Written Answers to Questions
Monday 21 July 2008
Scotland
Departmental Sick Leave
(2) how many staff in his Department have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last five years.
All staff in the Scotland Office are on secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice. The Office does not maintain a central record of sick absences; such records are held by the parent Departments.
Domestic Visits
As of 30 June 2008, in the previous two years my predecessor and I have visited the following Scottish parliamentary constituencies in a ministerial capacity as detailed in the following table:
Constituency Visits Aberdeen, South 1 Argyll and Bute 1 Central Ayrshire 1 Dundee, East 1 Dunfermline and West Fife 2 East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow 1 East Lothian 1 Edinburgh, East 8 Edinburgh, North and Leith 7 Edinburgh, South-West 4 Edinburgh, West 4 Falkirk 2 Glasgow, Central 19 Glasgow, East 2 Glasgow, North 6 Glasgow, South-West 3 Gordon 2 Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey 2 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 2 Livingston 1 Midlothian 1 Moray 1 Ochil and South Perthshire 2 Paisley and Renfrewshire, North 2 Paisley and Renfrewshire, South 2 Stirling 1
Visits to constituencies in a political capacity are not included as records of these are not held by the Scotland Office.
As of 30 June 2008, in the previous two years I have visited the following parliamentary constituencies in a Scotland Office ministerial capacity as detailed in the following table:
Constituency Visits Aberdeen, North 2 Aberdeen, South 1 Argyll and Bute 4 Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock 3 Banff and Buchan 1 Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross 2 Central Ayrshire 1 Dundee, East 2 Dundee, West 3 East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow 1 East Lothian 1 Edinburgh, East 3 Edinburgh, North and Leith 6 Edinburgh, South 2 Edinburgh, South-West 6 Edinburgh, West 2 Falkirk 1 Glasgow, Central 14 Glasgow, North 2 Glasgow, North-East 2 Glasgow, South-West 3 Glenrothes 1 Gordon 1 Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey 1 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 1 Lanark and Hamilton, East 1 Linlithgow and East Falkirk 1 Livingston 2 Midlothian 3 Na h-Eileanan an Iar 1 Ochil and South Perthshire 2 Paisley and Renfrewshire, North 2 Perth and North Perthshire 2 Rutherglen and Hamilton, West 1 West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine 1 Cities of London and Westminster 4 Kensington and Chelsea 1 Salford 1
Visits to constituencies in a political capacity are not included as records of these are not held by the Scotland Office.
Government Communications
Lost Working Days
The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. All staff in the Office are on secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice; the Office does not maintain a central record of absences due to industrial action; such records are held by the parent Departments.
Olympic Games 2012
I attend various meetings with ministerial colleagues where matters surrounding the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are discussed. I also recently discussed this matter in the House during Scottish Questions when I encouraged all businesses, Scottish-based or otherwise, to bid for contracts in relation to the games
Olympics
Departmental Official Cars
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Transport my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar & Canning Town (Jim Fitzpatrick) on 16 July 2008, Official Report, column 414W.
London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games: Manpower
The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is a company limited by guarantee that relies almost entirely on private funding. As such, LOCOG files its annual report and accounts at Companies House and publishes them on its website at:
www.london2012.com
LOCOG's last annual report for the 12 months up to 31 March 2007 shows that on average in that year the company employed 102 staff, including directors; and staff costs, including pensions and social security costs, totalled £9.48 million. Since that date, LOCOG has put in place more of its work force as it develops all its plans across the complex London 2012 project.
The next set of annual report and financial statements will be published shortly. During the London 2012 games themselves, it is envisaged that LOCOG will employ around 2,600 permanent staff, in addition to volunteers and contractors.
Olympic Games 2012
Invitations to take part in the Olympic games are normally sent out by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) around one year before the opening ceremony of the games.
Invitations to take part in the Paralympic games are normally sent out by the Organising Committee in co-operation with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) around one year before the respective Paralympic games.
Based on participation in recent Olympic games and Paralympic games, we expect over 200 National Olympic Committees and about 150 National Paralympic Committees to take part in 2012.
Olympic Games 2012: Finance
I have had no such discussions.
Olympic Games 2012: Halifax
The Legacy Action Plan (LAP) which was launched in June outlines how Government will deliver a sustainable legacy for the whole of the UK from the London 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games.
This includes a target to get two million people more active through sport and physical activity by 2012. Sport England will seek to get one million more active through sport; they will do this through new engagement with national governing bodies and through county sports partnerships. Calderdale are already working with other Yorkshire and Humberside authorities and primary care trusts to drive participation. This has led to a 3.5 per cent. increase in participation across the Yorkshire and Humberside region since 2005. Additionally, the Government have announced a new national free swimming programme for those aged 60 plus and under-16s. Local authorities in England will be invited to participate in the scheme and will receive funding towards the costs. The scheme will start in April 2009.
Olympic Games 2012: West Midlands
[holding answer 16 July 2008]: The Pre-Games Training Camp guide will be published at the Beijing games this summer by LOCOG.
The West Midlands has 33 Olympic and 14 Paralympic sites in the guide. A seminar for all these facilities was held recently by the West Midlands Nations and Regions Group to offer them advice on marketing their facilities. A regional strategy will be developed by the Nations and Regions Group to promote the region and its facilities to assist the region in securing teams.
In addition, £25,000 will be made available by LOCOG to help attract National Olympic and Paralympic Committees to use the facilities in the guide.
Olympic Lottery Distributor: Manpower
The Olympic Lottery Distributor currently employs six people. As well as a chief executive, the organisation employs two senior staff members—a Director of Policy and a Head of Finance and Corporate Services. The total staff costs budget for 2008-09, including pension costs and employers' national insurance, is up to £556,878.
Northern Ireland
Alcoholic Drinks: Smuggling
I have been asked to reply.
Once condemned as forfeit to the Crown spirits seized by HM Revenue and Customs are destroyed thus they have no resale value.
Cigarettes: Smuggling
I have been asked to reply.
Once condemned as forfeit to the Crown, cigarettes seized by HM Revenue and Customs are destroyed, thus they have no resale value.
Departmental Information Officers
The following table details average salaries paid to information officers in the Northern Ireland Office. These figures include allowances, national insurance and pension contributions.
