Written Answers to Questions
Monday 26 November 2007
House of Commons Commission
Members: Allowances
At 1 April 2006 approximately 30 full-time equivalent, permanent staff were employed to deal with hon. Members’ allowance claims in the Department of Finance and Administration. Comparable figures are no longer held for 1996 and 1986.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
The cost of onward movement from Kandahar to other UK bases in Afghanistan between April 2006 and March 2007 was around £3.2 million. Data prior to April 2006 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The cost of transport through Pakistan is subsumed in the costs associated with the contract for the transport of supplies from the UK to the UK logistics hub in Afghanistan. A breakdown cannot be provided of the amount paid to ‘local’ transporters as the MOD does not have visibility of such sub-contracts.
Records show that, since 27 April 2007, UK armed forces personnel have made 13 visits to see detainees transferred to the government of Afghanistan, normally seeing several detainees in one visit. The purpose of the visits was to check on the welfare and status of the detainees.
Information related to visits prior to 27 April 2007 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Personnel at Camp Bastion have access to a contract laundry facility to wash clothing. This facility is provided free of charge. The frequency of the laundry service currently allows for two 5 kg bags per person per week. Washing powder is available from the NAAFI should personnel wish to wash items by hand.
Armed Forces: Death
The armed forces ensure that families are kept informed of all developments, regarding investigations into the deaths of service personnel, through their respective visiting officers. Where there is a board of inquiry, families will be given personal briefings on the process, findings, conclusions and recommendations.
Armed Forces: Desertion
The breakdown of personnel reported absent without leave by age group between January 2004 and October 2007 for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Army is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The number of Royal Navy personnel broken down by age group who have been reported absent without leave between January 2004 and October 2007 is shown in the following table.
Age 18-20 Age 21-25 Age 26-30 Age 31-36 Age 36+ Total 2004 66 67 23 18 10 184 2005 89 70 20 15 2 196 2006 77 57 8 12 3 157 2007 49 47 8 4 7 115 Total 281 241 59 49 22 652
Armed Forces: Postal Services
The Ministry of Defence does not maintain details on the cost to Defence of providing a postal service to operational theatres as the value varies according to the volume of mail presented. If volume rises significantly then costs will increase exponentially due to additional air charter and personnel deployment costs.
For illustrative reasons, the current full commercial cost of sending a 2 kg airmail packet to Iraq or Afghanistan via Royal Mail is £20.72. If this cost is taken as being representative of the total cost of sending a 2 kg package to Iraq or Afghanistan then the Ministry of Defence was paying 69 per cent. prior to the introduction of the freepost service on 3 September. The remaining 31 per cent. was paid by the consigner. As a result of the extension of the freepost service jointly announced with Royal Mail on 12 November, the Royal Mail will fund approximately 15.5 per cent. of the illustrative cost, with Ministry of Defence funding the remaining 84.5 per cent.
Army: Deployment
The average unit tour intervals for the Infantry and those units of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, the Royal Armoured Corps and the Army Medical Services which deploy as fully formed units, are 23.5, 20.8, 23.1 and 24.5 months respectively. This is calculated on the basis of the mean time between the start of the most recent deployment and the end of the previous deployment.
The Household Cavalry has only deployed as a unit twice since January 2003: Iraq (April 2004-October 2004) and Afghanistan (October 2007-April 2008). As such, its average unit tour interval and actual unit tour interval is 35 months.
The unit tour interval is a less relevant measure when applied to the Corps of Royal Engineers, Royal Corps of Signals and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. This is due to the frequency with which personnel move between formed units within these Corps (the personnel deployed with a unit will be substantially different from the personnel deployed with the same unit on a previous occasion). Consequently, unit tour interval data for these Corps are not routinely collated.
Ballistic Missile Defence
The US plans to place further missile defence assets in Europe are an important step towards providing a defensive capability against potential future ballistic missile threats to the UK. We will continue to discuss with the US how this coverage will be achieved as the system evolves.
Guided Weapons
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 July 2007, Official Report, column 1247W, to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Caton).
There is no international definition of a cluster munition, nor of the number of sub-munitions a weapon must carry in order to be classed as a cluster munition. An element of the UK’s own understanding of a cluster munition is that a weapon should carry more than 10 sub-munitions in order to be classified a cluster munition.
The term ‘Hydra’ refers to an American rocket system which we do not use. The Canadian Rocket Vehicle 7 (CRV-7) is manufactured in Canada and is the version currently in-service with UK forces. Multi Purpose Sub Munition is one of the rocket variants of the CRV-7 system.
Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
No shipping containers have been reported as missing or stolen.
Libyan Arab Republic: Arms Trade
I have been asked to reply.
The Government do not hold information on the value of arms and related equipment exported from the UK, but can provide information on the value of licences issued for export. The Government publish detailed information on export licences issued, including the overall value and number of export licences approved for Libya and a summary of the items covered by these licences, in its Annual and Quarterly Reports on Strategic Export Controls.
The Government's Annual Reports, published since 1997, are available from the Libraries of the House and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website at
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c =Page&cid=1007029395474.
The Government have published quarterly reports on Strategic Export Controls since January 2004 and these are also available from this website. Please note that the Annual Reports for 1997 and 1998 do not give the total value of Standard Individual Export Licences issued as this information was not collected at the time.
Military Aircraft: Operating Costs
The total cost per funded flying hour is shown in the table as follows:
Aircraft Cost (£) Tornado GR4 33,000 Nimrod 30,000 Chinook 24,000 Apache 46,000
This includes forward and depth servicing, fuel costs, crew costs, training costs and the cost of capital charge and depreciation.
Military Bases: Security
The state of security across the Defence estate is generally satisfactory. The Department, in common with similar large organisations, faces ever-changing threats and challenges to its security. High priority is given to security at MOD establishments, the risks posed to buildings and staff are kept under constant review to ensure that appropriate levels of security are applied through a process of risk management. For obvious reasons it is not practice to reveal MOD security measures publicly. However, I can assure the hon. Member that wherever a security incident occurs, it is speedily investigated and remedial action is taken if appropriate.
Navy: Fisheries
In addition to their extensive naval training, British Sea Fishery Officers attend a three week shore course and a 10 day practical sea training course specifically for the purpose. This training is primarily sponsored by the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) and is taught by both MFA (District Inspector (Training)) and Royal Naval (Fishery Protection Inspector) instructors.
Northwood Headquarters
The UK permanent joint headquarters (PJHQ) at Northwood is one of five national operational headquarters (OHQ) declared available for European Union military operations. The others are at Larissa (Greece), Potsdam (Germany), Rome (Italy) and Mont Valerien (Paris). In addition, access to NATO OHQ at SHAPE, Brussels, is assured for EU military operations.
PJHQ will provide the OHQ building and technical and administrative support, including trained core staff, for the Nordic Battle Group during its time as one of the two EU battle groups on standby between January and June 2008.
Patrol Craft: Repairs and Maintenance
The three River class vessels are supported under a Contractor Logistic Support contract placed with VT Group plc. Under the contract the three vessels are required to be operationally available for a total of 960 days per annum. Each vessel undergoes two maintenance periods per annum, one of nine days and one of 16 days duration. The work undertaken during these periods is a combination of contractor and ship’s company tasks.
