To ask the President of the Council when he expects to publish the Business Plan for 2002–03 for the Privy Council Office; whether the plan will be placed on the Office's website; when he will publish the Business Plan for the Privy Council Office for the financial year 2003–04; and when it will be placed on the Office's website. [108941]

It is not proposed to publish a Business Plan for 2002–03. The 2003–04 Business Plan has been drafted and will be published shortly.

To ask the President of the Council how many staff in the Privy Council Office have taken time off from work in order to attend to domestic incidents as provided for by the Employment Relations Act 1999. [108347]

The Privy Council Office has devolved responsibility for authorising such leave to line managers and it is not recorded centrally.

To ask the President of the Council what the cost will be to public funds in 2003–04 of the rise in national insurance contributions on the salary bill of his Department. [107902]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 29 April 2002, Official Report, column 542W.

To ask the President of the Council how many staff in his Department have used their leave entitlement under the Parental Leave Directive since it came into force. [108416]

None.

To ask the President of the Council how many people are employed in his Department's press office; and how many were employed on 2 May 1997. [108396]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 22 July 2002, Official Report, column 712W.

To ask the President of the Council what the estimated value is of the property portfolio held by the Privy Council Office. [108370]

The Privy Council Office has no property portfolio.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development by what e-mail address members of the public may contact (a) her and (b) each of the Ministers in her Department; and for each e-mail address if she will state (i) the date it became active, and (ii) the number of e-mails received in each month since activation. [97462]

Members of the public can contact DFID Ministers at enquiry(S)dfid.gov.uk. The address has been active since November 1997.The number of e-mails it has received from 1997–2000 are not stored centrally. Detailed records for 2001–03 are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement, in relation to her Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which her Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years. [108872]

The information is as follows.(a) and (b)(i): DFID's energy consumption figures for the last five years are as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to her Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by her Department in each year since 1997. [103719]

DFID Departments and overseas offices commission a range of reports and research from external organisations on a variety of subjects related to poverty reduction. Details of these reports are not held centrally and a breakdown of such outputs could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what further action she is taking to tackle (a) infant mortality, (b) illiteracy and (c) unemployment among the Palestinian people. [109292]

We have supported a wide range of initiatives, bilaterally and through our contributions to the EC and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, to meet the needs of Palestinians as the humanitarian situation has deteriorated. This includes a number of emergency health programmes including midwifery training and women's health development. We also support work aimed at reducing the impact of violence on Palestinian children, as well as supplementary educational materials for children unable to attend school full time due to closures and curfews. Our work with the World bank and UNRWA helps fund employment generation schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the (a) World Bank and (b) United Nations about the situation in the West Bank and Gaza; and if she will make a statement. [109293]

We maintain very close contact with both the World Bank and the United Nations on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. I discussed the Palestinian situation with both UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and World Bank President Wolfenson in New York and Washington last month. The World Bank and the United Nations Special Co-ordinator's Office play a key role in analysing the social and economic impact of the current conflict. We work closely with them on these issues, and jointly finance a number of specific initiatives. Our relations with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees are strong. Its mandate to provide education, health and emergency services to the refugee population remains critical in these troubled times.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with the EU about the situation in the West Bank and Gaza; and if she will make a statement. [109294]

We maintain close contact with our European partners and with the European Commission. I have spoken recently to Commissioner Patten about the humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. We discussed the importance of support to Palestinian reform efforts, and implementation of the Roadmap towards a two state solution. The appalling humanitarian situation can only be resolved through a just political settlement. The EC shares our view of the need to balance immediate humanitarian assistance with longer-term support for institutional development. In the current circumstances it is essential that organisations respond quickly and flexibly to emerging Palestinian needs. I raised this issue with Commissioner Patten in relation to EC assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact of the Part-time Workers Directive on staff in her Department. [109277]

No formal assessment has been made—nor has there been any need for one. DFID employment practices were already compliant with the Part-time Workers Directive and the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 in advance of their introduction. Other than a minor technical adjustment to the formula used to calculate hourly remuneration rates there have been no substantial consequences for DFID. DFID supports work/life balance for staff and part time working is only one of several ways in which we offer staff flexibility in their working patterns. 7 per cent. of DFID's UK based staff work part-time.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff in her Department were on long term sick leave in each of the last five years. [109257]

There is no central definition of long term sick absence. DFID classifies sick absence of three months or more as long term.The number of staff on long term sick absence for the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2003 was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement in response to the comments made by the Executive Director of the World Food Programme to the United Nations Security Council on 7 April. [109227]

I agree with the assessment of James Morris that conditions in many parts of Africa are a cause of great concern and must not be overlooked at a time when the world's attention is on Iraq. I welcome the efforts of the World Food Programme to address urgent humanitarian need in the continent and elsewhere. In 2002, the UK gave over £60 million to WFP, principally for humanitarian operations. We will continue to be strong supporters of the Programme.However, the Government puts different emphasis on some of causes of the crises and on the steps needed to address them. An adequate donor response is of course important. I made special efforts last year to encourage other donors to respond to the urgent needs in Southern Africa. But we must go beyond investments in food aid and agriculture. In Southern Africa, the main problem is Zimbabwe and the central issue is one of governance. As Mr. Morris recognises, in other parts of Africa, continuing conflict drastically hampers opportunities to reduce hunger and poverty. We need to take account of the wide range of factors affecting food security in Africa andencourage steps, including by African governments themselves, to address the social, political and economic constraints.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the informal European Council in Athens on 16 April. [109538]

