Question
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the fees under the Zoonoses and Animal By-Products (Fees) (England) Regulations (SI 2009/2043) are increased by 20 per cent; and why the fees under the Local Land Charges (Amendment) Rules (SI 2009/2494) are increased by 100 per cent. [HL333]
Details of the increased fees, including comparison with last year's costs, are set out in the table below.
Activities Charge for 2008-09 (£) Charge for 2009-10 (£) Taking or supervising the taking of official control samples 55 plus investigation fee of 25 per ½ hour (or part thereof) 66 plus 29 per ½ hour (or part thereof) Examining official control samples 15.00 15.30 Optional testing for layer flocks to exclude false-positives a) Testing 4,000 eggs for the presence of Salmonella 2,150 2,235 b) Testing internal organs from 300 carcasses for the presence of Salmonella 3,300 3,435 c) Enhanced environmental testing to detect Salmonella 105 107.10
When the fees regulations were drafted it was agreed that the cost of the shared service component of the administration charge should be phased in over a two-year period: 50 per cent of the increase of this component in 2007-08; 75 per cent in 2008-09; and 100 per cent in 2009-10. Please see the previous PQ1007 130209 for details of these costs.
Due to a reassessment of the cost of shared services by Animal Health this plan has been modified slightly. The cost was phased in with 75 per cent of the increase from 1 January 2009 and then 100 per cent in the current fees regulations amendment as detailed above.
This proposal to phase in a proportion of the increased administration costs was a one-off proposal to improve affordability for farmers and maintain good will between industry representatives and Defra at a time when the industry was under great pressure to ensure regulatory compliance with the National Control Programmes for Salmonella control. It did not establish a precedent for temporary subsidies on charges and this was clearly communicated to industry representatives in 2008.
The response to a joint consultation, Local Authority Property Search Services, carried out by the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Ministry of Justice last year indicated that the majority of local authorities are losing money in providing the personal search service of the local land charges register at the current fee of £11. The fee will increase with effect from 1 January 2010 to £22. This increase balances the interests of local authorities and those undertaking personal searches.