Average FTE as at August 2007 (including ERSNI, ASLCS and allowances) (£) Grade A Information Officer 51,738 Grade B1 Information Officer 45,617 Grade B2 Information Officer 38,990
Departmental Manpower
Within the Northern Ireland Office the actual number of staff employed in May 2008, which is the latest date for which figures are available, is 2,089. This figure excludes staff currently on career break or secondment.
Departmental Official Cars
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Department for Transport on 16 July 2008, Official Report, column 414W.
Departmental Secondment
The NIO equal opportunities policy is applied to all staff working in the Northern Ireland Office including staff secondments.
Departmental Trade Unions
The Northern Ireland Office attaches importance to ensuring effective consultation and involvement of its staff. It is a personal decision whether or not to join a trade union, but the Department encourages staff to join an appropriate trade union and to play an active part in it, ensuring that their views are represented.
Members of staff in both the Northern Ireland Office and its agencies are currently represented by the following trade unions:
NIPSA—Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance;
CSPOA—Civil Service Professional Officers Association;
FDA—First Division Association;
PCS—Public and Commercial Services Union.
Departmental Training
The Business Improvement Team (BIT) in the Northern Ireland Office arranges and delivers learning and development opportunities for NIO staff. The learning and development opportunities available to NIO staff are linked to the Professional Skills for Government requirements and, for the period 1 June 2007 to 31 May 2008, these were set out in BIT's learning and development prospectus. The courses set out in the following table were selected by BIT as meeting PSG requirements. Each member of staff in the NIO has a Personnel Development Plan which records their individual development needs, and BIT will advise which of the courses in the prospectus are appropriate to meet those needs. The following table lists all the courses available in the prospectus and indicates which were attended and which were not required during the year.
Courses available Taken/not taken Leadership Programme Attended Strategic Thinking Attended Personal Power and Influencing Skills Attended Preparing for Top Management Attended Leading Change Not required People Management Attended Stress Management Attended Introduction to Coaching and Mentoring Not required Negotiating and Influencing Attended PSG Financial Management Attended Government Finance/Resource Accounting/Resource Budgeting and In year Control Attended General Finance Awareness Not required Business Case Guidance Attended Capital Asset Guidance Not required Corporate Governance Guidance Not required Prince 2 Foundation Certificate Attended Prince 2 Practitioner Certificate Not required Managing Small Projects Attended Prince 2 Overview Attended Project Management Overview Attended Benefits Management Masterclass Attended Programme Management Overview Attended Managing Successful Programmes Foundation Certificate Not required Managing Successful Programmes Intermediate and Practitioner Certificate Not required Introduction to Risk Management Not taken Management of Risk (MOR) Foundation Not taken Management of Risk (MOR) Practitioner Not taken Gateway Reviewer Attended Microsoft Project basic and advanced Attended Risk Analysis in the Policy Area Not required Microsoft Word basic and advanced Attended Microsoft Excel basic and advanced Attended Microsoft PowerPoint basic and advanced Attended Microsoft ECDL Attended Analysis and Use of Evidence Attended Effective Speech Writing Attended Communications and Marketing Attended Writing Dynamics Attended Think on your feet Attended Strategy Attended Mind Mapping Attended Chairing Meetings Attended Basic Finance Process Attended Gateway Awareness Attended Working With Ministers Attended Secretaryship of meetings Attended Gateway Programme Attended Leading In A Crisis Not required Peoplebank Not required Interchange Not required Work Shadowing Not required Developing Style and Presence Not required Overview of the Financial Cycle Not required SRO Executive Briefing Not required Making Policy that Happens Not required Delivering Policy Workshop Not required Microsoft Excel Basic Not required Microsoft Excel Advanced Not required Microsoft Project Basic Not required Microsoft Project Advanced Not required Preparing Business Cases Not required Proactive Media Management: How To Get Your Story in the News Not required Appearing Before Select Committees Not required Communications in the Public Sector Not required Lateral Thinking Not required One-Day Strategy Workshops Not required Building a Balanced Scorecard Not required Managing People Problems Not required Managing Conflict Not required Managing Time Not required Stress Management Not required Managing Change Not required PSG Financial Management Not required Business Cases and Investment Appraisal Not required Government Finance/Resource Accounting/Resource Budgeting/In Year Control Not required PSG Resource Budgeting and Forecasting Not required Corporate Governance Guidance Not required Project Management Introduction Certificate Not required Project Management Overview Not required Gateway Reviewer (OCG Accredited) Not required Microsoft Project Advanced Not required How to do a Bill Not required Policy Delivery Workshop Not required Risk Analysis in the Policy Area Not required Microsoft ECDL Basic Not required Appearing Before a Select Committee Not required Writing Dynamics Effective Briefing Not required Think On Your Feet Not required PSG Financial Management Not required Project and Programme Support Not required PPSO Foundation Certificate Not required Project Management Introduction Certificate Not required Project Management Overview Not required Introduction to Evidence-Based Policy Making Not required Working with Ministers Not required Secretaryship of Meetings Not required Project and Programme Support Not required Project Management Certificate Not required Project Management Overview Not required Pathway Programme Attended
District Policing Partnerships: Standards
For the 2006-07 reporting period, District Policing Partnerships (DPPs) carried out a self-assessment of their effectiveness against the targets set out in the DPP Monitoring Framework. The targets for DPPs reflect their statutory functions, as set out in the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with details of those DPPs that did not achieve set targets. The Northern Ireland Policing Board recognises the importance of DPP effectiveness and was pleased that the 2006-07 assessment found the majority of targets set were met by most DPPs. The Board reviewed the performance management system for DPPs, and introduced a new effectiveness framework in April 2008.
Elections: Fraud
The Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 introduced a number of measures—including individual registration—to address the perception of electoral fraud, which was seen to be undermining the democratic process in Northern Ireland. Both the Electoral Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland believe that since these measures were introduced the potential for fraud has been reduced and confidence has been largely restored. Successive Electoral Commission reports have affirmed this.
The Commission’s report on the March 2007 Assembly elections stated that while some perceptions of fraud persist among a proportion of the public in Northern Ireland, these
“are not borne out by experience of recent elections.”
Fairtrade Initiative
The Northern Ireland Office does not separately record the amount of expenditure on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements, nor do we record the amount spent on Fairtrade goods.
