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29 Mar 2007 : Column WA291
Written Answers
Thursday 29 March 2007
Abortion
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 15 March (WA 145), how many women experienced long-term post-abortion distress in the last full year for which figures are available; and what percentage of all women having abortions in that year this number represents. [HL2818]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The Government do not collect this information. As highlighted in my previous answer to the noble Lord, Lord Patten, on 15 March (WA 145), research studies indicate that only a small minority of women experience long-term post-abortion distress.
Agriculture: Bluetongue Disease
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
What research and cost analysis the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has undertaken in respect of a possible bluetongue disease outbreak occurring in the United Kingdom. [HL2836]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Defra, in partnership with interested parties, is currently undertaking a cost analysis of potential bluetongue outbreaks and control measures in the United Kingdom, in various scenarios, in order to help to improve our control policy. The control policy is also informed by evolving epidemiological evidence and meteorological data, veterinary advice, and the experience of other European countries in dealing with bluetongue.
Agriculture: Externalities
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What recent assessment they have made of the costs of externalities associated with different farming methods; and whether they will commission research into this issue. [HL2727]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Farming gives rise to a range of complex impacts relating to the environment and health. These impacts can be positive as well as negative and many of them are external to farming so that the costs or benefits are met by other sectors or the general public
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Defra and the devolved Administrations commissioned research by Eftec to develop A Framework for Environmental Accounts for Agriculture. Published in July 2004, the study provided initial evidence on significant positive and negative environmental externalities of UK agriculture. The costs of externalities, including water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, were estimated at £1.4 billion and the positive impacts, including biodiversity and landscape, were valued at £1 billion. This study was seen as a first step in a long-term development process, and a further independent study has now been commissioned by Defra. This study, to be completed in summer 2007, will aim to refine and develop environmental accounts. As more reliable estimates are developed, the accounts will have a valuable role in setting priorities for agricultural policy and as an evidence base for measuring the sustainability of agriculture. The study will also consider the feasibility of developing sector valuations to provide evidence in terms of different types of agriculture.
As part of an ongoing research project, Cranfield University has used life cycle assessment (LCA) to assess the resource use and environmental burdens arising from the production of key agricultural commodities. The research has modelled organic and non-organic (contemporary conventional) production in the UK, and thus explicitly sets out the resource use and burdens arising from the relevant systems.
Farming also gives rise to externalities relating to animal health and welfare. By way of illustration, Defra commissioned the Scottish Agricultural College to undertake research into the benefits of tighter welfare standards in the production of meat chickens, measured by the public’s willingness to pay for lower stocking densities.
Agriculture: Gangmasters
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the fees set in 2006 by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority are due to be upgraded in 2007. [HL2579]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The annual licence fee and inspection fee for new applicants set by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority for the financial year 2006-07* are shown in the table below.
| Annual turnover of business | Fee band | Annual licence fee | Inspection fee for new applicants |
Following a public consultation, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority has set the fees shown in the table below for the financial year 2007-08*.
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| Annual turnover of business | Fee band | Annual licence fee | Inspection fee for new applicants |
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many licences were issued by 31 December 2006 under the Gangmasters Licensing Conditions in each business turnover category. [HL2967]
Lord Rooker: On 31 December 2006, the number of licences issued by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority in each business turnover1 category was as follows:
| Turnover band | Total |
- 1. The measure of turnover used to determine the band that a business falls within is turnover in the sectors covered by the Gangmasters Licensing Act 2004.
Agriculture: Stewardship Schemes
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the amount of money allocated by Natural England for entry-level and higher-level stewardship schemes has been reduced. [HL2924]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The budgetary allocation for the schemes operating under Environmental Stewardship cannot be confirmed until we receive the European Commission's approval for the new Rural Development Programme for England (2007-13). Negotiations over the final funding package, including the question of voluntary modulation, are continuing. In advance of formal approval, agreements entered into since 1 January 2007 are provisional and are being funded from existing indicative budgets agreed when the scheme was launched.