Reserve Forces: Finance
These organisations do not have distinct, identifiable budgets. Costs are managed functionally rather than organisationally. But the following indicative figures are available for forecast expenditure in 2007-08:
£ million Royal Navy Reserve Pay and allowances. 7 Royal Marines Reserve Pay and allowances. 3 Royal Navy Reserve/Royal Marine Reserve Utilities, rent of accommodation, transport, travel and subsistence. Excludes stores consumption and IT. 4 Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) RFA manpower costs, training and travel and subsistence; new build, maintenance and asset depreciation/cost of capital for RFA ships. Excludes fuel, stores consumption and IT. 350
Spending plans for future years are being reviewed in the current Departmental planning round.
Tornado Aircraft
The MOD has no plans for any changes to the Tornado GR4 force structure at present.
Warships
[holding answer 19 November 2007]: While the Defence Programme is kept under regular review, there are currently no plans to change the number of destroyers or frigates in service with the Royal Navy.
Warships: Finance
The costs of HM Ships Ocean, Bulwark and Illustrious at the time they were commissioned, uprated to 2007-08 prices, are set out in the following table:
Vessel Date of commissioning Price uprated to 2007-08 prices (£ million) HMS Ocean 1999 289.2 HMS Bulwark 2004 279.7 HMS Illustrious 1982 553.9
Olympics
Olympic Board Secretariat
[holding answer 13 November 2007]: The Secretariat to the Olympic Board provides support to the board through arranging meetings and preparing agendas, papers and minutes. As of 12 November 2007, the Secretariat consists of two full-time equivalent staff. The current Secretariat, based within the Government Olympic Executive (GOE), took over this function from the Olympic Programme Support Unit in September 2007. The cost of the current Secretariat for September and October 2007 was £7,109.48.
The Government Olympic Executive consists of 61.3 full-time equivalent staff. GOE's main function is to provide an intelligent client for the Olympic programme on behalf of Government. GOE currently divides its staff broadly across four main functions:
(1) Oversight of and support to the key delivery bodies (ODA and LOCOG);
(2) Legacy planning;
(3) Co-ordination of other functions including parliamentary business, research, planning, and public engagement;
(4) Detailed oversight of financial operations.
The GOE staff cost for October 2007 was £629,691 and staff costs to date in this financial year are £2,168,158.
Olympic Games 2012
The Olympic Delivery Authority intends to publish its register of gifts and hospitality early next year.
Olympic Games 2012: Mayor of London
There is no current reason to further revise the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London.
Culture, Media and Sport
Anti-Semitism
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. Dhandra) on 22 November 2007, Official Report, column 1012W.
Cricket: Floods
To date, two applications have been made to Sport England for National Sports Foundation funding for cricket clubs affected by flood damage. Additional information was requested and has now been received from the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). These applications can now be considered for funding.
Cultural Heritage: Marketing
[holding answer 19 November 2007]: VisitBritain works closely with English Heritage, and the National Museums and Galleries, on the marketing of Britain’s historic and cultural assets to both inbound and domestic visitors.
Although there are no formal marketing agreements VisitBritain hosts free contributions on its websites from English Heritage and the National Museums and Galleries. VisitBritain and English Heritage are partners in the Great British Heritage Pass which is marketed by VisitBritain to inbound visitors.
Working in partnership as the Heritage in Britain consortium, English Heritage, VisitBritain, and National Museums and Galleries share research and best practice in the marketing and promotion of Britain’s attractions both domestically and overseas.
Departmental Official Hospitality
Paragraph 4.3.5 of the Civil Service Management Code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality. The Government are committed to publishing an annual list of hospitality received by members of departmental boards. The first list for 2007 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current calendar year.
Departmental Orders and Regulations
Over the last year, DCMS made 61 statutory instruments and revoked 44. The majority of these new and revoked instruments (43 and 31 respectively) relate to the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005 which came fully into effect on 1 September 2007 and which simplified and modernised previous gambling legislation.
Departmental Public Participation
The Department has conducted one public opinion poll since 27 June 2007. The firm employed was BMRB and the purpose was to gauge national public opinion about the Olympic legacy promises. The cost was £65,629.
The Department has conducted various opinion polls of staff since 27 June 2007 which are listed:
1. Two staff workshops with a range of DCMS staff to explore responses to the recent DCMS Capability Review. These were managed by Campbell Keegan and cost £12,250.
2. A staff opinion survey. The firm employed was ORC International and the purpose was to find out staff views on working at DCMS. The cost was £20,425.
Departmental Publicity
The Department has had a zero spend on managing its corporate identity in the last 12-month period.
With regard to its agencies, this figure could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Standards
DCMS has not yet set a date for publication of its Autumn Performance Report for 2007, however it is our intention to publish this before the House rises for the Christmas recess.
Digital Broadcasting: Radio
The planning, licensing and regulation of radio (except BBC) is a matter for the independent regulator Ofcom.
Heritage
In consultation with the sector, English Heritage is setting up a steering group which will collect and collate information and make proposals for a UK national heritage science strategy.
Museums and Galleries
The information is as follows:
(a) The number of visits by UK residents to (i) museums and (ii) art galleries sponsored by DCMS are set out in the following table.
(i) Museums (ii) Art galleries 1998-99 7.70 5.32 1999-2000 8.49 4.99 2000-01 11.56 7.99 2001-02 13.45 7.66 2002-03 16.56 7.47 2003-04 15.56 7.68 2004-05 16.60 8.61 2005-06 15.52 7.55 2006-07 16.04 8.76
(b) The number of visits by overseas tourists to (i) museums and (ii) art galleries sponsored by DCMS are set out in the following table.
(i) Museums (ii) Art galleries 1998-99 2.54 3.51 1999-2000 2.56 3.49 2000-01 4.61 4.74 2001-02 4.93 4.21 2002-03 5.31 4.28 2003-04 7.19 4.61 2004-05 6.82 4.06 2005-06 6.57 4.35 2006-07 8.91 5.34
A breakdown of visits by UK and overseas residents to DCMS sponsored museums and art galleries is not available for 1997-98, as those data were not collected prior to 1998-99.
Figures on the number of UK residents and overseas tourists that visit all museums and art galleries in the UK each year is not available.
Museums and Galleries: North East Region
Investment in the programme as a whole will rise from £45 million this year to £48.7 million in 2010-11. The specific allocation for museums in the North East will be decided by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.
National Lottery: Sports
[holding answer 19 November 2007]: The following table shows the total operator proceeds raised for and held in the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) for the sport lottery distributors, for each complete financial year. The figures are taken from the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) annual accounts, except for the figure for 2006-07 which is a provisional figure subject to audit. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds.
Financial year Total operator proceeds1 (£) 1994-95 58,100,000 1995-96 293,376,000 1996-97 289,172,000 1997-98 321,955,000 1998-99 253,244,000 1999-2000 244,729,000 2000-01 257,987,000 2001-02 276,022,000 2002-03 229,461,000 2003-04 216,474,000 2004-05 226,077,000 2005-06 230,415,000 2006-07 200,930,000 1 Rounded to nearest thousand
National Security
The timing and format of the conference and debates are a matter for the organisations concerned. The Government have not received any request for a contribution towards the costs but would be happy to consider what support might be necessary to make them successful.
