To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her plans are for the A21 upgrade between Flimwell and Robertsbridge; and if she will make a statement. (148774)

None. Under the regional funding allocation process it is for regions to advise the Government on schemes, which in their view, should be prioritised for funding. Ministers then take decisions on whether to accept that advice. In the case of the south east we have agreed in full to the recommendations made by the South East Regional Transport Board (RTB) for the period up to 2016. The proposed A21 upgrade between Flimwell and Robertsbridge has not been prioritised by the South East RTB in that period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent by her Department on bus subsidy in the North East of England, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) bus operator in each of the last 10 years. (147305)

Since 1998, the Department has provided grants to local transport authorities through the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant, Rural and Urban Bus Challenge and Kickstart schemes. The table shows the total paid (in £s) to each authority in the North East region, and the regional total, for each year since the introduction of these grant schemes.

The majority of local authority support for bus services is funded from the Government’s unhypothecated Revenue Support Grant and from other sources.

The Department also provides Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) directly to operators of local bus services. Bus routes cross local authority borders and it is not possible to allocate BSOG payments to different local authority areas with sufficient accuracy; information on payments to individual operators is commercially confidential. However, we estimate that BSOG payments to operators in the North East region now total around £24 million annually.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) resource and (b) capital expenditure was made available for improving the convenience and safety of cycling in each of the last five years. (147084)

The Department provides a central budget for cycling which since 2005-06 has been the responsibility of Cycling England.

The details are:

It is not possible to provide a split of funding between capital and revenue/resource for earlier years but central expenditure on cycling was as follows and largely related to capital expenditure.

Funds in 2002-03 and 2003-04 were for our Cycling Projects Fund while funds in 2004-05 supported additional safe links to school and additional cycle parking at rail stations. In addition the Department provides revenue/resource funds through its Road Safety Grant Challenge Scheme. Details of the cycling grants awarded were as follows:

The majority of expenditure on cycling is spent by local highway authorities who receive capital funding from the Department through the Local Transport Plan system since 2001-02. We have no information on revenue spending. English authorities outside London have informed the Department that their investment in cycle facilities is as follows for the last five years:

London boroughs also receive funding from the Department via a block settlement through Transport for London (TfL) and with other revenue streams. TfL has advised the Department that their investment in cycling facilities since 2001-02 is as follows and that around 80 per cent. of this money has been spent on physical infrastructure much of it to support the London Cycle Network+.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department paid to Common Purpose in each of the last five years; for what purpose; and what the outcome of the expenditure was. (147591)

The following payments have been made to Common Purpose over the last five years:

These payments relate to leadership development for senior managers within the Department to meet their individual development needs. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the development in meeting these needs has been, or will be, carried out by the individuals and their managers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of the number of its staff using public transport to commute. (147344)

An estimate covering the full Department is not currently available, however the most recent survey of our London HQ buildings indicated that 92 per cent. of staff in the London HQ travel to work by cycling, walking or via public transport. The remaining 8 per cent. used a car or motorbike to travel to work.

DfT has plans to carry out new staff surveys as part of a development of site specific travel plans, which are due to be finalised by April 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the potential effect on road safety of introducing a sliding scale of penalty points on a driving licence for speeding offences of varying gravity. (148378)

The Department for Transport issued a discussion note inviting comments on this in September 2004. The principle of a graduated scale was supported by the majority of respondents, and the Road Safety Act 2006 provides an enabling power to graduate the fixed penalty points awarded for speeding offences.

The Department’s objective is to help drivers to travel at safe and legal speeds at all times. The proposals for graduated speeding penalties are designed to recognise there are considerable differences in the degree of excessive speeding by motorists and for the punishment to better fit the crime. A graduated structure would allow more careful consideration of drivers who through lapses of concentration breach the speed limit by a relatively small amount and where even two penalty points are expected to act as a sufficient deterrent to prevent re-offending. It would also allow for a higher penalty of six penalty points to act as a strong deterrent against more extreme speeders who exceed the speed limit by large amounts.

The proposed final graduated penalty structure will be subject to statutory public consultation before it is considered by both Houses under the affirmative resolution procedure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions she has had with councils on the introduction of low emission zones; (148442)

It is for individual authorities to decide how best to work towards meeting air quality objectives locally. However, the Department for Transport liaises with local authorities via the Low Emissions Strategy forum, which shares knowledge and best practice to help local authorities to improve air quality, including low emission zones. The Department is also working closely with Transport for London to support the implementation of the Mayor's London Low Emission Zone.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will consider introducing national guidelines for the rules and scope of local low emission zones. (148443)

There are currently no plans to produce specific national guidelines on low emission zones for local authorities. However, the Department issued guidance to local authorities about their second local transport plans in December 2004. That guidance indicated that all authorities should consider whether local air quality problems need to be tackled in the transport plan. Where air quality management areas had been declared related to local transport, councils must consider what action to take.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make it her policy to support improvements in the Felixstowe to Nuneaton railway line before the final deadline for proposals for Trans-European Transport Network funding on 20 July. (148775)