Homicide
The following table details the information requested.
Number 1978 96 1979 134 1980 96 1981 116 1982 111 1983 96 1984 73 1985 59 1986 88 1987 117 1988 114 1989 71 1990 82 1991 118 1992 111 1993 104 1994 80 1995 22 1996 39 1997 42 1998 50 1999 32 2000 42 2001 55 2002 35 2003 33 2004 4 2005 9 2006 2 2007 3
Lost Working Days
The information held within the Northern Ireland Office relates only to days lost due to industrial action by current staff. Staff who have left the Department or transferred out of the Department are not included in the figures and so we are unable to provide total figures for days lost due to industrial action.
Maze Prison
During the course of his duties, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State naturally has discussions with members of the devolved administration from time to time.
Speed Limits: Cameras
The following table outlines the amount of revenue from fixed penalty notices for excess speed in each police District Command Unit. Data cover the calendar years 2003 to 2007.
£ DCU 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Antrim 660 0 0 0 0 Armagh 54,540 3,000 3,180 11,220 19,080 Ballymena 45,360 6,960 3,960 3,600 8,220 Ballymoney 16,860 1,920 1,080 12,540 52,980 Banbridge 67,560 58,500 104,760 80,040 58,740 Belfast East 82,260 104,520 55,320 27,900 30,480 Belfast North 25,080 63,960 42,480 32,280 40,080 Belfast South 17,760 18,720 16,860 14,280 9,720 Belfast West 5,520 13,860 12,240 8,160 5,880 Carrickfergus 11,520 2,940 600 1,920 720 Castlereagh 201,600 171,900 114,480 136,980 139,140 Coleraine 10,560 3,180 5,880 5,580 5,160 Cookstown 1,560 2,160 9,720 10,380 16,080 Craigavon 26,340 2,400 660 7,200 960 Down 5,820 14,340 14,040 3,360 9,480 Dungannon 10,860 11,640 20,160 49,500 42,540 Fermanagh 20,880 2,700 4,320 600 4,800 Foyle 23,340 29,640 28,860 15,120 18,780 Lame 5,460 0 0 1,980 1,380 Limavady 11,580 960 7,620 4,260 38,760 Lisburn 1,740 120 0 0 2,220 Magherafelt 16,020 11,100 18,540 11,040 22,740 Moyle 8,460 2,460 540 600 1,380 Newry and Mourne 36,180 83,820 65,160 72,120 81,120 Newtownabbey 1,860 420 60 180 0 Newtownards 33,180 8,220 12,240 9,120 8,700 North Down 33,960 76,860 45,900 56,100 62,880 Omagh 7,320 18,000 21,540 6,420 37,200 Strabane 8,880 0 0 0 0 Total 792,720 714,300 610,200 582,480 719,220
Treasury
Alcoholic Drinks: Smuggling
Once condemned as forfeit to the Crown spirits seized by HM Revenue and Customs are destroyed thus they have no resale value.
Banks: Finance
The special liquidity scheme announced by the Bank of England on April 21 is designed to provide liquidity support to participating banks and building societies by allowing them, for a temporary period, to swap mortgage backed securities and other assets for highly liquid assets in the form of Treasury Bills. The credit risk on the value of the mortgage backed securities or other assets remains with the banks and building societies.
As set out by the Chancellor in his statement to the House on April 21, the scheme announced by the Bank of England is a further step towards tackling the liquidity issues in the financial markets which became increasingly acute during the preceding weeks. The scheme was developed following extensive discussions with the Treasury and the Financial Services Authority.
Banks: Government Securities
The Special Liquidity Scheme is operated by the Bank of England. In its Quarterly Bulletin issued on 16 June, the Bank noted that
“Feedback on the Scheme from market contacts suggested that it has achieved its objective of improving the liquidity position of, and hence confidence in, the UK banking system”.
Cash Dispensing: Wales
As I announced on 17 July, excellent progress has been made towards the goal of providing around 600 new free ATMs across 1,707 low-income target areas identified by the ATM working group as lacking convenient access. I am pleased to say that of the 198 low-income target areas in Wales, 119 are now expected to benefit from convenient access to free cash withdrawals as a result of free new cash machines already in operation or under contract to be installed by the end of 2008.
Child Benefit: Personal Records
Kieran Poynter identifies the costs of his investigation into the chain of events leading to the loss of child benefit data in October 2007 at Appendix A of the final report of his “Review of information security at HM Revenue and Customs”. A copy of the report is available in the Library of the House.
With regard to the costs associated with data security enhancements at HMRC, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor on 25 June 2008, Official Report, column 287.
Cigarettes: Smuggling
Once condemned as forfeit to the Crown cigarettes seized by HM Revenue and Customs are destroyed thus they have no resale value.
Corporation Tax
The National Audit Office has audited the oil price assumption underlying public finance projections since the 1997 pre-Budget report. The current assumption is outlined in box C1 of Budget 2008.
Council Tax: Wales
It is expected that the website will be updated by 1 September 2008.
Departmental Alcoholic Drinks
The Treasury's expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money, as well as the Department's own internal guidelines, which state that expenditure on official entertainment (including alcohol) should be incurred in moderation and also be compatible with the occasion and the standing of guests.
Departmental Compensation
There were two uncontested compensation payments made in 2007-08. Both related to personal property lost during office moves and amounted to £146 and £75 respectively.
Departmental Conferences
The following table shows details of conferences attended by more than 100 delegates that were hosted by HM Treasury in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
Date Conference title Cost (£000) 2006 April Financial Inclusion Taskforce 19 May Launch of the Third Sector Review 77 May and November Special Investigations Group of government financial investigators (costs recovered from delegates) — June to July Third Sector Review Regional consultation (six events) 59 July Enterprise and Growth Unit Summer Reception 10 2007 May and November Special Investigations Group of government financial investigators (costs recovered from delegates) — June Young Black Entrepreneurs 5 June Financial inclusion in developing countries (funded by DFID) — July Tripartite Business Continuity 4 July Enterprise and Growth Unit Summer Reception 12 October Financial Stability and the Challenge of Globalisation in the UK 10
Departmental Consultants
[holding answer 30 June 2008]: Details of the Treasury’s unaudited spending on consultancy in 2007-08 is shown in table A3 on page 111 of the annual report (CM 7408) available from
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/departmental_reports/deptreport_index.cfm.