Opinion Leader Research
There have been no contracts awarded by my Department to Opinion Leader Research since 1997.
Public Service Broadcasting
Teletext is the commercial public service broadcaster which is required under the terms of its licence to make a text service available, currently in both analogue and digital formats. The holder of the Channel 3 licence, Channel 4 and the Welsh Authority are currently required to grant access to the analogue public teletext provider to the facilities reasonably required for the purposes of the provision of that service. Under its Charter and Agreement, the BBC has currently undertaken to provide analogue Ceefax. The analogue Teletext service and BBC Ceefax will not be available after digital switchover but I understand that digital Teletext and a digital BBC text service will be.
Royal Opera House: Finance
The grant in aid figures are as follows:
Royal Opera House English National Opera 2003-04 21,754,450 15,000,000 2004-05 23,110,841 16,078,500 2005-06 24,866,154 16,556,220 2006-07 25,550,000 17,011,516 2007-08 26,252,600 17,479,300
Somerset House
In line with its mission to open up Somerset house to the public and complete the restoration of the 18th century buildings round the courtyard, Somerset house Trust has invited bids from potential partners to re-develop the adjoining new wing. The Trust is currently analysing the options to achieve the best solution and will then put proposals to Ministers for them to consider.
Sports: Peterborough
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not fund sport directly. In this instance funding has been provided by Sport England to:
£ 1998 152,889 1999 9,758 2000 16,916 2001 25,676 2002 16,222 2003 64,484 2004 116,000 2005 3,000 Total 404,945
£ 1998 442,689 1999 54,328 2000 21,915 2001 32,326 2002 25,378 2003 64,484 2004 116,000 2005 3,000 2006 30,000 Total 790,120
Travel Information
There are currently around 500 Tourist Information Centres (TICs) in England. Historical information about TIC numbers is not held centrally.
The vast majority of TICs are managed by local authorities, as part of their discretionary support for the sector. Decisions about provision will continue to be made at a local level.
Transport
Airports: Public Participation
The Department is currently consulting on proposals to add capacity at Heathrow airport. This meets a commitment in the 2004 ‘Future of Air Transport’ White Paper, which was itself developed following wide consultation. The Department has no plans to consult on specific development proposals at other airports though individual airport operators will need to consult in accordance with planning requirements as and when they bring forward their proposals.
Aviation: Security
(2) what consultations she has had with the (a) aviation and (b) security industries on the future of the one item of hand luggage rule; and if she will make a statement;
(3) what her plans are relating to the one item of hand luggage rule.
Ministers meet regularly with members of the industry, both bilaterally and through relevant committees.
The Secretary of State discussed cabin baggage restrictions with senior aviation industry representatives at the Aviation Security Summit and also with individual airline and airport operators.
My right hon. Friend’s written statement of 14 November explained that airports may permit passengers to carry more than one item of hand luggage from 7 January 2008, provided they have been able to show that they have in place the screening capacity needed to handle the additional bags without any adverse impact on the standard of security achieved. It will be for each airport to bring its plans to the Department for approval, as and when it is ready to do so.
Cars: Leader of the Opposition
The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) provides a driver to the Leader of the Official Opposition to support him in carrying out his official duties. The costs associated with use for non-official duties are met by the Conservative Party. The hours worked by the driver are determined by the Leader of the Opposition’s day-to-day requirements. The current average monthly contracted cost for providing this service is £4,027 (excl. VAT).
The GCDA does not currently provide a car to the Leader of the Official Opposition. His car is provided [and paid for] by the Conservative Party. A contribution is provided by Government towards the cost of fuel.
Departmental Internet
(2) which websites are run by (a) her Department and (b) each of its agencies, listed by the order in which they went live;
(3) which websites run by (a) her Department and (b) its executive agencies are live but are no longer updated.
The website rationalisation exercise, which forms part of the Government's Transformational Government agenda, proposed a moratorium on the creation of new websites. The Department's policy is to adhere to that position.
There are currently 80 sites across the Department, its executive agencies and subsidiaries, 74 of which have been identified for closure. To clarify the exact date on which each of these sites was published and to clarify whether information has been published recently on each of these sites, would require dialogue with each website owner and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Following is a full list of the Department’s and executive agencies’ websites.
Department/executive agency Website About Transport Direct1 www.transportdirect.gov.uk A5951 www.a595.co.uk Arrive Alive1 www.arrivealive.info Bus Priority Resource Pack1 www.buspriority.org Car Fuel Data1 www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk Cyclesense1 www.cyclesense.net Cyclesmart1 www.cyclesmart.org Dartford River Crossing1 www.dartfordrivercrossing.co.uk Department for Transport www.dft.gov.uk DfT Matrix1 www.dft-matrix.net DPTAC e-community1 www.ecommunities.dft.gov.uk Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency1 www.dvla.gov.uk Driving Standards Agency1 www.dsa.gov.uk Drugdrive1 www.drugdrive.com DSA IRDT Instructor Services1 https://pt.dsa.gov.uk/DSAWeb/ DSA Practical test booking1 https://pt.dsa.gov.uk DSA Theory test bookings1 www.pearsonvue.com DVLA Online1 https://www.dvlaonline.gov.uk/Homepage.asp DVLA Personalised Registrations1 www.dvlaregistrations.co.uk DVLA.gov.uk/vehiclelicences1 www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk DVO Group (Driver, Vehicle and Operator Group) e-Community1 www.ecommunities.dft.gov.uk Electronic Service Delivery of Abnormal Loads (ESDAL) 1 www.esdal.com e-Tendering1 https://www.prep.dft.bravosolution.com/web/login.shtml Freight best practice1 www.freightbestpractice.org.uk Government Car and Despatch Agency1 www.gcda.gov.uk HA Car Share1 www.hacarshare.com HA Environmental Management System (HAEMS) 1 No longer planned HA EU Watch1 www. Haeuwatchits.info HA Guide to freight1 www.haguidetofreight.co.uk Halogen1 www.halogenonline.co.uk Halogen demo1 www.foyer-display.co.uk Halogen demo1 www.trafficxml.org.uk Heavy Goods Vehicle1 www.heavygoodvehicle.com Hedgehogs www.hedgehogs.gov.uk Highway Code1 www.highwaycode.gov.uk Highways Agency1 www.highways.gov.uk ITS Radar1 www.itsradar.co.uk M25 sphere1 www.mouchelparkman.com/area5/v3/rwis/area5.nsf/httpPublicMap?ReadForm Maritime and Coastguard Agency www.mcga.gov.uk MOT info1 www.motinfo.gov.uk Non-executive director job ad1 www.tribalresourcing.com/highways-ned/ ODS Databank1 www.odsdatabank.com PartnerNET1 www.ha-partnernet.org.uk Pass Plus1 www.passplus.org.uk Payroll Services e-Community1 www.ecommunities.dft.gov.uk Primary School Teaching Resource1 www.databases.dft.gov.uk/primary Property review group (BRBR) 1 www.railprg.org.uk/ Realtime Traffic Info1 www.realtime-traffic.info Research Compendium1 www.ha-research.gov.uk Research Database1 http://www.rmd.dft.gov.uk/ Road Safety Resources database1 www.databases.dft.gov.uk/roadsafety/ School Lesson Plans Database1 www.databases.dft.gov.uk/lessonplans Secondary School Teaching Resource1 www.databases.dft.gov.uk/secondary Standards for Highways1 www.standardsforhighways.co.uk Sustainable School Travel Database1 www.databases.dft.gov.uk/schools/ The Academy1 www.themotorcycleacademy.co.uk The Red Ensign Group www.redensigngroup.org Theory Tests1 www.theory-tests.co.uk THINK! 