The development of this scheme overall is not at present sufficiently mature for submission to the EC for TEN-T funds. However, the contribution which Hutchison Ports UK has agreed to make to the Felixstowe-Peterborough element increases the prospects of other elements of the improvements in question being funded from other sources in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with interested parties on proposals to improve the Felixstowe to Nuneaton railway line. (148776)

Discussions are continuing with interested parties on proposals for improvements west of Peterborough. Separately, an application has been made to the Secretary of State for an Order under the Transport and Works Act to authorise improvements to the Ipswich-Felixstowe branch line, and Hutchison Ports has agreed to fund these works (if approved) as well as gauge clearance as far as Peterborough.

To ask the Leader of the House how many and what percentage of staff in her office are making additional voluntary contributions to their pensions; and what steps she has taken in the last 12 months to encourage more people to make such contributions. (147334)

Currently no members of my private office staff (11 people) make voluntary contributions to their pensions.

Pension scheme members receive an annual benefit statement showing the pension built up to date, and also a projection of pension on retirement if the member continues in service to scheme pension age. The benefit statement provides details of the civil service pensions website where staff can obtain further information, including on operations for making additional voluntary contributions to boost their pension.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will ask Parliamentary Information and Communication Service (PICT) to carry out a customer survey of hon. and right hon. Members' satisfaction with the new personal digital assistants supplied by PICT; and if he will make a statement. (148366)

The Board of Management surveyed all Members and their paid staff earlier this year. One question asked was how satisfied they were with the quality and reliability of remote access to the parliamentary network using a parliamentary issued handheld PDA. Of the 92 Members who answered the question 8 per cent. were extremely satisfied, 17 per cent. very satisfied, 30 per cent. fairly satisfied, 23 per cent. not very satisfied and 14 per cent. not at all satisfied. A qualitative survey is being planned to explore areas of dissatisfaction in more detail.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will bring forward plans to put signage on the entrances to the first floor of Portcullis House to indicate the location of rooms in the building. (147799)

The architects of the building, Sir Michael Hopkins and Partners, have been appointed to carry out improvements to the signage, especially on the first floor.

Their initial proposals for consideration include reconfiguring the electronic signage to make it easier to use, as well as the provision of additional signage in the entrance and lavatory areas.

Subject to reaching agreement on the viability and effectiveness of the proposals, the work is scheduled to be undertaken during the financial year 2007-08. As a temporary measure, plans which show the location of rooms have been placed at each corner and on each side of the first floor.

To ask the Solicitor-General what percentage of staff in the Law Officers’ Departments were over 60 years of age in each of the last three years. (145687)

The percentages of staff in my Departments over 60 years of age in each of the last of three years, and in the year to-date are shown in the following table:

To ask the Solicitor-General how many people aged (a) over 55 years of age and (b) over 60 years of age have been recruited by her Department in each of the last three years; and what percentage in each case this is of the number of new recruits in each year. (145694)

The relevant information is shown in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what his policy is on levying laundry charges on soldiers participating in training exercises, with particular reference to those at Westdown Camp, Salisbury Plain; (146299)

When on training exercises at Westdown Camp (or any other training location), units have the option, during pre-exercise planning, to request that laundry facilities be secured via established contractual arrangements from service providers within the local area. Such services are publicly funded and therefore free of charge to the soldier. It is a matter for Units to decide whether or not to take advantage of these arrangements, they may either utilise the facilities available at Westdown Camp or they may hand-wash and dry their laundry themselves.

The facilities at Westdown Camp are self-operated facilities provided under contract for the convenience of soldiers. During the period January 2006 to June 2007 the income to the contractor arising from the use of the washing/drying machines at Westdown Camp was approximately £7,500. A further £1,500 was taken in commission by the Defence Training Estate Strategic Partner LANDMARC Support Services (LSS). Under established revenue sharing arrangements 70 per cent. of this total (£1,050) was reinvested back into the maintenance of the training estate. The cost to each soldier to use these facilities is £2.00 for washing and £1.00 for drying.

Soldiers are responsible for maintaining their own personal hygiene, and this is instilled through effective training, leadership, education and example setting, particularly by Commanders. Personal hygiene is covered in soldiers Phase One training and reinforced annually through Military Annual Training Test 6 (Values and Standards). It is also covered in all pre-operational and exercise deployment health and hygiene presentations delivered by service environmental health staffs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make available the most recent review by the Defence Dental Services of dental treatment for service families in the UK, and place a copy of the review in the Library. (145196)

[holding answer 25 June 2007]: I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of personnel in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force exceeded their separated service guidelines in the last period for which figures are available. (148231)

The information is shown in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence of which ministerial directions his Department has been notified since 22 November 2006. (148221)

I assume that the hon. Member is seeking ministerial directions since the answer given by the Financial Secretary on 22 November 2005, Official Report, column 1910W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice).