Departmental Expert Groups
Details of formal, standing bodies set up by Government to provide independent, expert advice to Departments and Ministers are published annually by the Cabinet Office. These bodies, known as advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), are listed in the annual “Public Bodies” publication. “Public Bodies” also contains some details on short-term advisory groups and task forces. Copies of “Public Bodies” dating back to 1999 can be viewed and downloaded from:
http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies.asp
Copies are also available in the Library for the reference of Members.
Details of Treasury's NDPBs for 2007-08 are published in Treasury's Annual Report, which can be downloaded from:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/departmental_reports/annual_report08.cfm
Copies are available in the Library for the reference of Members. Further details on Treasury short-term advisory groups and task forces can be found on the Treasury website:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/
Departmental Furniture
The Treasury's expenditure on furniture and fittings over the last five years was:
Amount (£000) 2007-08 51 2006-07 4 2005-06 557 2004-05 518 2003-04 69
The provision of furniture purchase volumes and analysis of expenditure into the categories identified in the question are available only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental ICT
None of the Department’s IT systems and services are accredited as conforming to the ISO 27001 standard, although in all cases our aim is to adhere to the main principles of the standard.
Departmental Manpower
There are no “staff without post” in the Treasury or any of its agencies. “People action teams” do not exist in HMT or any of its agencies.
Departmental Marketing
HM Treasury has incurred no costs for public information campaigns since 1997.
Departmental Official Cars
(2) which make and model of car he has chosen as his Ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar & Canning Town (Jim Fitzpatrick) on 16 July, 2008, Official Report, column 414W.
Departmental Planning Permission
The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Procurement
The Treasury seeks prompt payment discounts in situations where such a discount will improve the total value for money from the contract; and where the potential saving from such a discount will outweigh the additional contract administration costs necessary to realise the discount.
HM Treasury aim to pay off all valid invoices (including T & S) within 30 days.
Departmental Sick Leave
The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Wastes
HM Treasury has a waste strategy that has over the past two years reduced waste sent to landfill, by removing general waste bins and putting recycling facilities in place, and in Rosebery Court introducing composting of organic waste. In 1 Horse Guards Road, since February 2008, food waste has been separated in the staff restaurant and sent to a biogas plant, to generate electricity.
These measures reduced the amount of waste sent to landfill by 33 tonnes from 1 Horse Guards Road in 2007-08. Further offsite sorting by the waste contractor, removing recyclables from the waste will have further reduced the amount sent to landfill, although no figures are available. Data showing annual change in waste sent to landfill are not currently available for Rosebery Court, but the rate has also fallen.
Detailed information on waste arising and recycling information can be found in the HM Treasury annual report 2007-08.
Devolution: Finance
The devolved funding arrangements are set out in the ‘Statement of Funding Policy’, which was updated and published by the Treasury in October 2007. Under these arrangements the devolved administrations are able to allocate their block budgets to devolved spending programmes to reflect their own assessment of their priorities and needs.
Economic Stability Team
These data are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
EU Emissions Trading Scheme
The framework for future phases of EU ETS are currently under discussion and as such the final structure for auctioning in future phases has not yet been decided. The revised EU ETS directive is due to be finalised later this year.
The amount of revenue from auctioning in Phase 111 of the EU emissions trading scheme will be influenced by the market price of carbon at the time of the auctions. The Government do not comment on carbon price, as it would be improper for Government to speculate on how the market will function in the future.
(2) what proportion of the revenues generated by auctioning of allowances from the second phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme will be spent on (a) research and development for renewable energy, (b) carbon capture and storage development and (c) energy efficiency improvements.
The framework for future phases of EU ETS is currently under discussion and as such the final structure for auctioning in future phases has not yet been decided. The revised EU ETS directive is due to be finalised later this year.
Any revenue raised through the use of auctioning would be considered part of general revenue streams, and the spending review process ensures that resources are allocated efficiently to deliver Government objectives.
Comprehensive spending review 2007 launched the domestic Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF) of over £400 million. Budget 2008 announced the full allocation of funding under the ETF, including offshore wind, carbon capture components, wave and tidal, hydrogen fuel cells and microgeneration, as well as support for energy efficiency in small businesses, households and the public sector.
EU External Trade: Israel
Between 1 February 2005 and 30 June 2008 HM Revenue and Customs received 99,757 customs import declarations which were accompanied by proofs of preferential origin issued in Israel. The total value of the trade was £1,350,690,522.
Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks
(2) whether he has conducted or evaluated research on the possible relationship between levels of duty on alcohol and the rate of closure of public houses.
As part of the Budget process, I met representatives from the trade, including the British Beer and Pub Association, to listen to their views on the current situation and the cost pressures in the industry.
As with all tax policy decisions, we will be monitoring the impact of alcohol duty increases on a range of factors.
Excise Duties: Diesel Fuel
[holding answer 3 July 2008]: No estimate has been made for 2007-08.
Energy statistics from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, available at www.berr.gov.uk, indicate that 654 thousand tonnes (775 million litres) of gas oil ('red diesel') was consumed by the rail industry in 2006.
Applying the duty rate for rebated oils to this figure gives an estimate of revenue in 2006 of approximately £50 million.
Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of people who will pay vehicle excise duty (VED) at the pre-graduated rate in 2008-09; how many will pay VED at (a) a lower rate, (b) a higher rate and (c) the same rate in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what estimate he has made of the revenue from vehicle excise duty at the pre-graduated rate from vehicles with engine sizes of (a) 1549cc and below and (b) above 1549cc in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement;
(4) what estimate he has made of the number of cars with engine sizes (a) 1549cc or below and (b) above 1549cc liable for vehicle excise duty at the pre-graduated rate in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11; and what estimate he has made of the number of cars in each category in low-income households in each year; and if he will make a statement.
(2) what assessment he has made of the likely effect of proposed vehicle excise duty increases on vehicle owners rural areas with limited public transport.
The Budget 2008 included proposed reforms to the system of CO2-based VED, aimed at strengthening the incentive to develop and use cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars. The reforms build on the system of banding by CO2 emissions introduced in 2001 in response to rising concern over the impact of vehicle emissions.