1 www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk THINK! Seat belts1 www.thinkseatbelts.com Traffic England1 www.trafficengland.com Traffic Map1 www.trafficmap.co.uk Traffic Officer Recruitment1 www.betterhighways.co.uk Traffic radio1 www.trafficradio.org.uk Transec (Transport Security) e-Community1 www.ecommunities.dft.gov.uk Transport Direct www.transportdirect.info Transport Office1 www.transportoffice.gov.uk TSS Plans Registry1 www.tssplansregistry.co.uk UK Search and Rescue1 www.uk-sar.org.uk UK Ship Register www.ukshipregister.co.uk UTMC: Urban Traffic Management and control1 www.utmc.gov.uk VCA www.vca.gov.uk Vehicle Licensing Online1 www.dvla.gov.uk/vehiclelicence Vehicle Licensing Online (Direct.gov.uk/taxdisc) 1 www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc Video Information Highway1 www.vihengland.org VOSA Corporate site1 www.vosa.gov.uk Water Freight Grant Environmental Benefit Calculator1 www.dft-eb-calculator.co.uk WebDAS (Departures from Standards)—Planned1 Not yet launched WebTAG: Transport Analysis Guidance1 www.webtag.org.uk What if? 1 www.ask-what-if.com 1 Either closed or identified for closure
Departmental Manpower
The Department does not routinely collate age related data on job applicants and interviewees and this can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The following table shows provisional data on people given temporary and permanent jobs in the Department in 2007. These figures exclude DSA and VGA, which can only collate the data as requested at a disproportionate cost.
Age Group Temporary Permanent 30 to 39 76 234 40 to 49 57 188 50 to 59 57 120 60 to 69 8 10 Total 198 552
East Coast Railway Line
The re-franchising has been completed at no cost to Government. Costs incurred have been met by Sea Containers Ltd.
Eurostar
Eurostar are de-commissioning the station and leaving it in a suitable condition to transfer to the department at the end of March 2008. This work involves taking out all the equipment needed to operate an "international" station—e.g. customs control arrangements—which are now redundant. The cost of this de-commissioning work is between £50,000 and £100,000.
There is also an ongoing need to maintain the wider facilities at Waterloo International in a safe and secure condition. The cost of doing this is likely to be in the region of £500,000 per annum. Such costs would need to be incurred irrespective of the future use of the station.
Lorries: Speed Limits
It is already a requirement under the provisions of directive 92/6/EEC as amended by directive 2002/85/EC for heavy goods vehicles registered in any EU member state to be fitted with a speed limiter.
Motor Vehicles: Crime
The lead responsibility for combating vehicle crime rests with the Home Office. Many of the activities of DFT and its agencies also help to tackle vehicle crime. Among the key achievements in 2006-07 were: the introduction of theft-resistant number plates to help combat car cloning and car ID theft; and an increase in wheel clamping activities to tackle vehicle excise duty evasion. It is not possible to quantify this in terms of staff numbers.
Railway Track
The disposal of non-operational property owned by BRB (Residuary) Ltd. (BRBR) is governed by guidance issued to the company on 26 July 2007 which I outlined in my statement to Parliament on that date. Since 1 April 2007, BRBR have disposed of 13 properties that contain disused rail lines. The disposal of railway property owned by Network Rail is undertaken in accordance with the conditions of their network license. Compliance with these conditions are monitored and enforced by the Office of Rail Regulation.
Railways: Antisocial Behaviour
This information is not held by the Department for Transport but by the British Transport police who can be contacted at:
British Transport Police,
25 Camden Road,
London NW1 9LN,
e-mail: general.enquiries@btp.pnn.police.uk
Railways: Cheshire
[holding answer 20 November 2007]: The Woodhead tunnels are owned by National Grid.
The Department has no plans to reopen the Woodhead tunnel for rail use.
Railways: East Coast Main Line
Route Utilisation Strategies are the responsibility of Network Rail who tell me that publication of the final Route Utilisation Strategy document for the East Coast Main Line is likely to be in February 2008.
Railways: Gloucestershire
Ministers have had no recent discussions with either Network Rail or Arriva about the frequency of direct services between Cheltenham and the North West.
Ministers have had no recent discussions with either Network Rail or train operating companies about the frequency of train services to and from Ashchurch for Tewkesbury station.
Railways: Kemble
I understand Network Rail has consulted rail industry parties on possible changes to the Swindon to Kemble line. However, this is an operational matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail’s Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his question.
Iain Coucher
Chief Executive
Network Rail
40 Melton Street
London NW1 2EE
Railways: Milton Keynes
In the morning peak, the increase in trains towards London will be provided by Virgin West Coast. Before 7.15 am, three trains currently stop to pick up and set down passengers. From December 2008, we propose that this increases to six. In the evening peak, the number of northbound Virgin services calling would double, but as is the case now they will only pick up and not set down passengers at Milton Keynes.
London Midland services will remain at the same frequency as today. However, a new service to Clapham Junction via Kensington Olympia will operate every hour.
Rapid Transit Systems
The Department is currently working on a number of proposals from local authorities that relate to light rail. These proposals are in various stages of development from the initial submission of a business case, to those which are applying for statutory powers to operate and others which are close to finalising their bids for full funding approval.
As these schemes are complex the Department has to draw upon a number of disciplines for the provision of legal and financial advice, economic appraisal of the schemes, as well as the assessment of project delivery.
Currently we estimate that 28 departmental officials are involved in this. However, given the nature of this work this will fluctuate.
Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation
The RTFO is due to come into effect in April 2008, as set out in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations Order 2007 (SI 2007 No. 3072) which completed its passage through Parliament in October 2007. The Government have consulted extensively on the detail and likely impacts of the scheme. Copies of the relevant consultation documents are available in the House Libraries or via the Department for Transport’s website:
www.dft.gov.uk
Roads: Construction
I am placing copies of the letter and the notes in the Libraries of the House.
Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
The following table lists works tender/target cost against works outturn cost for each publicly funded major project (project costing over £5 million) that has been completed from June 2006 to date. Information for projects completing in the period 1997 to June 2006 can be found in a previously answered parliamentary question (UIN 62182) of 28 March 2006, Official Report, columns 858-59W.