There has been one ministerial direction since 22 November 2005. On 29 June 2006, I directed the Accounting Officer to proceed with the formal underwriting of the Armed Forces Memorial (AFM) in the sum of £3.3 million which represented the balance the AFM Trustees required fully to fund the project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) military and (b) civilian personnel he expects will be based at MOD St. Athan when the new military academy is complete. (147282)

The scale of the facility to be constructed at St. Athan is dependent upon the outcome of further work with the Metrix Consortium which is exploring the possibility of a Whole Programme Solution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will (a) instigate a moratorium on transporting nuclear warheads to Scotland by road during the current critical security alert and (b) ensure that any warheads currently ready for delivery are disassembled and remain at the Atomic Weapons Establishment. (147861)

The safety and security of the UK nuclear weapons is paramount. Any transportation is kept to a minimum consistent with operational requirements and all such movements are kept under constant review. This includes an advance evaluation of all relevant factors, including the risks and threats prevalent at the time, and involves close liaison with all appropriate stakeholders, including the civil authorities. Each movement is subject to procedures that are robust and sensitive to changing circumstances and priorities, commensurate with national defence and security requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2007, Official Report, columns 2086-88W, on agricultural products: prices, what the farmgate price was of each product; and where there is no equivalent farmgate price, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that such a comparative analysis is available. (147587)

The answer of 19 June 2007, Official Report, columns 1665-66W, provided the farmgate prices for the nearest equivalent products to those for which retail prices were given in the answer of 21 June 2007, Official Report, columns 2086-88W.

There was a close match for many of the items. The nearest equivalent farmgate products for meat cuts are deadweight whole animals. The nearest equivalent farmgate product for flour is milling wheat. Farmgate prices for eggs by size category are not published because of a risk of disclosure of confidential information.

Agriculture in the United Kingdom (Table 7.2 in the 2006 edition) provides an analysis of farmers share of a basket of food items.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of Cornwall’s total gross value added was represented by farming in each year since 1996. (147733)

Please find as follows figures showing the proportion of GVA for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly that is represented by agriculture. Figures for the South West region have also been provided as background information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers received single payment scheme payments of (a) between £50,000 and £500,000, (b) between £500,001 and £1 million and (c) over £1 million in 2006. (146243)

[holding answer 29 June 2007]: The numbers of claimants who have received payments to date for the single payment scheme year 2006 are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether all single farm payments for the year 2006 have been paid in full. (146244)

[holding answer 29 June 2007]: As of 30 June 2007 the total value of payments made under the single payment scheme for 2006 is £1.49 billion, which is 98 per cent. of the estimated total fund of £1.52 billion.

A total of 107,088 customers have received either a full or partial payment. This represents 98.2 per cent. of the estimated total claimant population of 109,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of claimants still awaiting payment under the 2005 Single Farm Payment scheme in (a) England, (b) Gloucestershire and (c) Forest of Dean. (148276)

In England, as of 13 June 2007, 20 claimants have not received a payment for the 2005 Single Payment Scheme (SPS).

As of 30 June 2007 the total value of payments made under the SPS for 2006 is £1.49 billion, which is 98 per cent. of the estimated total fund of £1.52 billion.

A total of 107,088 customers have received either a full or partial payment. This represents 98.2 per cent. of the estimated total claimant population of 109,000.

Detailed analysis of all the payments made under the SPS is not yet available. Once the remaining scheme payments have been completed, a decision will be taken on the level of detail that will be published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to bring forward legislation to ban the use of electric shock collars for dogs. (146584)

There are no plans to ban the use of electric shock collars. However, we recognise that future research into electric shock collars is a priority. The Department has circulated a new call for research, in the form of a Limited Tender Call, with the aim of taking forward any research on or after April 2007. The aim is to obtain independent scientific evidence so that a decision can be taken as to whether or not there is a need for regulation in this area.

We have also asked the Companion Animal Welfare Council, in its role as advisory body to the Government on companion animal welfare matters, to undertake an independent study of available evidence on the use of electronic training devices. The outcome of this study will help inform DEFRA policy and will complement any separate research that DEFRA commissions into these devices.

If regulation were considered necessary there would be a full public consultation before any regulations were drafted and put to Parliament. All research into these areas commissioned by the Government will be put in the public domain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Department for Education and Skills on introducing animal welfare education classes to schools. (146583)

No such discussions have taken place. However, I am aware that in Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), pupils learn to “take and share responsibility”, which can include looking after animals properly. In addition, many local authorities run their own animal welfare education schemes in schools. For example, both Coventry city council and the London borough of Lambeth give regular performances and presentations on animal welfare at primary and secondary schools. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals also provides teaching resources for animal welfare education for use in classrooms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his officials last visited Brazil to check the traceability and identification procedures required for beef exports to the EU. (147423)

The conditions that apply to beef imported into the EU are set out in EU law and it is the responsibility of the European Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) to visit exporting countries to ensure that their procedures are adequate to guarantee compliance with EU import conditions.