While CO2 emissions from new cars have dropped by 13 per cent. since 1997, overall emissions from road transport still account for over 20 per cent. of the UK's total emissions and it is clear that we must go further to ensure we meet our environmental targets.
Proposed EU targets supported by the Government mean the CO2 emissions of an average new car will need to be cut to 130 grams per kilometre by 2012. In addition, the King review, published alongside the Budget, showed that carbon emissions could be reduced by 25 per cent. if motorists shifted to the lowest carbon car within a particular class.
The Budget 2008 reforms to VED will increase the number of bands from seven to 13 in 2009-10. From 2010-11, new cars will be taxed differently in the first year to influence purchasing choices at the point of sale. Overall these measures will ensure that drivers of the lowest emitting cars will benefit from a reduced VED rate and those who drive higher emitting cars will pay more.
The following tables are based on the new VED bands published on page 122 of the Budget Red Book and set out estimates for the number of cars that will sit within each new VED band in both 2009 and 2010. They also show how the amount that these cars pay will compare in real terms to the rate in 2008. Those who are eligible for the higher mobility element of disability living allowance are exempt from VED. In addition, there is also an exemption for organisations that operate passenger vehicles for the benefit of disabled people. In total, over 1.1 million disabled motorists are exempt from VED.
Furthermore, Government continue to support the long established motability scheme, set up by the Government in 1977 to provide disabled people with safe, reliable and affordable cars.
By 2010, 55 per cent. of motorists will pay less or the same in real terms as a result of these reforms. In addition, excluding first rates for new vehicles, the reforms mean that:
80 per cent. will pay no more than £55 extra;
95 per cent. will pay no more than £100 extra; and
5 per cent. will pay between £100 and £245 extra.
Band CO2 (g/km) 2009-10 Percentage pay less Percentage pay the same Percentage pay more A Up to 100 400 0 100 0 B 101-110 217,000 100 0 0 C 111-120 470,000 100 0 0 D 121-130 670,000 100 0 0 E 131-140 2,394,000 100 0 0 F 141-150 3,087,000 100 0. 0 G 151-160 3,256,000 0 100 0 H 161-170 2,400,000 0 50 50 I 171-180 1,785,000 0 0 100 J 181-200 2,577,000 0 0 100 K 201-225 2,550,000 0 0 100 L 226-255 277,000 0 0 100 M Over 255 311,000 0 0 100 All bands 19,994,400 34 22 44
Band CO2 (g/km) 2010-11 Percentage pay less Percentage pay the same Percentage pay more A Up to 100 9,000 0 100 0 B 101-110 266,000 100 0 0 C 111-120 565,000 20 80 0 D 121-130 822,000 100 0 0 E 131-140 2,813,000 100 0 0 F 141-150 3,393,000 0 100 0 G 151-160 3,560,000 0 100 0 H 161-170 2,558,000 0 40 60 I 171-180 1,912,000 0 0 100 J 181-200 2,714,000 0 0 100 K 201-225 1,535,000 0 0 100 L 226-255 1,002,000 0 0 100 M Over 255 766,000 0 0 100 All bands 21,915,000 18 39 43
The graduated VED rate will apply to all cars for which emissions data are available, i.e. those first registered after March 2001. For cars purchased pre-March 2001, different rates apply.
There are also separate arrangements in place for alternative fuel cars which are defined as ‘gas-propelled vehicles, and those capable of being propelled by petrol and gas or electricity and petrol/diesel’.
These cars will receive a discount on their graduated VED. In 2008-09, alterative fuel cars in bands A to E receive a £20 discount from the standard graduated VED rate, and cars in bands F and G receive a £15 discount. In 2009-10, the discount for cars in new bands A to I will be £20, and £15 for cars in bands J to M. In 2010-11, all alternative fuel cars will receive a £10 discount from the standard rate.
As has been the practice under successive Governments, the VED rates will apply to all cars, including second-hand ones, where emissions data are available. Since the number of used cars sold is three times that of new cars, it is important to provide an environmental incentive to the used car market as well as the new car market.
The new rates will include a transitional period for cars registered between March 2001 and March 2006 that emit 225g/km or higher. These cars have been charged at a lower rate since 2006. They are currently charged the rate for current band F (£210), when the correct band for their emissions is band G (£400).
In order to reduce the financial impact on these motorists in any one year, these vehicles will be charged a lower transitional rate of £300 in 2009, before moving into band L or M in 2010—bringing them in line with all other vehicles with the same emission levels. This group represents the 5 per cent. of motorists in graduated VED who will pay between £100 and £245 extra in non first year rates from 2010.
The graduated VED rates do not apply to cars purchased before March 2001, as there are no comprehensive emissions data available for these vehicles. Motorists who bought their cars before March 2001 will continue to pay VED based on the size of the engine. Cars with engines below 1549 cc will have their VED rate frozen at £120 in 2009—a fall in real terms—while cars with engines above 1550 cc will see their VED rate increase by £15. Having different rates depending on the engine size ensures that there is an environmental signal for VED taxation for pre-2001 cars, taking account of the data available.
The following table is based on the categories for pre- March 2001 cars published on page 123 of the Budget Red Book and sets out the current Treasury estimate of the number of cars that will sit within each category.
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 1549cc and below 4,198,000 3,771,000 3,322,000 2,851,000 1550 cc and above 7,091,000 6,403,000 5,687,000 4,934,000
In 1997 the rate of VED was £145. Had the Government simply uprated the duty in line with inflation then all motorists would have to pay £200 in 2009. Therefore, all cars purchased prior to 2001 will pay no more in real terms in 2009 than in 1997. The single VED band meant that all car owners were taxed the same amount, regardless of the type of car that they drive. By introducing and then reforming graduated VED since 2001, the Government have made the system less regressive, as well as ensuring that the most polluting cars pay more than the least polluting.
Statistics for the number of the vehicles in low-income households are not available for 2007-08, and has not been forecast for 2008-09 onwards. The Government do not collect data from drivers when purchasing tax discs according to their household income. The best available relevant data on the impact of VED on low income households are set out in my PQ answer of 4 June.
The Treasury does not hold information on the specific impact of proposed vehicle excise duties on rural areas. Working vehicles that do not use public roads other than for travelling no more than 1.5 kilometres between different areas of land owned by the same person are exempt from VED.