£ million Scheme Works tender/target cost Works tender estimated out-turn cost M60 J5-8 Widening 106 129 M5 J19-20 Southbound Climbing Lane (Naish Hill) 9 8 M5 J19-20 Northbound Climbing Lane (Tickenham Hill) 12 10 A421 Great Barford Bypass 36 40 A63 Melton Grade Separated Junction 14 31 A500 City Road and Stoke Junction Improvement 31 57 A30/A382 Merrymeet Junction 8 8 A419 Commonhead Junction 13 13 A11 Attleborough Bypass 22 22 M40/A404 Handy Cross Junction Improvement 10 13
£ million Scheme Works tender/target cost Works tender estimated outturn cost A428 Caxton Common to Hardwick Improvement 39 39 A30 Bodmin Indian Queens Improvement 63 62 A66 Carkin Moor to Scotch Corner Improvement 7 11 A66 Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank Improvement 7 9 A66 Temple Sowerby Bypass and Imp at Winderwath 30 28
Items not procured through the main works contractor and therefore not included in the tender price are excluded from the figures shown. This normally includes the costs of land acquisition and compensation, non recoverable VAT and preparation and supervision costs. It should also be noted that while the out-turn figures shown include an allowance for all works costs final accounts have not yet been settled as they are still within the maintenance/defect period.
A detailed breakdown of programme budgets within the Department for Transport covering the three years of the CSR has not yet been made; an announcement will be made in due course.
Roads: Wales
Trunk roads in Wales are the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government, but the following trunk roads cross from England into Wales:
County Name of trunk road Cheshire A55, A550, A483 Shropshire A5, A458, A483 Herefordshire A40, A465
In addition, the M48 Severn Bridge and the M4 Second Severn Crossing both cross the English/Welsh border.
Waterloo Station
[holding answer 21 November 2007]: Ownership of Waterloo International transfers to the Department at the end of March 2008 following Eurostar’s decommissioning of the facility as an international station. The Department is currently working closely with Network Rail and Stagecoach South West Trains (the train operating company) to finalise the design and costs associated with the partial conversion of Waterloo International potentially to accommodate some domestic passenger services. Works on site are expected to commence soon after the station transfers to the Department and will take several months to complete. Services are then expected to operate into and out of platform 20 of Waterloo International from the start of the timetable change date in December 2008.
Options for the medium to long-term use of all five platforms are being assessed by the Department and Network Rail as part of a wider strategy for the upgrade of Waterloo station.
West Coast Railway Line: Rolling Stock
Negotiations continue with Network Rail, Virgin Trains and Alstom to determine the optimal way of providing further increased capacity on the west coast main line. I hope to be able to make a further announcement during the early part of the new year.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture: Lancashire
[holding answer 19 November 2007]: There are currently 11 outstanding cases for SPS 2005.
For SPS 2006 there are 352 claims where processing is not yet complete. 179 of these have received partial payments and RPA is continuing to process these claims to provide top up payments where applicable. Payment is yet to be made on the other 173. Many of these are complex cases involving probate, business partnership changes and domestic issues. It is likely that work on these outstanding claims will reveal some may not be eligible for payment. Where it is confirmed that payments are due, these will be made as soon as possible.
The payment window for SPS 2007 opens on 1 December 2007.
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.
[holding answer 19 November 2007]: The value of the outstanding single payment scheme payments for 2005 is £74,566, for 2006 it is approximately £1.7 million once the processing of these claims is complete. These figures exclude any corrections arising from the review of SPS Entitlements Statements currently taking place.
The payment window for SPS 2007 opens on 1 December 2007.
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.
Agriculture: Subsidies
There are currently 11 outstanding cases for SPS 2005.
For SPS 2006 there are 352 claims where processing is not yet complete. 179 of these have received partial payments and RPA is continuing to process these claims to provide top up payments where applicable. Payment is yet to be made on the other 173. Many of these are complex cases involving probate, business partnership changes and domestic issues. It is likely that work on these outstanding claims will reveal some may not be eligible for payment. Where it is confirmed that payments are due, these will be made as soon as possible.
The payment window for SPS 2007 opens on 1 December 2007.
The value of the outstanding single payment scheme payments for 2005 is £74,566 and for 2006 it is approximately £1.7 million once the processing of these claims is complete. These figures exclude any corrections arising from the review of SPS entitlements statements currently taking place.
The payment window for SPS 2007 opens on 1 December 2007.
Animal Feed: Prices
The price of feed for the livestock sector is largely determined by world prices for cereals, oilseeds and other commodities. Recent price increases have been driven by a combination of factors, some of which are shorter term and introduce volatility into the market (e.g. adverse weather leading to lower production) and others of which are longer term trends (e.g. increasing use of cereals and oilseeds for food, feed and fuel uses). Current high prices, combined with policy changes such as the removal of the set-aside requirement for the 2008 harvest, will undoubtedly stimulate production and lead to a moderation of prices, but it may take a number of years to rebuild stocks to levels that markets are comfortable with. A fuller assessment can be found in our recent report “Implications of rising agricultural commodity prices” which can be found at:
http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/publications/monthly%20brief/Annex%201%20Food%20and%20farming %20brief%20-%20impact%20of%20high%20commodity %20prices.pdf
Projecting future commodity prices and hence the price of feed for the livestock sector is uncertain. A number of international organisations produce projections, including the OECD and the EU Commission, the latest of which are given as follows. However, it should be noted that these were compiled before the recent price increases.
OECD/FAO agricultural outlook 2007 to 2016
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/6/10/38893266.pdf
EU Commission Prospects for agricultural markets and income 2007-2014
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/publi/caprep/prospects2007a/index_en.htm
Animal Health
(2) what changes are planned to the level of funding of local authority health teams; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what funding his Department has provided to local authority animal health teams in each year since 2001; and what the projected expenditure is for 2007-08.
[holding answer 20 November 2007]: I have received a number of representations from local authorities about the direct funding available from DEFRA to supplement the resources available to them under the Revenue Support Grant for work on animal health and welfare. The funding paid to local authorities under these arrangements, which started in 2002-03, has been as follows:
Expenditure (£ million) 2002-03 3.6 2003-04 7 2004-05 7.6 2005-06 8.2 2006-07 8.7
Local authorities submit bids annually to their local Divisional veterinary managers (DVMs), who are asked to certify that the proposed expenditure is eligible for funding. The bids are sent forward to a central point in DEFRA for authorisation.
For 2007-08, DEFRA received bids worth £9.77 million in total. This compares with an available budget of £8.5 million, which reflects a degree of underspending in previous years. DEFRA has issued allocations within the limits of the funding available. Authorities claiming up to £11,000 will receive the full amount of their bids. Other authorities have been told that their bids will be reduced by up to 12 per cent.
DEFRA is working with the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS) to improve the framework agreement governing this work and to ensure that the limited resources available are used to best effect.
Animal Welfare: Codes of Practice
(2) which organisation each member of the working group drawing up the Code of Practice resulting from the Animal Welfare Act 2006 represents;
(3) which bodies or individuals have been commissioned to provide research to assist the Working Group drawing up the code of practice resulting from the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
During the passage of the Animal Welfare Bill, an undertaking was given to produce three codes of practice on companion animals (dogs, cats and primates) and one on the breeding and rearing of game birds. Working groups on all four subjects are now well established.
The hon. Member does not identify which code of practice he is referring to, but those invited on to the working groups have a particular interest or expertise on the subject of the code. They represent relevant interest groups including welfare, specialists in a particular field (such as dog or cat behaviour), industry (where there are implications for that sector) and specialist private interest groups. The meetings are chaired by a DEFRA official.