The last visit to Brazil by FVO inspectors took place in March this year. Commissioner Kyprianou himself visited Brazil in October 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timescale is for the next stage of work of the bovine TB Vaccine Programme Advisory Group. (146620)

The Vaccine Programme Advisory Group provides advice on the science needed to progress towards a vaccine for use in the field.

The research programme for producing an effective vaccine against tuberculosis in badgers and cattle remains broadly in line with the timetable outlined in the 1997 Krebs Report. This estimated:

I. Years 1 to 5: Identification of candidate vaccines and development of differential diagnostic tests;

II. Years 5 to 10: Experimental investigations of vaccination protocols;

III. Years 10 to 15: Field trials.

The first stage started in 1999 and is ongoing. The second stage has also started. Work on badger vaccines includes a project on developing oral formulations and a three-and-a-half year vaccine field trial to gather safety data and assess efficacy on injectable Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG). The cattle vaccine research programme includes a natural transmission study looking at various candidate vaccines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the research protocol agreed with Warwick university and others to examine the use of the Polymerase Chain Reaction test for the detection of bovine tuberculosis. (147421)

DEFRA publishes the objectives of all research projects it commissions on its science website, once the contracts have been signed. This will be the case with the planned project to validate Polymerase Chain Reaction methods to detect bovine tuberculosis to be undertaken co-operatively by Warwick university, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and University College London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department provided for the Woodchester studies of bovine tuberculosis and badgers in each of the last 10 years. (147395)

DEFRA fund a range of research work with the Central Science Laboratory's (CSL) research team based at Woodchester Park. The following amount of funding has been provided by DEFRA for the ecological and epidemiological study of the badger population at Woodchester Park:

1997-98: £260,877

1998-99: £278,408

Between 1999-2000 and 2002-03 the study was supported by two DEFRA projects. It has not been possible to disentangle the amounts spent on the ecological and epidemiological study of the badger population at Woodchester Park in 1999-2000 and 2000-01, however CSL estimate the following for 2001-02 and 2002-03:

2001-02: £268,000

2002-03: £268,000

Between 2004-05 and 2006-07 the project that supported this study also supported an investigation of perturbation. The following figures are an estimate provided by CSL of the amount of funding used for the study of the Woodchester Park badger population alone:

2003-04: £273,000

2004-05: £298,000

2005-06: £288,000

2006-07: £294,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2007, Official Report, column 380W, on cattle: exports, what the journey time in hours was of all calves aged under 42 days exported to the Netherlands between 1 January and 30 April. (147730)

The information requested is not collected centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost to the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007, Official Report, column 64W, on cattle: exports, how many UK calves aged under 42 days died during journeys from the UK to Spain between 1 January and 30 April; how many 24 hour rest periods per journey were provided during the transport of calves from the UK to various destinations in Spain; and if he will make a statement. (147731)

The information requested is not collected centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost to the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the quantity of cheese manufactured in the UK from imported milk powder. (147420)

The estimate of the quantity of cheese manufactured in the UK from imported milk powder is unavailable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials in his Department are (a) involved in assisting European Council negotiations, (b) involved in assisting and advising the European Commission, (c) seconded to the European Commission, (d) involved in monitoring EU decisions, communications, regulations and directives, (e) involved in enforcing compliance with EU decisions, communications, regulations and directives and (f) involved in other work related to the European Council, Commission or Court of Justice. (146097)

Officials throughout the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are involved in a full range of EU business. 11 officials from the Department are currently seconded to the European Commission. The Department does not hold central records of the numbers of officials involved in EU business and a breakdown of the figures as requested would incur disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2007, Official Report, column 1361W, on Departments: manpower, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance given to those on the Priority Movers List. (146888)

A copy has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many bonuses were awarded to senior civil servants working at his Department and its agencies in each year between 1997 and 2006; and what the total cost of those bonuses was. (146418)

Payment of non-consolidated performance bonuses reflects the principle across the civil service of rewarding performance increasingly through one-off payments rather than increases to basic salary.

Annual performance bonuses are paid to staff in the SCS for high performance sustained throughout the whole year.

Information on annual performance bonuses prior to November 2004 is available only at disproportionate cost, as a result of system changes.

For 2005 and 2006, the number of annual performance bonuses awarded and the total cost of these bonuses was as follows:

The data relate to bonuses awarded to those in core-DEFRA and its Executive Agencies (excluding chief executives) in accordance with Cabinet Office arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many non-pensionable bonuses were awarded to members of staff in his Department in the last three years; and at what total cost. (146988)

Data prior to November 2004, is available only at disproportionate cost. For the period from November 2004 to November 2006, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) on 7 December 2006, Official Report, column 578W.