Financial Services Authority: Northern Ireland
The Financial Services Authority conducts a range of events to ensure effective communication with firms based in Northern Ireland. These are an operational matter for the FSA, which is independent of Government.
Fish
The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost by the PFI provider of catering services to the Treasury.
Fruit: Scotland
No such estimate has been made by the Treasury.
Fuels: Prices
The Government published their latest assessment of the relationship between speculation on futures markets and commodity prices, including crude oil and gas, in “Global Commodities: a long-term vision for stable, secure and sustainable global markets” on 12 June 2008.
Insurance: Unfair Practices
The Competition Commission's report of 5 June 2008 on payment protection insurance is a provisional findings report. Her Majesty's Treasury will maintain a close dialogue with industry and the independent Financial Ombudsman Service, Financial Services Authority, Competition Commission, and the Office of Fair Trading.
Members: Correspondence
I understand the correspondence referred to, initially sent to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is being dealt with by DCMS.
Minimum Wage: Hampshire
The information requested is not available.
Minimum Wage: Tamworth
HMRC does not maintain statistical information at constituency level.
Mortgages: Repossession Orders
During this period of temporary public ownership, Northern Rock is managed by its board at arm's length from the Government on commercial principles. It is a matter for the company's management to release specific business updates or provide any required disclosures in their audited annual report and accounts.
Non-Domestic Rates: Tax Allowances
The numbers of proposals received by the Valuation Office Agency over the last five years, seeking removal from the non-domestic lists, including those where it is claimed the property is now wholly domestic is:
England and Wales 2003-04 1,397 2004-05 1,338 2005-06 931 2006-07 654 2007-08 731 Total 5,051
Northern Rock
As the Chancellor told the Treasury Committee on 25 October 2007, the Treasury did not conduct a leak inquiry. Nor have the Bank of England or the Financial Services Authority.
Occupational Health: Costs
Dame Carol Black's review of the health of Britain's working age population estimated that the cost to the economy of sickness absence and worklessness associated with working age ill-health are over £100 billion a year, which includes stress related illness.
Olympic Games
I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid-Kent (Hugh Robertson), the Shadow Sports and Olympics Minister on 19 May 2008, Official Report, columns 5-6W.
The number of Government officials attending has not yet been finalised.
Public Expenditure
No decision has been made yet on the date of publication.
Public Sector: Pay
Government policy is to ensure that public sector pay settlements:
Reflect the individual labour market position of workforces, particularly their recruitment and retention position;
Are consistent with the achievement by the Bank of England of its CPI inflation target of 2 per cent.;
Are affordable for departments; and
Represent value for money for taxpayers.
Consistency with the inflation target does not mean that there is a specific number which is the target for pay awards. But it does mean that pay awards need to support low and stable inflation.
A wide range of factors can potentially impact on inflationary pressure. These factors are considered by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank England when setting interest rates to meet the inflation target. An assessment of inflationary pressures is available in the Bank of England's quarterly inflation report. The Treasury publishes its own inflation forecast in the Budget and the pre-Budget report.
Public Transport: Rural Areas
Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with their colleagues in other Departments and with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
Revenue and Customs: Leave
The information requested is not available.
Revenue and Customs: Salisbury
HMRC currently occupies Alexandra House, Salisbury under an agreement with HM Court Services who own the building but there is no lease arrangement. Court Services are seeking to sell the building and have recently given HMRC notice to leave by 29 May 2009. The sale of the building will not prejudice the outcome of a national review currently being carried out on the Department's property needs to match future business requirements. HMRC is seeking alternative accommodation in Salisbury to meet its future business requirements and is considering the suitability of a number of options, including the availability of Summerlock House. No decision about HMRC's future location in Salisbury has been taken yet.
Revenue and Customs: Vacancies
Work is in progress through HMRC's Workforce Change Programme to address staff distribution requirements aligned to business transformation.
There is an ongoing recruitment exercise for a number of HMRC contact centres including Cardiff. In Wales specifically HMRC currently have 15 vacancies and these breakdown into the following grades: 11 higher officers, four officers.
These vacancies are in a number of business areas and are being advertised to existing staff, with priority given to pre-surplus staff.
Smuggling: Wildlife
HM Revenue and Customs made the following seizures of endangered species between 1 January 2008 and 31 March 2008:
Number of seizures Number of items seized Weight of items seized (kg) Live animals and birds 8 23 — Parts and derivatives of endangered species 24 453 0.62 Ivory 6 75 — Plants 1 55 — Other species listed under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (including coral, caviar and ginseng) 19 685 8.42 Preparations of oriental medicines which include parts or derivatives of endangered species 14 5,748 57.11
CITES seizures are recorded by number of items seized or by weight, whichever is the most practical. Apart from the live specimens, all of the above categories may include products of endangered species.
The total number of seizures of endangered species items for the financial year 2007-08 can found at Annex F of HMRC's Departmental Report 2008 at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk
Stamp Duty Land Tax: Tax Allowances
Since the stamp duty land tax relief for zero carbon homes was introduced in October 2007 nobody in the Leeds Metropolitan District or the Leeds West constituency has claimed the relief.
Taxation: Aviation
The Government are currently developing policy options following the announcement at pre-Budget report 2007 that air passenger duty would be replaced by a per plane duty in November 2009 and the formal consultation on this new tax, which considered all aspects of the operation of the duty, closed on 24 April. As part of this process, the Government will of course assess the level of taxes on passengers and flights in other European Union states.
The Government are currently developing policy options following the announcement at pre-Budget report 2007 that air passenger duty would be replaced by a per plane duty in November 2009 and the formal consultation on this new tax, which considered all aspects of the operation of the duty closed on 24 April. As part of this process, the Government will of course assess systems of aviation taxation in other European Union states.
The Government are currently developing policy options following the announcement at pre-Budget report 2007 that air passenger duty would be replaced by a per plane duty in November 2009 and the formal consultation on this new tax, which considered all aspects of the operation of the duty, closed on 24 April. As part of this process, the Treasury is working with the Department for Transport and with key industry stakeholders to assess the economic effects of the aviation duty on the aviation industry.