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
What methodology is used by Natural England to assess farm applications for entry- and higher-level stewardship schemes; whether any applications are being sifted; and, if so, how many of these are unlikely to be granted entry to the schemes. [HL2925]
Lord Rooker: Entry-level stewardship (ELS) is open to all farmers and land managers. Acceptance into the scheme is guaranteed, provided applicants
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Higher-level stewardship (HLS) is a discretionary scheme and applications are expected to contribute to one or more of the five primary objectives of the scheme. The key characteristics of the English countryside have been outlined in the definition of over 150 joint character areas, each of which has priority targets for the management of a variety of features. All HLS applications are scored directly against these targets, and those applications which meet or exceed a pre-determined threshold may be offered an agreement. Applications which do not address the relevant priority targets for their area will be rejected.
The number of HLS applications which may be rejected in the future will depend very much on the volume of applications received and the available budget. This is difficult to predict accurately as the potential for further uptake will depend on the outcome of discussions with the European Commission about the budget for the Rural Development Programme (2007-13).
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the number of farms that have applied to Natural England for the entry- or higher-level stewardship schemes exceeds the amount of money currently allocated for these schemes. [HL2926]
Lord Rooker: The current financial year, 2006-07, saw the transition between the current and new Rural Development Programme for England occur on 1 January 2007. Funding arrangements from 2007 onwards depend on the outcome of discussions with the European Commission. However, as applicants under entry-level stewardship (ELS) are guaranteed an agreement provided they meet a points target based on the area of their holding, I can confirm that no ELS applications have been rejected due to a lack of available budget.
Higher-level stewardship (HLS), however, is a competitive scheme and submitting an application does not guarantee an offer of an agreement. Because funds for HLS are limited, agreements have had to be allocated where they are likely to achieve the most environmental benefit for the countryside. Unfortunately, while some applications have scored highly, they have fallen short of the current thresholds established within Natural England regions. In some areas, the volume of applications has increased markedly in recent months, exceeding expectations. This has meant that the target score required for an application to be successful has had to be adjusted upwards to ensure that the agreements created represent the best possible value for money. Good-quality applications which just fail to meet the target score are not rejected out of hand, but are deferred until the next application period, at which point they are re-assessed against all the other applications received.
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Animal Welfare: Captive Birds
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to points 7(2) and (3) of statutory instrument 2007/406 concerning approved disinfectants, when the manufacturer will have to make representations once the Government have been notified that he intends to do so. [HL2969]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Statutory instrument 2007/406 is not in relation to disinfectants. I assume the noble Baroness is referring to statutory instrument 2007/448, which is due to come into effect on 6 April 2007.
Points 7(2) and (3) of SI 2007/448 are an extension to point 7(4) of the Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) Order 1978.
Manufacturers need only make representations to the Secretary of State if there has been any of the following:
a) a refusal to grant or renew approval,b) an amendment, suspension or revocation of an approval, c) any condition of an approval.The manufacturer must notify the Secretary of State of his intention to make representations to an appointed person within one month of receiving notification of the change as stated above.
The appointed person must then contact the manufacturer to discuss the representations that he wishes to make, and within one month must report to the Secretary of State.
Once the Secretary of State has received the report, he must give written notification of the final determination and reasons for it to the applicant within one month.
Animal Welfare: Rabies
Lord Willoughby de Broke asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 7 March (WA 48), whether they will reply substantively to Lord Willoughby de Broke's Question rather than referring to the Answer given in the House of Commons on 20 February.[HL2644]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Defra is currently carrying out a review of rabies import policy to ensure that UK controls on all rabies-susceptible mammals are proportionate and sustainable. This will help to inform the UK's response to the European Commission's review of certain requirements of EU Regulation 998/2003 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals.
Regulation 998/2003 requires the European Commission to submit a report to the European Parliament and Council, based on experience gained and risk evaluation. The report is expected shortly.
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The UK's own review of national rabies import controls is nearing completion. The evidence received so far from government vets, officials and veterinary risk assessments indicates that our current controls may no longer be proportionate to the risk of rabies entering the UK and we may need to consider modernising processes and regulation in this area. Our controls must also be consistent with current thinking on better regulation. We are seeking further views before reaching conclusions.
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