For the period from January 2007 to May 2007, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 25 June 2007, Official Report, column 69W.

For December 2006, the month not covered by the two replies above, In-Year and Annual Performance bonuses totalling £78,218 were awarded to 154 staff below the SCS, covered by core-DEFRA pay arrangements, i.e. staff in core-DEFRA, Animal Health, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Marine Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what percentage of staff in his Department are making additional voluntary contributions to their pensions; and what steps he has taken in the last 12 months to encourage more people to make such contributions. (147527)

126 members of staff in core-DEFRA, Animal Health, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Marine and Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Service (2.2 per cent. of the total number of staff) currently make additional voluntary pension contributions through deductions from their pay.

Pension scheme members receive an annual benefit statement showing the pension built up to date, and also a projection of pension on retirement if the member continues in service to scheme pension age. The benefit statement provides details of the Civil Service Pensions website where staff can obtain further information, including on options for making additional voluntary contributions to boost their pension.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in his Department did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in 2006-07. (146917)

The 2006-07 Performance Management arrangements for staff in the SCS have been concluded.

For staff below the SCS in core-DEFRA and those agencies covered by the core-Department's performance appraisal arrangements (including Animal Health, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Marine Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Service) the process has still to be concluded.

However, to date (up to 30 June 2007), eight staff had not achieved an acceptable mark in their 2006-07 annual report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in his Department have taken (a) five or more, (b) four, (c) three and (d) two periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last 12 months. (147043)

The latest sickness absence information available is for the 12 months ending on 31 March 2007. During this period, the number of staff in DEFRA who took sick absences of fewer than 5 days was as follows:

These figures include staff who left the Department during or after this 12-month period and Rural Development Service staff before they transferred to Natural England on 1 October 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the expenditure of the Shrewsbury Environment Agency's offices was in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005 and (d) 2006. (147668)

The Shrewsbury office was the main office for the Upper Severn Area of the Midlands Region of the Environment Agency during the period in question. The catchment extends from Market Drayton and Oswestry in the north, Clywedog and Vyrnwy reservoirs in the west, Dudley and Wolverhampton in the east and south to Worcester and Ludlow.

The analysis of expenditure in the following table is by financial year, which runs from April to March:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Environment Agency about revising their flood risk assessment models; and if he will make a statement. (147433)

My predecessor met with the chief executive and the head of flood risk management at the Environment Agency on 28 June and visited areas affected by the recent flooding. Risk assessment issues and the protection of vulnerable communities were discussed.

My Department works closely with the Environment Agency on improving assessment models through joint research and development work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cars are (a) owned, (b) leased and (c) hired by the Environment Agency for use by its (i) staff and (ii) board members. (146292)

The Environment Agency has 89 owned cars within its badged fleet and 4,701 leased cars. The agency hired 3,435 cars during the 2006-07 financial year with an average length of hire of 2.6 days.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the average annual earnings of farmers in (a) Ribble Valley, (b) the north-west and (c) the UK in each year since 1979. (147428)

Information is not available in the precise form requested and the Farm Business Survey is not able to provide figures for (a) Ribble Valley. The following table shows average net farm income per farm in (b) the north-west Government office region and (c) the UK in each year since 1980-81. Data are not available on a comparable basis for earlier years.

Net farm income is defined as the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant type capital of the business. It excludes all income arising from outside the farm business.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of farmer households in (a) Cornwall, (b) the South West and (c) England were below the modified low income threshold in each year for which figures are available. (147704)

The following table shows the number and proportion of farmer households below the modified low income threshold in Cornwall, the South West and England in 2005-06. Farm household income data are not available prior to this. Data for 2006-07 will become available in the first half of 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers there were in (a) Ribble Valley, (b) the North West and (c) the UK in each year since 1979; and what proportion of the total work force they made up. (147431)

The following table shows the number of farmers and total agricultural work force in (a) Ribble Valley, (b) the North West and (c) England and the proportion of the total UK work force they made up for 1992-2006. These are the figures that are most readily available. Figures for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland fall under the jurisdiction of the devolved authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on flood defences for Shrewsbury in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. (147677)

Flood defence spending in Shrewsbury, over the period requested, was as follows:

Expenditure is by financial year, which runs from April to March.

The Shrewsbury office covered the Environment Agency's Upper Severn Area of the Midlands Region during 2005 and 2006.

The catchment extends from Market Drayton and Oswestry in the north, Clywedog and Vyrnwy reservoirs in the west, Dudley and Wolverhampton in the east and south to Worcester and Ludlow.