It is essential that those involved with drawing up codes of practice are able to work constructively with others who may hold differing views.
Only one organisation, The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (formerly The Game Conservancy Trust) has been commissioned by DEFRA to undertake research. The research is in relation to game birds and is studying the effects of the application of bits and spectacles. The results of this work are expected early in 2008 and will assist debate on the use of bits and spectacles as management tools for aggression reduction in game birds.
Avian Influenza: Suffolk
[holding answer 19 November 2007]: Figures from the EU-wide computer system used to record imports of animals and their products, known as TRACES, show that no live birds were imported within the last six weeks from Germany or the Czech Republic to the area now covered by the avian influenza protection and surveillance zones.
TRACES does not record intra-EU movements of meat and there are currently no records for poultrymeat movements for this period.
A full epidemiological investigation is under way and all avenues into the origin of the outbreak of avian influenza near Diss are being investigated.
[holding answer 19 November 2007]: Following the first report of a suspected disease outbreak at Redgrave Park Farm on 11 November, Animal Health staff made an assessment of biosecurity at these premises for disease control purposes, to ensure that all necessary biosecurity control measures were in place. Part of the ongoing epidemiological investigation is to ascertain links between premises in the area and assess the risk of possible transmission of disease. Such work routinely includes the movement of vehicles, people and commodities. It is too early to comment further at this stage. The results of the epidemiological investigation will be published in due course.
Beaches: EU Law
The Environment Agency has used its bathing water quality monitoring data from 2003 to 2006 to assess the compliance rate that might be expected in England under the revised Bathing Water Directive (see following table). These predictions are made on the assumption that no further action is taken to improve bathing water quality between now and when the first classifications under the revised Bathing Water Directive are expected to be made at the end of the 2015 bathing season. However, measures will continue to be taken in the catchments of some bathing waters to ensure they comply with the requirements of both the current and revised Bathing Water Directives.
The following table shows the percentage of bathing waters expected to be classified as (a) poor, (b) sufficient, (c) good and (d) excellent by 2015.
Classification Percentage of bathing waters Excellent 52 Good 27 Sufficient 13 Poor 08 Total 100
DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly Government have recently launched a public consultation, including a partial impact assessment which sets out the costs associated with the implementation of the revised Bathing Water Directive (rBWD) in England and Wales. The Government are seeking views on three possible implementation scenarios. Scenarios 1A and 1B simply aim to meet the minimum requirements of the rBWD, with all bathing waters achieving at least the ‘sufficient’ classification by 2015 (Scenario 1B makes use of a prediction and discounting system) and Scenario 2 explores the costs of going beyond the minimum rBWD requirements by aiming to increase the number of ‘excellent’ bathing waters in England and Wales. The estimated cost to business (e.g. water companies, farmers and other parties) associated with each scenario is as follows:
Scenario Annual Total (PV) (25 years) 1A 6.8-10 107-171 1B 4.3-6.9 65-121 2 111.6-17.6 1206-380 1 Includes scenario 1A costs
The Government are not proposing to exempt any designated bathing waters from meeting the ‘sufficient’ classification under the revised Bathing Water Directive (rBWD), since they expect that all bathing waters will achieve the ‘sufficient’ classification by the end of the 2015 bathing season (following the introduction of measures to improve water quality in the catchments of bathing waters currently predicted to be classified as ‘poor’). The Government would only consider using the Article 5(4) provision to temporarily classify a bathing water as ‘poor’ and still remain in compliance with the rBWD if unforeseen circumstances arise near to 2015.
Beef: Imports
The following table shows the value and volume of imports of beef and beef products from Brazil to the United Kingdom from 2006 to September 2007. It is not possible to break these figures down by state of origin.
Description Year Value (£000) Tonnes Beef (including meat and offal preparations) 2006 152,553 84,516 2007 (January to September) 127,295 78,056 Note: 2007 data are subject to amendments Source: H M Revenue and Customs Data prepared by Trade statistics, Agricultural Statistics and Analysis Division, DEFRA
Birds: Conservation
There is no clear evidence that bird registration has a deterrent effect on the illegal taking of high value native species from the wild for commercial sale. Such birds are also subject to stringent sales controls. Recent information from the National Wildlife Crime Unit indicates that there is minimal criminal activity in the trade of high value native species subject to bird registration, for example certain birds of prey, and such activity does not constitute a threat to their conservation.
My Department has undertaken a public consultation on a number of possible changes to the bird registration scheme. A number of respondents to that consultation considered any discontinuation or weakening of the registration scheme may lead to increase in illegal activity. My Department is seeking further advice from the UK’s nature conservation advisors, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, and others on these issues before taking a decision on any future changes to the list of birds that need to be registered.
Citizens Juries
Data from 1997 are not readily available in core DEFRA and would require a significant review of all engagement activities and an analysis of the techniques used, resulting in extracting costs for citizens juries at a disproportionate cost.
Cumbria
At this time the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has no proposals to move any of its offices to Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency.
Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings
The number of DEFRA staff who were disciplined or had their employment terminated or both as a result of a poor sick record in each year since 2003 is shown in the following table. The figures shown in the disciplined column includes those members of staff who were dismissed.
Disciplined Dismissed 2003 19 12 2004 9 5 2005 11 8 2006 9 5 2007 4 1
Departmental Flexible Working
DEFRA has in place a process to allow parents (adopters, guardians or foster carers) of children under six or of disabled children under 18, and for carers of adults, to apply to work flexibly in line with recent legislation. However, information on applications for flexible working is not held centrally and could be provided only by incurring disproportionate cost. Many requests for flexible working may be made informally between managers and staff and will not therefore be formally recorded.
The Department believes in giving its staff every opportunity to work to a pattern that best suits their lifestyle and the demands of family and dependents. This contributes to staff welfare and ultimately to delivery of a high quality service to our customers.
DEFRA is committed to helping its staff maintain a healthy work/life balance. This can only be achieved if employees and their managers are prepared to think creatively about working patterns so that efficient working can be combined with other responsibilities, and with employees’ interests and enjoyment of life.
Departmental Manpower
(2) how many allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing have been reported to his Department by departmental staff since 6 June 2006;
(3) when his Department’s whistleblowing procedures were reviewed to reflect the provisions in the revised Civil Service Code.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 19 November 2007, Official Report, column 597W.
Data on the age of applicants and interviewees are not available as DEFRA does not request this information. Date of birth is requested only from successful candidates. DEFRA is committed to creating an inclusive workplace, and to ensuring that there is no discrimination on the basis of age. By not asking candidates to disclose their date of birth there is a greater degree of objectivity built in the recruitment and appointment process.
The number of staff in each age band who gained temporary or permanent employment in DEFRA between 1 January and 19 November 2007 is shown in the following table.
Age band Temporary Permanent 30 to 39 8 79 40 to 49 6 46 50 to 59 3 16 60 to 69 1 0
Departmental Official Hospitality
Paragraph 4.3.5 of the Civil Service Management Code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality. The Government are committed to publishing an annual list of hospitality received by members of departmental boards. The first list for 2007 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current calendar year.
