

www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/publication/sag-final-report

was published by AHVLA on 10 April 2012.

Following the SAG's recommendation, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) initiated the Surveillance 2014 project. The project aims to create a new, more effective and financially sustainable surveillance system, including improving access through better geographical coverage, through better partnership working and by developing deeper specialist skills and knowledge.

Surveillance 2014 launched a public consultation on 13 December 2012 until 15 February 2013 and AHVLA gathered over 370 responses. The consultation and summary of responses are published on the AHVLA website:

www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/about-us/consultations

AHVLA are currently developing a proposal, based on the SAG report and the consultation, on what the future delivery model for veterinary surveillance will look like, which includes locations of all its veterinary laboratories, including Thirsk. No final decision has been made and AHVLA will publish details of the proposed new model in the next few weeks.

Water: South East

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of water quality in the south-east. [169334]

Richard Benyon: Water quality in the south-east is monitored through the EU water framework directive. In 2011, the Environment Agency assessed 968 water bodies in the south-east, of which, 74% were at moderate or good status. In order to improve the quality of our waters, the Environment Agency completed approximately 3,000 investigations. This evidence has been used to target action and investment to protect and improve waters.

The Environment Agency assesses the water quality of 96 bathing waters in the south-east each year. In 2012, every bathing water met the minimum standard required by the EU bathing water directive.

8 Oct 2013 : Column 233W

Wind Power: Rural Areas

Sir Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to be in a position to publish the report that his Department has commissioned with regard to the effects of land-based wind farms upon property prices in rural areas. [168842]

Richard Benyon [holding answer 12 September 2013]: DEFRA has commissioned a study of the effects that a range of different types of energy infrastructure may have on property prices. This work is ongoing, and no firm date has yet been set for the publication of the final report.

Education

Absenteeism

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the rates of staff (a) absence and (b) sickness absence in his Department in each of the past five years were; and what the departmental targets were in each case. [168733]

Elizabeth Truss: The rates of staff sickness absence and unauthorised absence for the last five years are provided in the following table:

Data for unauthorised absence in the 12 months to August 2009 are not held by the Department.

The Department does not specify targets for staff absence.

Academies: Insurance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will issue guidance to governors of free schools and academies on the financial and legal implications of not obtaining public liability insurance for (a) asbestos risks and (b) risks associated with radon for their pupils and other non-employees. [169433]

Mr Timpson: The Department for Education already issues guidance to all schools, including academies and free schools, which emphasises the importance of having public liability insurance, available at:

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/emergencyplanning/a0010634/guidanceoninsurance

and the safe management of asbestos in schools, available at:

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/schoolscapital/buildingsanddesign/managementofpremises/b00215518/asbestosmanagementschools

It is the responsibility of academies and free schools to obtain appropriate insurance. Given the general asbestos exclusion and general exclusions for contamination in

8 Oct 2013 : Column 234W

public liability insurance, it is not possible to advise schools to obtain insurance that explicitly covers such risks.

Accountancy

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has spent on accountants in each year since 2010. [168589]

Elizabeth Truss: Total expenditure on accountants is as follows:

The Department has taken expenditure on accountants to mean expenditure relating to financial accounting services.

Data for 2012-13 and 2013-14 are not comparable with earlier years, as they include expenditure by the Department's Executive agencies which were only brought within the Department from 2012-13.

Air Travel

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many individual domestic air flights were undertaken within Great Britain by representatives of (a) his Department and (b) its associated public bodies in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what the cost to the public purse of each such flight was. [168768]

Elizabeth Truss: For the financial year 2012-13 a total of 65 domestic flights were made by staff of the Department and its executive agencies at a total cost of £9,882.88.

This is down from 339 flights at a cost of £57,713.88 in 2009-10, the last year of the previous Government.

No domestic flights were undertaken by staff in any of the associated arm's length bodies.