The Government are currently developing policy options following the announcement at pre-Budget report 2007 that air passenger duty would be replaced by a per plane duty in November 2009 and the formal consultation on this new tax, which considered all aspects of the operation of the duty, closed on 24 April. As part of this process, the Government are working with key stakeholders to assess the likely effects of the aviation duty on the wider economy.
Taxation: Wales
The requested information is not available.
The information requested is not available.
The requested information on the numbers of Welsh residents who have received or completed a form P810 is not available.
Once a form P810 (Tax Review Form) has been dealt it is retained for the tax year it was received plus two full tax years.
Valuation Office
For the last year, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 April 2008, Official Report, column 1688W. The approximate number of visits in other periods for which figures are available are 110,000 in 2005 and 125,000 in 2006.
Working Tax Credit
HMRC’s Enquiry Centres at Belfast, Cosham (near Portsmouth), Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Newport (Gwent) participated in a pilot during May and June 2008 designed to encourage the take-up of working tax credit.
Working Tax Credit: Halifax
HMRC do not produce these statistics separately for child tax credit and working tax credit.
Estimates of the number of families with tax credit awards in 2006-07 in each constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, are available in the HMRC publication “Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards 2006-07. Geographical Analyses”. This publication is available on the HMRC website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
The same information for 2007-08 is not yet available because awards have not yet been finalised.
Written Questions: Government Responses
I have replied to the hon. Member’s questions today.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Aggregates Levy
The outcome of the consultation on the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund was put on the consultations section of DEFRA’s website on 10 July.
Agriculture: Foreigners
I have been asked to reply.
The annual quota for the number of foreign workers who were permitted to enter the United Kingdom under the auspices of the seasonal agricultural workers scheme in 2005, 2006 and 2007 was 16,250. The quota was met in each year. The quota for 2008 is also 16,250.
The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
Agriculture: Subsidies
[holding answer 14 July 2008]: The Rural Payments Agency has made the single payment scheme payment for 2007 to Mr. Robert Philipson-Stow.
Animal Welfare: Research
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funds a wide range of animal health and welfare research projects. The Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) is the Government Department which funds the BBSRC.
I have not had specific discussions with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on this issue. I consider that good working links exist between DEFRA and BBRSC, who keep each other informed about research funding plans and aim to have well co-ordinated research programmes. Regular interaction takes place between DEFRA, the BBSRC and other UK research funders through various media such as the UK Animal Disease Research Funders' Forum, the Microbial Safety of Food Funders' Group and the UK TSE Research and Development Co-ordination Group. Joint activities such as scientific workshops and research calls have been organised by these groups.
DEFRA has observer status at meetings of the BBSRC Animal Sciences and AgriFood Committees. Both DEFRA and BBSRC are involved in the EU Standing Committee on Agricultural Research, the Collaborative Working Group on Animal Health and Welfare Research and the ERA-NET on emerging and major infectious diseases of livestock.
In addition to this close interaction, the BBSRC and DEFRA have jointly funded projects on viral disease of livestock. DEFRA also co-fund a number of projects identified from the BBSRC responsive mode grant applications under the Government Partnership Awards scheme.
Bees
Expenditure on the National Bee Unit, which includes the Bee Inspectorate, by DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly Government in 2001-02 was £1,583,000.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 3 June 2008, Official Report, column 855W.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 12 May 2008, Official Report, column 1324W.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 12 May 2008, Official Report, column 1324W.
Bees: Disease Control
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 20 May 2008, Official Report, columns 171-72W.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave on 12 May 2008, Official Report, column 1324W.
The possibility of the small hive beetle arriving in the UK is a recognised threat to the health of honey bees and the National Bee Unit remains vigilant for the arrival of this and other exotic pests and diseases. To promote early detection, publicity material has been distributed to help raise individual beekeepers’ awareness of the risk. Plant health import inspectors and horticultural marketing inspectors have also been alerted, as one possible entry pathway is imported fruit. To help mitigate this threat, DEFRA has developed a contingency plan in consultation with stakeholders and is also pressing the European Commission to introduce tighter contingency arrangements to reduce the risk of spread should the small hive beetle be introduced into another member state. Additionally, DEFRA is funding research into a “lure and kill” monitoring system for rapid deployment should the small hive beetle be detected.
The relative priorities that should be given to the various pest and disease threats to bees are addressed in the draft bee health strategy that is currently out for public consultation.
Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
[holding answer 15 July 2008]: While the role of maize in the spread of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) has not been specifically investigated by any DEFRA funded research projects, the case-control studies carried out as part of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) did investigate associations between a number of feed types and risk of a herd TB breakdown. Studies TB99 and CCS2005, found an association between feeding silage and the use of grass feeding types for grazing/forage and an increase in risk of TB breakdown, respectively. The findings of these studies are in the final report of the Independent Scientific Group report on cattle TB. In addition TB99 also identified not using feeding supplements as a risk factor for confirmed cases of TB.
The association between M. bovis infection and trace elements such as selenium, copper and vitamin B12 status of cattle was investigated as part of the DEFRA funded project “Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Cattle—Complementary Field Studies” (project SE3013), carried out at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA). While little evidence was found for a difference by TB status in copper or B12, associations were found between low levels of selenium and a higher risk of an animal being infected with M.bovis. However, given the design of the study and the evidence that the action of some micro-nutrients can be substantially influenced by the levels of others it was not possible to conclude that the observed associations were causal. The full report can be downloaded from DEFRA’s website.
I remain open minded about the possibility of a nutritional link but because of the number of variables involved and the likelihood a causal link could never be proven I am not inclined to fund further research into this subject.
[holding answer 15 July 2008]: The underlying principle of our bovine TB test and slaughter programme is to identify infected cattle as early as possible and minimise the risk of the transmission of the disease within and between cattle herds. Many countries where infection is maintained solely through spread between cattle have eradicated bovine TB through the systematic testing and reactor slaughter programme that we use today.
DEFRA has funded, and is currently funding, a number of research projects modelling the potential impacts of various cattle movement control scenarios on the spread of TB—final reports are published on the DEFRA website. We recognise the importance of monitoring the effectiveness of the TB control programme—and we will enhance controls in the light of emerging evidence. New policies introduced in recent years include: zero tolerance for overdue TB tests (i.e. herd movement restrictions applied immediately a test becomes overdue); mandatory pre-movement testing of cattle in high risk areas; and increased use of the gamma interferon blood test. These measures increase our ability to identify infected cattle, thereby reducing the risk of disease spread. We have also been working with stakeholders to raise awareness of simple biosecurity measures to further reduce transmission risks between animals.
