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Sea Fishing: Net Mesh Sizes
Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will issue guidance to sea fishermen's organisations to clarify the latest European Union directive on the sizes of net meshes. [HL2461]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): The department issued a guidance note to all licensed vessel owners in England and Wales on 23 November 2001. We are placing a copy in the Library of the House.
Foot and Mouth Outbreak: Cost
Lord Roberts asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will provide a breakdown of the total costs of the foot and mouth outbreak to date. [HL2227]
Lord Whitty: The Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report shows that the Government are spending an additional £2.7 billion to tackle foot and mouth disease and its implications for the rural economy. This figure has now been updated. The full breakdown is as follows:
| £ million | |
| Compensation for farmers | 1.114 |
| Other costs of disease eradication | 952 |
| Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme | 400 |
| Agri-monetary compensation | 156 |
| Advice and marketing for farmers | 15 |
| Business Recovery Fund | 55 |
| Rate relief | 20 |
| Matched funding for charitable donations | 13 |
| Tourism promotion | 18 |
| Rights of way-re-opening | 4 |
| Total | 2,747 |
Sheep Farming
Lord Inglewood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have plans to increase the sheep annual premium which was devalued for 2001 by the impact of foot and mouth disease on the United Kingdom export trade which consequentially lifted prices on the Continent.[HL2522]
Lord Whitty: There is no provision in the European Union sheepmeat regime that permits member states to increase the rate of the sheep annual premium. The final rate of the premium for 2001 has now been determined by the European Commission, and we have no plans to seek to change this.
Lord Inglewood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have plans to bring the real returns of United Kingdom farmers up to equivalent levels enjoyed by sheep farmers elsewhere in the European Union.[HL2523]
Lord Whitty: Returns to UK sheep farmers in 2001 were affected by a number of factors, including the effects of foot and mouth disease and the strength of sterling, while returns to sheep farmers elsewhere in the European Union benefited from high market prices. We expect returns to farmers in the UK to recover in 2002 with the reopening of export markets and the introduction of the fixed rate sheep annual premium, which is set significantly above the final rate of the premium for 2001.
Sheep Scab
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress is being made in the research to find a vaccine to protect sheep from sheep scab.[HL2500]
Lord Whitty: With the eventual aim of reducing the use of chemicals for the control of sheep scab, Defra is funding an ongoing programme of research. Building on the scientific findings from previous work, a large collaborative project, the cost of which was £657,000, involving immunological studies in sheep was started in July 2000. Scientists at the VLA, Weybridge, and the Moredun Institute, Edinburgh, are reporting good progress and are cautiously optimistic for future developments. However the development of a vaccine for wide-scale use is some years away. Further information on this work will be available on-line during February 2002 at http//www.defra/research/publications/reviews.
Marine Environment: Protection
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action they are taking to stengthen the law and penalties applying to international or reckless disturbance, damage or destruction to or of any elements of the marine environment. [HL2436]
Lord Whitty: The protection afforded to cetaceans and basking sharks was recently strengthened by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. This Act introduced a new offence of intentional or reckless disturbance to any species of cetacean or basking shark. It was already an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take any protected marine species under the Wildlife and Countyside Act 1981. The penalties for offences against protected marine species were also increased to a maximum fine of £5,000 or six months' imprisonment, or both.
The Government plan to launch a consultation exercise in the spring on regulations to transpose the Habitats and Birds Directives to the limit of jurisdiction of UK waters. The regulations include new criminal penalties in relation to acts carried out that result in deterioration, damage or destruction of a breeding site or resting place of a European protected species.
Shipping is subject to a wide range of international conventions, reflected in UK national law, which are effective in imposing duties and obligations on maritime interests, many of them being directed specifically towards the protection of the marine environment. Penalties in national law are also set at an appropriate level. The Government are extending the scope of secondary legislation to implement international conventions negotiated in the forum of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the UK works in the IMO to develop conventions to further protect the marine environment.
Responsibility for several matters associated with the protection of the marine environment is devolved. Such matters are therefore for the respective devolved administrations.
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action they are taking to ensure that relevant United Kingdom or devolved Ministers have the power to introduce restrictions and controls on activity on land or sea that pollute the marine environment and to ensure that strict conditions are applied whenever and wherever offshore activities are licensed to take place.[HL2437]
Lord Whitty: The UK is a contracting party to the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic. Under this convention we are committed to take the measures necessary to prevent and eliminate pollution and protect the maritime area against the adverse effects of human activities. Among other things, we are committed to the target of 2020 for the cessation of discharges, emissions and losses of hazardous and radioactive substances of most concern into the marine environment.
A range of mechanisms are in place to carefully consider the environmental impacts of offshore activities on the marine environment before any activities are licensed. For example, decisions about granting consent for exploration or development projects carried out under petroleum licensing will take place in the light of public consultation on a strategic environmental assessment of those areas. They will take account of, among other things, the requirements of the regulations that apply the Habitats and Environmental Impact Assessment Directives to offshore oil and gas activities. Any consents granted may be subject to conditions designed to protect particular environmental sensitivities.
Responsibility for several matters associated with the protection of the marine environment is devolved. Such matters are therefore for the respective devolved administrations.
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action they are taking to ensure that relevant United Kingdom or devolved Ministers have the power to make emergency and stop orders to restrict activities that have the potential to damage the marine environment. [HL2438]
Lord Whitty: Matters relating to marine areas beyond 12 nautical miles are reserved to UK Ministers. Ministers in the devolved administrations have responsibility for matters relating to nature conservation within 12 nautical miles.
Ministers in England have powers under Regulation 22 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 to make special nature conservation orders (SNCOs). SNCOs can be made in respect of all special protection areas classified under the EU Birds Directive, including those with one or more marine habitat types, and, in England, all candidate special areas of conservation, identified under the EU Habitats Directive. SNCOs may prohibit or restrict operations that have damaged or have the potential to damage the habitat or species interest features for which an individual site has been designated.
Under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993, inspectors have authority to serve enforcement notices and prohibition notices. If the inspector has grounds for believing that a criminal offence has been committed, evidence will be gathered with a view to considering prosecution.
Maritime emergencies must allow for the possibility of simultaneous operations at sea, in the air and on shore. To ensure the best overall control of such operations, the Government have created the role of the Secretary of State's Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP). On behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, SOSREP has the power to oversee, control and, if necessary, to intervene in salvage operations within UK waters involving vessels or fixed platforms where there is a significant risk of pollution. The powers of direction invested in SOSREP are extensive and are called into play when he believes that the public interest is not being adequately protected.
Responsibility for several matters associated with the protection of the marine environment is devolved. Such matters are therefore for the respective devolved administrations.
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