Expenditure of £134,000 in 2005-06 and £43,000 in 2006-07 was incurred on temporary flood defences for Coton Hill and Coleham Head, Shrewsbury. The £3.5 million Frankwell scheme was completed in 2003-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps he is taking to protect city centres against (a) flood events and (b) likely impacts of climate change; (146568)

[holding answer 29 June 2007]: Increased flood risk, from both rivers and the sea, is one of the top predicted impacts of climate change in the UK. We are considering the rising risk from climate change as part of our long-term strategy, ‘Making Space for Water’. The strategy takes a holistic approach to the management of risk across Government, together with increasing awareness and emergency preparedness within communities to help them better cope with flood events when they occur.

In January 2007, as part of ‘Making Space for Water’, we announced the start of 15 integrated urban drainage pilot studies around the country. The projects, made possible by £1.7 million of funding from DEFRA, will test new approaches to reduce the risk of urban drainage flooding, both from sewers and storm water.

While the pilot projects will not directly fund capital improvements, they should bring greater clarity on responsibilities for funding urban drainage management between water companies, local authorities, the Environment Agency, internal drainage boards and the Highways Agency. Following completion of the pilot projects in the spring of 2008, DEFRA will produce new guidance on effective partnership working to deliver integrated drainage solutions in high-risk urban catchments and prepare a regulatory impact assessment for any proposed legislative changes.

In addition, water companies' price limits for 2005-10 allowed a programme of nearly £1 billion to safeguard homes against the risk of sewer flooding. This would resolve or mitigate every known high-risk problem of internal flooding from overloaded sewers where companies' plans said is needed by 2010. By then the proportion of properties at risk would reduce to 0.01 per cent. of households.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the planned levels of spending on the flood protection and water drainage infrastructure serving Kingston upon Hull will be re-examined to meet the effects of climate change. (146592)

The Environment Agency has produced a Tidal Flood Risk Management Strategy for the whole of the Humber estuary over the next 100 years. This takes into account anticipated climate change and sea level rise.

The agency study was in the process of being extended to cover river flooding issues in and around Hull. Clearly, in the light of recent events in the city, there will be a need for the Environment Agency, the city council and Yorkshire Water to consider together the adequacy of current drainage systems as a whole and whether any further works need to be planned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how health and safety advice is being disseminated to those whose homes have recently been flooded and who wish to re-enter and restore their properties. (146615)

Information about health risks from flooding has been published on the Health Protection Agency's website and is being disseminated via primary care trusts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any flood defence failures occurred in the recent flooding in Sheffield. (146567)

[holding answer 29 June2007]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement given by the then Secretary of State on 26 June 2007, Official Report, column 163, in which he explained that it is too early to make a full assessment of the recent flooding but that there had been no reported structural failings of flood defences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of people in Sheffield whose homes were flooded in June 2007 who were registered with Flood Warnings Direct; at what time and at what stage in the flooding the Flood Warnings Direct warnings went out to those registered; and what steps his Department is taking to encourage people in Sheffield to register with Flood Warnings Direct. (146614)

Information on the numbers of flooded properties and those registered with Flood Warnings Direct (FWD) will be gathered after the current emergency has ended.

Since 2000, the Environment Agency has contacted people at risk of flooding and asked them to register with FWD. The agency has also carried out a series of home visits throughout west Yorkshire to boost the number of registered properties. This is an effective way of increasing the coverage of FWD and the agency aims to repeat the process in south Yorkshire later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much timber was harvested in England in each of the last five years. (148124)

The estimate of timber harvested in England in each of the last five years for which figures are available is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what programmes are in place to replace areas of woodland lost to development with new areas of planting. (148129)

There is no specific programme in place to replace areas of woodland lost to development. Nevertheless, there is significantly more new woodland created in England each year than is lost to development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether a system is in place to monitor the conservation of ancient woodlands. (148094)

The conservation of ancient woodland is monitored in a number of ways including the National Inventory of Woodlands and Trees, which provides data on area, ownership, species composition, age, regeneration and ecological structure of all woodland. The Ancient Woodland Inventory is updated by Natural England when changes are reported and it is being revised in some of the most well wooded parts of South East England. 15 per cent. of England’s ancient woodland is in Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) where their condition is monitored.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if his Department will require BASF to conduct food safety studies of their GM blight resistant potatoes on the same lines as those required by the Irish government for trials in that country; (147246)

The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment has assessed these trials and is satisfied that they will not have any adverse effect on human health or the environment. Given the limited scale of the trials and the management conditions that have been imposed, it is not expected that there will be any transfer of a GM presence into non-GM potato crops. In that context, and given that the GM potatoes will not be used for food or feed, it would not be appropriate in our view to require detailed food safety studies as a pre-condition for the trials to take place. Such studies will be necessary if BASF decides in due course to seek authorisation to market the GM potatoes for food and feed use in the European Union.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the greyhound industry on the welfare of retired racing greyhounds. (146635)