Departmental Property
DEFRA and its agencies, excluding the Environment Agency, spent the following on renovation and refurbishment of its estate:
£000 2002-03 41,080 2003-04 61,370 2004-05 39,140 2005-06 46,870 2006-07 45,100
Devolution
Jonathan Shaw: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has never used the dispute resolution procedures established under the devolution agreements.
Diesel Fuel: Excise Duties
I have had no recent discussions with my ministerial colleagues on fuel duty as it relates to farm machinery.
Fertilisers
EC law governs the regulation of the fertiliser sector and this is set out in the EC Fertilisers Regulation 2003/2003. This regulation defines the composition and definition of all fertilisers which have been approved as EC designated fertilisers, and these can be freely traded within the EU. Every importer and manufacturer must ensure any fertiliser intended for sale in the EU complies with this regulation.
Work is under way to review and update the domestic Fertilisers Regulations 1991 which covers composition and labelling issues for fertilisers used within the UK. We are working closely with the fertiliser industry to ensure the updated regulations do not impose additional burdens on business.
Fisheries
The UK and Ireland are jointly undertaking a pilot project in the Irish Sea to improve the quality of data on catches and discards in a range of fisheries. The project was approved by the European Commission on 27 August and participating vessels are therefore entitled to benefit from extra days at sea under the cod recovery programme.
Results so far are encouraging. The Irish sea data enhancement project has increased observer coverage by at least 100 per cent.. Fishermen, trained under the project, are now regularly engaged in the provision of self-collected discard samples. However, it is too early in the programme to fully evaluate the utility of these data.
The next step will be to apply data validation techniques, contrasting fishermen's records with observer data, and increase the number of participating vessels at the earliest possible opportunity.
The document was copied to the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) and English producer organisations as well as a number of other stakeholders, including a range of environmental groups. Similar consultations were carried out in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The statement does not contain any formal Commission proposals. These are not expected to emerge until later this month.
(2) what quota was allocated to the 10 metre and under fishing fleet in each year since 1997, broken down by fishing area, expressed in (a) tonnes and (b) a proportion of the total UK quota for that fishery area; and if he will make a statement.
Information for 2006 is in Table 1. However, focusing on such an analysis can be misleading, as some of the quota stocks included are of little interest to inshore vessels. In addition, many of these vessels catch types of fish, such as crabs and scallops, which are not subject to quotas and they are thus not subject to the constraints on their activity that may be seen when targeting quota species. Figures for landings of non-quota stocks are included at the foot of the table and show that 20 per cent. of all landings by the UK 10 metre and under fleet are of quota stocks. In addition, the degree to which quota species are important for these vessels varies around the coast. Table 2 shows more detail for landings by 10 metre and under vessels administered from English ports, and shows that in some areas quota stocks make up a small proportion of the total value of fish landed by such vessels.
Similar results for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
UK quota as at 31 December (tonnes) 10 metre and under fleet's quota as at 31 December (tonnes) Percentage of UK quota Landings by the 10 metre and under fleet (tonnes) Percentage of UK quota Quota Stocks Anglers 7 (incl. 8abde) 4,907.1 218.3 4 164.8 3 North Sea Anglers 9,509.0 10.2 0 10.2 0 West of Scotland Anglers 1,818.5 2.4 0 0.5 0 Blue Whiting I-VIII, XII, XIV 80,179.0 0.0 0 0.3 0 Cod 7a 1,027.9 19.1 2 7.8 1 Cod 7b-k 688.9 278.9 40 290.7 42 North Sea Cod 8,356.9 167.4 2 204.8 2 West of Scotland Cod 455.7 11.5 3 0.1 0 North Sea Dabs/Flounders 2,218.0 17.6 1 15.3 1 Haddock 7 1,154.0 35.0 3 24.4 2 North Sea Haddock 39,053.0 69.8 0 34.5 0 West of Scotland Haddock 6,950.7 11.0 0 0.3 0 Hake 6 and 7 (incl. 8abde) 3,849.6 30.0 1 2.4 0 North Sea Hake 325.6 1.4 0 1.4 0 Herring 4c/7d 5,246.0 61.0 1 68.9 1 Herring 7a (Manx and Mourne) 4,237.9 0.0 0 0.8 0 Herring 7ef 488.0 151.0 31 87.5 18 North Sea Herring 69,010.9 0.0 0 0.2 0 North Sea Horse Mackerel 3,917.0 0.0 0 0.2 0 West Coast Horse Mackerel 11,101.1 6.0 0 5.9 0 North Sea Lemon Sole/Witches 3,430.8 36.0 1 33.1 1 Deep Sea Ling IV 2,941.8 2.5 0 2.5 0 Deep Sea Ling VI-X, XII, XIV 5,060.3 54.7 1 46.7 1 North Sea Mackerel 414.1 333.0 80 425.3 103 West Coast Mackerel 103,167.9 90.2 0 90.5 0 Megrim 7 2,917.9 42.9 1 13.4 0 West of Scotland Megrim 903.0 5.0 1 0.4 0 Nephrops 7 7,924.7 155.1 2 87.6 1 North Sea Nephrops 24,431.7 1,515.2 6 1,497.7 6 West of Scotland Nephrops 18,504.9 2,262.7 12 1,808.1 10 Plaice 7a 707.0 81.2 11 72.5 10 Plaice 7de 1,643.7 437.5 27 427.7 26 Plaice 7fg 118.9 35.9 30 34.3 29 North Sea Plaice 12,651.2 58.5 0 58.4 0 West of Scotland Plaice 477.0 5.0 1 0.2 0 Pollack 7 2,658.0 306.3 12 271.7 10 West of Scotland Pollack 165.0 5.0 3 0.2 0 Saithe 7 726.0 13.8 2 5.3 1 North Sea Saithe 9,379.0 14.8 0 10.0 0 North Sea Skates and Rays 1,695.0 195.8 12 181.1 11 Sole 7a 225.6 20.2 9 10.7 5 Sole 7d 1,215.0 464.9 38 419.1 34 Sole 7e 566.0 44.2 8 46.2 8 Sole 7fg 274.1 33.0 12 31.4 11 North Sea Sole 1,255.6 257.0 20 235.0 19 West of Scotland Sole 14.0 0.1 1 0.1 1 Sprat 7de 3,226.0 7.8 0 0.5 0 North Sea Sprat 4,944.0 137.8 3 92.3 2 North Sea Spurdog 778.0 8.9 1 6.9 1 North Sea Turbot/Brill 551.0 15.2 3 15.3 3 Whiting 7a 188.9 2.6 1 0.8 0 Whiting 7b-k 2,288.5 162.8 7 102.2 4 North Sea Whiting 11,733.1 312.2 3 337.4 3 Total Quota Stocks 481,672.5 8,208.5 2 7,285.6 2 Total Non-Quota Stocks n/a n/a n/a 28,600.0 n/a Total All Species n/a n/a n/a 35,885.6 n/a 1 Excludes vessels which are members of producer organisations.