Increasing the frequency of bovine TB testing in some areas was one of the additional measures recommended by the Independent Science Group (ISG). Initial cost benefit analysis of increasing the frequency of cattle testing suggests that they would come at a high cost with limited benefits—and so would be difficult to justify in terms of Government expenditure. Decisions about the value of such measures, and how they might be funded, are as much, if not more, a question for industry as for Government and will need to be discussed by the Bovine TB Partnership Group.
Our current approach to determining the minimum levels of routine testing for cattle herds is risk-based and consistent with the requirements of EU Council Directive 64/432/EEC. Parish Testing Intervals reflect the local level of bovine TB prevalence, and are reviewed each year to take account of any change in the disease situation. An increase in the levels of disease in an area triggers more frequent testing. Divisional Veterinary Managers (Animal Health) are already empowered to increase testing if local or individual herd circumstances indicate that such action is required.
[holding answer 15 July 2008]: My Department has not attempted to estimate the numbers of cattle likely to be slaughtered under the bovine tuberculosis control regime in the next three years.
It is very difficult to make such forecasts due to the chronic, multifactorial and insidious nature of bovine TB. The number of cattle slaughtered as tuberculosis (TB) test reactors and direct contacts largely depends on (i) the underlying prevalence of the infection in the cattle (and badger) population and (ii) the intensity and accuracy of the TB screening programme for cattle herds. The former is subject to cyclical changes in the endemic TB areas that are difficult to predict, whereas the latter is subject to annual changes as TB herd testing frequencies are reviewed every year in response to the incidence of herd breakdowns in the previous years. Furthermore, the enhancements to the TB testing regime introduced over the last two years (such as pre-movement testing and gamma-interferon blood testing) are expected to result in higher numbers of reactors being identified each year, at least in the short to medium term.
[holding answer 15 July 2008]: A number of diagnostic tests for the detection of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection in badgers have been developed through DEFRA funded research projects at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA). The final reports of completed research projects have been published on the DEFRA website.
Bovine TB is currently confirmed by culture of M. bovis in the laboratory. However, M. bovis grows very slowly so culture results can take six weeks to several months to come through. DEFRA funded VLA project SE3008 (April 1999-December 2004), ‘Detection and enumeration of M. bovis from clinical and environmental samples’, aimed to develop PCR-based methods that may allow rapid screening of samples from infected cattle and monitoring of the environment and badger populations for the presence of M. bovis. This research showed that while the PCR test specific for M. bovis was found to be only 50 per cent. as sensitive as the gold standard of culture, the sensitivity of the M. tuberculosis complex PCR test (i.e. a less specific PCR able to detect mycobacteria that are members of the M. tb complex) was increased from 70 per cent., to 90 per cent., by the end of the project. While such low sensitivities for M. bovis detection rules out the use of this PCR test for use on environmental samples and excretions collected from badgers, with further development and evaluation this test could be used in the laboratory to achieve faster confirmation and subsequent tracing of bTB infection in slaughterhouse cases.
Work funded by DEFRA to validate the PCR test developed by Warwick University to detect M. bovis in the environment is ongoing (Project SE3231: ‘Validation and epidemiological application of molecular methods for monitoring M. bovis survival and dissemination into the environment’). This is a joint project between the VLA, Warwick University and University College, London and includes validation of the test using field samples. A full project description is available on the DEFRA website. A final report on the work will be published following its completion in April 2010.
If it is shown to be usable as a robust practical field test, consideration of its potential use in any bTB control policy will need to take account of the results of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, which showed that localised culling was associated with an increase in cattle herd TB breakdowns due to the perturbation effect on badgers and increased transmission of bTB.
[holding answer 15 July 2008]: GB expenditure on bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in 2007-08 was £79.8 million. However, we are unable to provide an accurate forecast of expenditure on bTB in the period of the 2008-11 comprehensive spending review as budgets have not yet been finalised.
The following table shows the breakdown expenditure on bovine TB in 2007-08;
Activity 2007-08 Cattle Testing 32.6 Compensation 29.7 RBCT 0.03 Surveillance activity by the VLA 7.9 Other Research1 8.5 HQ/Overheads 1.2 Totals 79.93 1 Figure does not include research into culling methods or the badger population survey. Notes: 1. Cattle testing—the cost of carrying out the testing of cattle for TB by arranging, assessing and monitoring tests, conducting investigations of incident herds and diagnostic testing by local veterinary inspectors on behalf of DEFRA. Note: These costs include Scotland and Wales (funded by DEFRA). 2. Compensation—includes payments for ‘reactors’ and ‘contact animals’ which are compulsorily slaughtered. This includes ‘salvage’ money received by the Government for those carcasses which are permitted to go into the food chain or are eligible for over 30 month scheme payments. Note: These costs include Scotland and Wales and are funded by their respective Governments. 3. Surveillance activity by the VLA—includes all DEFRA-funded work carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency relating to TB in cattle and badgers including the supply of tuberculin. 5. HQ/overheads—includes staff costs for veterinary advice and administration of TB policy in England, Scotland and Wales.
(2) what estimate he has made of the expenditure from the (a) bovine tuberculosis budget and (b) animal health budget required for the vaccination policy announced on 7 July 2008 which is additional to original allocations under those headings.
[holding answer 15 July 2008]: Of the £20 million identified as funding for vaccine research by the Secretary of State, £10.4 million has already been contracted from the existing tuberculosis programme research budgets. The additional £9.6 million has not yet been contracted and will be funded from an expanded research budget.
[holding answer 15 July 2008]: The regulatory impact assessment (RIA) that supports pre-movement testing has been reviewed and updated in light of phase one experience. The reviewed RIA is available on the DEFRA website.
A review of pre-movement testing will be carried out following the period of peak cattle movements in autumn 2008. By then, a full year of normal trading data should be available to assess. This will allow an analysis of cattle movements in spring and autumn, which are the most challenging delivery periods, thereby providing sufficient data for a comprehensive review.
In the meantime, monitoring of the impacts of the policy is ongoing and statistics continue to be published on the DEFRA website.