My ministerial predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), met representatives of the industry on 7 November 2007. He informed hon. Members about the meeting on 6 November 2007, Official Report, column 614.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Jockey Club on the design of racecourses and the reduction of the incidence of injuries to racehorses. (146636)

There have been no discussions between DEFRA Ministers and the Jockey Club on this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the average (a) energy efficiency, (b) water efficiency and (c) carbon dioxide emissions of homes constructed to operate unconnected to mains electricity, gas and water supply. (146789)

The Government have made no estimate of the average energy efficiency or carbon dioxide emissions from homes unconnected to mains electricity and gas supply. The requirements of part L of the Building Regulations, which set requirements for energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions, apply to all homes regardless of whether or not they are connected to mains energy supplies. Nevertheless, developers are reasonably free to determine how to meet the requirements of part L.

The Code for Sustainable Homes and the draft Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change are designed to cut carbon emissions from new homes and promote low and zero carbon homes in the period up until 2016, when the Government have proposed that all new homes will be zero carbon.

It is estimated that there are around 50,000 private water supplies serving about 0.6 per cent. of the population in England and Wales. No estimate has been made about the water efficiency of these dwellings, and they are not subject to the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.

DEFRA and the Department for Communities and Local Government have jointly consulted on options for regulating for minimum standards of water efficiency in new homes and commercial buildings. If requirements were to be introduced through building regulations they would apply to all new houses irrespective of the type of water supply. The consultation closed on 9 March 2007, and we will publish responses in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms the Environment Agency has in place to monitor levels of pollution in (a) the River Severn, (b) public waterways, (c) the sewerage system, (d) Brofiscin Quarry and (e) Maendy Quarry; and what records the agency keeps of the potential sources of pollution. (147899)

The Environment Agency routinely monitors 61 sites within the fresh and estuarine waters of the River Severn. The substances assessed and frequency of monitoring vary between monitoring points. In total the monitoring undertaken covers 134 different substances and parameters.

Many public waterways are included in the Environment Agency's routine monitoring programme. Where possible pollution incidents are identified, depending on severity these are followed up by more detailed investigations.

Water companies are responsible for monitoring the sewerage system. The Environment Agency monitors the quality of discharges from sewage works into the water environment to check compliance with consent requirements.

The Brofiscin and Maendy quarries are in Wales and are therefore a devolved matter.

The Environment Agency keeps a number of records of potential sources of pollution. These include records of consented discharges to surface and groundwaters; waste management licences and authorisations for industrial processes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, particularly cattle; and what studies he has commissioned or reviewed into ways of reducing their emissions. (146727)

Agriculture as a whole contributes 7 per cent. of all UK greenhouse gas emissions and 14 per cent. globally. The sector accounts for 37 per cent. of methane and 67 per cent. of nitrous oxide emissions in the UK, but only 1 per cent. of carbon dioxide. About 86 per cent. of this methane comes from enteric fermentation in the digestive systems of animals (mainly cattle, sheep, pigs and horses) and 14 per cent. from animal waste. Methane emissions from agriculture have declined by 12 per cent. since 1990.

DEFRA has established research programmes to help build the evidence on reducing emissions from livestock through nutrition, husbandry, genetics, and nutrient management. We currently have two projects looking at both nutritional and genetic potential for reducing methane and nitrogen emissions from livestock. The first will identify feed strategies in collaboration with industry to ensure knowledge transfer, and the second will identify areas where genetic research can add value. We are also taking a critical look at the configuration of the livestock sector and how this might need to change in order to meet emissions and other environmental targets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what records his Department holds on the incidence of MRSA in farm animals; and if he will make a statement. (146837)

MRSA has not been detected in farmed livestock in the UK and there is no current evidence that food-producing animals form a reservoir of infection in the UK. The organism has been isolated from dairy cows, pigs and chickens outside the UK and an ongoing assessment of the international picture is being maintained. The European Food Safety Authority is looking at the issue of MRSA in food-producing animals and considering what surveillance and other actions would be most appropriate for EU member states to undertake to address the issue. The UK is actively participating in the development of these proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has commissioned research into the impact of MRSA on pigs following recent cases in the Netherlands. (146618)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been isolated from dairy cows, pigs and chickens outside the UK and the international picture is being assessed on an ongoing basis. There is no current evidence that food-producing animals form a reservoir of infection in the UK and the organism has not been detected in farmed livestock in the UK. DEFRA has initiated a study undertaken by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency to test S. aureus isolates obtained from bovine clinical submissions for MRSA. This project commenced in autumn 2006 and, to date, more than 500 samples have been tested, with no MRSA identified.

The issue of MRSA in other livestock species was discussed at a meeting of the DEFRA Antimicrobial Resistance Coordination MRSA subgroup in January. The subgroup was set up to advise on how best the Department can contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the role of MRSA in animals.