Total landings Quota landings Administration Port Tonnes £000 Tonnes £000 Value of quota North Shields 1,724 5,520 1,088 2,852 52 Scarborough 895 3,178 80 130 4 Grimsby 885 2,561 6 10 0 Lowestoft 1,709 3,314 487 1,463 44 Hastings 5,925 6,944 1,188 3,502 50 Poole 4,118 5,642 130 574 10 Plymouth 1,163 2,078 324 548 26 Newlyn 3,884 6,994 1,535 1,828 26 Brixham 2,068 2,988 280 678 23 Fleetwood 217 437 54 111 25 Total 22,588 39,656 5,173 11,698 29 1 Total quantity and value of landings reported by vessels involved in commercial sea fishing reported to UK Fisheries Administrations, excluding landings by vessels that are members of producer organisations.
(2) what assessment he has made of the effort reduction necessary in each UK fishery to ensure that maximum sustainable yield targets are met; and if he will make a statement.
Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) derives from classical fisheries science which states that in the long-term there is an average maximum catch that can be obtained from a stock, without threatening its future viability. This is achieved by fishing at the MSY level (MSYL). This level varies with both the biology (growth and mortality rates) of the stock in question and the fishing practices (including mesh size) used to catch it. The MSY will also depend upon the productivity of the stock. For most of our stocks, the MSYL is at relatively low fishing mortality—typically much lower than exists at present.
Reducing effort to MSY levels implies smaller catches in the short-term, with potential impacts on profitability and the size of the fleet. In the longer-term, however, fishing at MSY levels should ensure greater profitability (catches-per-unit-effort would be higher), improved sustainability and a more robust stock.
Several stocks are currently at or around MSY and can therefore be the continued basis for sustainable fisheries; for example, haddock and saithe. However, we are seeking to develop a common understanding with stakeholders of how we can best approach the issue of long-term management and the role of MSY more generally. In particular, there are significant potential socio-economic consequences with such an approach and it is important to ensure that the UK fishing industry has a sustainable long-term future. We will need to consider carefully how best to achieve a successful balance between stock conservation and fishing opportunity and the appropriate time frame(s) for this process.
Fisheries: Navy
The reduction in the number of inspections at sea since 1997 can largely be attributed to:
(a) a reduction in the overall number of fishing vessels in the European fleet;
(b) a reduction in the number of patrol days; and
(c) a progressive move to a more targeted approach to inspection.
The number of inspections per patrol vessel is set out below for 1999 and 2006. Information on the number of inspections per vessel for 1997 and on the number of inspections per sortie is not readily available.
Number Vessel Leeds Castle 164 OPV Alderney 217 OPV Anglesey 39 OPV Guernsey 247 OPV Lindisfarne 222 OPV Orkney 169 OPV Shetland 187 OPV Berkeley 177 IPV Bicester 135 IPV Brocklesby 121 IPV Middleton 113 IPV Quorn 31 IPV Total 1,822 1 Collated from local records including inspections not recorded on Database.
Number Vessel Mersey 346 OPV Severn 306 OPV Tyne 373 OPV Cattistock 76 IPV Chiddingfold 75 IPV Hurworth 3 IPV Ledbury 59 IPV Quorn 41 IPV Total 1,279 IPV OPV =Offshore patrol vessel IPV = Inshore patrol vessel
I have been asked to reply.
No patrol days have been lost by the River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels during the last 12 months. Each vessel undergoes two planned routine maintenance periods each year: one of nine days duration and one of 16 days duration. During the last 12 months all non-routine maintenance and repairs were carried out within the routine maintenance periods or at other times when the vessels were not engaged on operational duties.
I have been asked to reply.
Under the new Fisheries Protection Agreement between the MOD and DEFRA, which is due to begin on 1 April 2008, the River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels will be available for a total of 700 days during the first 12 months of the agreement. Thereafter, their availability will be between 650 and 750 days in each year. Each River class vessel will also undergo two planned routine maintenance periods each year: one of nine days duration and one of 16 days duration. The Hunt Class Mine Countermeasure vessels will also provide additional Fishery Protection duties, as and when required, although they will not be contracted to provide a set number of days.
During the period 1 November 2006 to 31 October 2007, the dates when no River class patrol vessels were in operation on fisheries protection duties are shown in the following table.
Date(s) Reason November 2006 5, 16 2 day stand off December 2006 15, 16, 21-31 2 day stand off and 11 days Christmas leave January 2007 1, 2, 15, 16, 30,31 2 day Christmas leave and 2 days stand off February 2007 1, 2 COs conference March 2007 12, 13, 23, 24 2 day stand off and 2 days at Chatham Conference April 2007 27, 28 — May 2007 11, 12, 26, 27 4 day stand off June 2007 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 Davit failure—all Rivers recalled for rectification July 2007 0 — August 2007 3, 4 2 day stand off September 2007 0 — October 2007 11 — Summary: 14 days—stand offs in the middle of patrols 13 days—Christmas leave—no vessels or aircraft tasked 4 days—attendance at conferences 5 days—Davit failure—all Rivers recalled 5 days—No Rivers 41 days—total days no Rivers on task
Fisheries: Northern Ireland
I have had a number of recent discussions with the Northern Ireland Minister and her Welsh and Scottish counterparts about the forthcoming negotiations and we have just agreed a series of UK priorities for them, reflecting our respective interests. We will revisit them in the light of the Commission proposals when these emerge.
Food
I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the guidance on the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI).
The legal framework governing public procurement does not allow public bodies to give greater weight to locally produced food and drink when awarding contracts. This is because public bodies are required to ensure public procurement is fair, transparent and not used to discriminate by setting up barriers to free trade. It would also reduce competition contrary to UK public procurement policy that is designed to achieve value for money for the taxpayer.
The legal and policy framework does provide public bodies with plenty of flexibility to be innovative in their procurement and, for example, we are encouraging them through the PSFPI to increase tendering opportunities for small and local producers. How they can do this is explained in the advice on the PSFPI website, including our recently published guide “Putting it into practice” on the guidance page at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/guidance.htm.
Food: Prices
Research to assess the impact of rising oil prices on farming and the wider food chain was published by the Sustainable Development Commission on 19 November and can be found on their website.
One of the illustrative findings of this study is that a rise in the oil price from $50 (the average price seen in 2005) to $100 a barrel (which is just above current levels) would lead to an increase in household food expenditure of around £3 billion. This equates to an increase of 4 per cent. within a total spend of £79 billion, and presumes that all increased energy costs would be passed on to consumers. However, we might expect an increase in household expenditure of between roughly 5 per cent to 10 per cent. if all costs are passed on to consumers and secondary impacts are allowed for.
To further help put the impact of increasing fuel costs into context, it can be noted that oil prices more than tripled in the five years to October 2007 to over $80 a barrel, whereas retail food prices increased by 12.6 per cent. over the same period.
Genetically Modified Organisms
The provisions of the current EU regulatory regime are in compliance with decision V/5 of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This decision recommends that products incorporating gene use restriction technologies should not be approved for field testing until justified by appropriate scientific data. Such products for commercial use should not be approved until appropriate authorised and strictly controlled scientific assessments, with regard to ecological and socio-economic impacts and any adverse effects for biological diversity, food security and human health, have been carried out in a transparent manner and the conditions for their safe and beneficial use validated.