Members felt that, at present, broadening the scope of work in this area should only be considered after analysis of the current findings relating to humans in the UK with MRSA infections. The particular, strain of MRSA (ST398) occurring in pigs in some other parts of Europe was not reported to have been detected so far in humans in the UK and this was a key consideration in reaching the decision taken. However, the position will be kept under active review, taking into account the latest findings in humans and animals, as well as developments in Europe and elsewhere.

The European Food Safety Authority is also looking at the issue of MRSA in food-producing animals and considering what surveillance and other actions would be most appropriate for EU member states to undertake to address the issue. The UK is actively participating in the development of these proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with EU counterparts on using a possible alternative to Gross Domestic Product for measuring economic welfare. (147180)

We are not aware that the former Secretary of State had any such discussions with his EU counterparts on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which pesticides and herbicides are permitted for use on organic food crops in the UK. (147411)

Organic production in the UK is regulated under the Compendium of UK Organic Standards.

No herbicides are permitted in organic farming.

The use of pesticides is restricted in organic production both in the number of products available and the uses to which they may be put. Organic farmers are encouraged to use management techniques such as rotation, use of appropriate species and protection of natural predators of specific pests. In some exceptional cases, it is recognised that further treatment is needed. In such cases, only those products listed in Annex IIB of the Compendium of UK Organic Standards can be used, subject to the conditions set out therein. I have arranged for copies of the Annex to be placed in the Libraries of the House. Any pesticide used by organic producers in the UK must also have approval from the Pesticides Safety Directorate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to monitor the contamination of organic food by pesticides and herbicides that are permitted for use on such crops. (147412)

In addition to the standard controls on pesticide and herbicide use, organic producers are subject to the control system outlined in the Compendium of UK Organic Standards.

These include control of the use of external inputs. The Standards are enforced in a number of ways:

(i) By the DEFRA and UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) approved organic inspection body that the farmer must be registered with. The farmer must be subject to at least an annual inspection by a DEFRA approved organic inspector from that body and may also be subject to further unannounced inspection visits. These inspections can (and when appropriate do) include sampling and testing. A positive result for either a non-allowed product, or an allowed product that was either incorrectly used or had not been approved for use as required, would result in the imposition of sanctions ranging from decertification of the product to decertification of the farm dependant on the severity and cause of the case.

(ii) DEFRA organises sample surveillance inspections based on both random and risk based selection to ensure the inspection system is operated correctly by the approved organic inspection bodies.

(iii) The Pesticides Safety Directorate undertakes a residues surveillance programme that includes organic samples, and tests all samples for a wide range of pesticides including some of those allowed in organic production. Any unusual results are passed to the Organic Team in DEFRA who ensure the information is passed to the appropriate inspection body for further investigation.

(iv) Deliberate breaches of standards by organic operators are dealt with under The Organic Products Regulations 2004 (as amended), enforcement is undertaken by Trading Standards Officers.

It should be noted that no herbicides are permitted for use in organic farming, and discovery of their use would result in an automatic sanction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the level of algal bloom is in Liverpool Bay; what the locations are of algal bloom in UK waters, broken down by order of severity; if his Department will take steps to treat non-toxic algal bloom accumulated on the North Wales coast; and if he will make a statement. (146894)

Levels of algal blooms are recorded continuously at one site in Liverpool Bay and less regularly elsewhere. Relatively high levels of algae occur in Liverpool Bay in spring and summer, in comparison to offshore regions or shallow regions not in the vicinity of major rivers. However, they do not cause a problem and are similar to other regions around the coast of England that are in the vicinity of major rivers. An exact comparison of levels is difficult due to differences in the frequency of measuring algal blooms. They also vary greatly from year to year.

Algal blooms eventually sink to the sea bed, and are consumed by predators or transported by tides and currents to other regions. Certain types of bloom-forming algae can, under certain conditions, be transported onto the shore and may result in visible scums along the shoreline. These present no health hazard to humans and pose a limited threat to organisms that live on the shore.

The Welsh Assembly Government is responsible for water quality in and around Wales.

I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 November 2003, Official Report, column 1228W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what public funding her Department has made available in each of the last 10 years to (a) the Natural Environment Research Council and (b) other bodies for the purposes of conducting agricultural biotechnology research. (146078)

[holding answer 28 June 2007]: The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) does not fund the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) directly. However, DEFRA does let contracts to NERC-sponsored research institutes. DEFRA research and development (R and D) contracts all research organisations for agricultural biotechnology work are summarised in the table attached.

For this purpose, DEFRA has defined biotechnology as being the application of biological organisms, systems and processes to manufacturing and service industries. This definition covers genetic modification research but goes much wider to include fused cell techniques, protein engineering, fermentation and cell culture techniques, the production of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies and many other techniques. It excludes pathogen characterisation and epidemiology.