I attended the Informal European Council in Athens on 16 April.The centrepiece of the meeting was the signature by the member states and the Accession Countries of the Treaty which formalises their membership of the European Union. After ratification in all the countries the new member states will formally join the Union in May next year. In the meantime they will participate as active observers in most of the Union's meetings.I expressed my unreserved welcome for enlargement and the contribution which it makes to the democratic stability of Europe and to its prosperity.The European Council heard a report from the Chairman of the Convention, President Giscard d'Estaing, on progress so far. The Council reaffirmed its

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the net cost to the public purse was of expenditure on railways in each year from 1973. [102479]

For each of the 30 years from 1972–73 to 2001–02 the table shows, in columns (1)-(4), total central government support to, and the external finance requirement of, British Rail and, since privatisation, total central government support to the rail industry. In column (5), it shows total rail investment. Columns (1)-(4) are not cumulative with column (5).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what action was taken as a result of the Civil Aviation Authority Airworthiness Notice No. 19 of 1992; [109380](2) what assessment he has made of the availability of counterfeit aircraft spare parts in

Control systems to prevent the use of unapproved aircraft parts by the aviation industry have been in place in the UK for over 30 years. Parts and components are not fitted to UK registered aircraft unless the certifying engineer releasing the aircraft to service is completely satisfied that the parts comply with CAA requirements and those of the aircraft manufacturer. In addition, all UK registered commercial aircraft are subject to regular airworthiness inspections and the CAA carries out systematic audits and ad hoc inspections of UK operators and aircraft maintenance organisations. The UK has no jurisdiction over the availability of counterfeit parts in other countries, responsibility for which rests with the State concerned.Airworthiness Notice 19 is an advisory notice to operators and maintenance organisations reminding them of the need to remain vigilant in the detection of bogus aircraft parts. It is reviewed and updated to reflect current knowledge on the issue of unauthorised or bogus parts. Notice 19 also reminds operators and maintenance organisations that any unauthorised parts must be reported to the CAA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the annual report of the Department will be published. [107871]

The spring 2003 Departmental Reports are to be published between 28 April and 16 May 2003. We will publish our Departmental report within this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement, in relation to his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years. [108861]

The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002 and as a result of changes to the departmental buildings portfolio there are not five years of records covering the information requested. As the Department has been in existence for less than a year, there have been no specific annual energy reports produced to date.

:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate he has made of the number of additional lorry journeys each day since the suspension of (a) freight facility grants and (b) track access charges; [108381](2) when he expects

No assessment has been made of the effect of the suspension of freight grants on the number of lorry journeys. Expenditure on freight grants is expected to be in the order of £40 million in both 2003–04 and 2004–05. The SRA is keeping the position under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of the Part-time Workers Directive on staff in his Department. [109266]

My Department is committed to providing appropriate Work Life Balance for staff and part-time working is one of several ways in which staff are afforded flexibility in their working patterns. Approximately 8 per cent. of staff in the Central Department work on a part-time basis.The Part-time Workers (Prevention of less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 have re-inforced the policies applying in my Department of providing equality of treatment regardless of working patterns. The Department supports a network for alternative workers, including part-timers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made towards the aim in the White Paper, Your Region, Your Choice, of assessing the balance of staff between the centre and the regions in terms of effective policy design and implementation; and what examples there have been since the publication of the White Paper of the Department deciding between locating new streams of work (a) in and (b) outside London and the south east. [108574]

My Department keeps under review the balance of resources between the centre and the regions in ensuring the most effective arrangements for the development and implementation of policy. Across the Department and its Agencies as a whole about 75 per cent. of staff are already based outside the south east.From January 2001 the Highways Agency began transferring functions from London to its regional offices in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Bedford and Dorking. This strategy is an integral part of the Agency's Change Management Programme for improved business performance, and delivery of its 10-year plan. By May 2003, 235 Highways Agency jobs will have been transferred from London to regional locations, in addition to new agency jobs created in the regions as a result of the Roads Programme and other business expansion.The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the Budget plans to examine relocation of public services with the aim of achieving best value for money. He has asked Sir Michael Lyons—Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies at Birmingham University—to advise on relocation by the next Spending Review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change has been in average UK public liability insurance premium costs in each year since 1992. [108293]

We do not collect regular information on average UK public liability insurance premium costs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list events at which his Department and each agency and non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible have exhibited in each of the past three years, stating for each (a) the purpose of exhibiting, (b) the cost of exhibiting and (c) the number of staff attending for the exhibition. [107613]

The information in respect of HM Treasury, the Inland Revenue and the UK Debt Management Office would only be available at disproportionate cost.The information requested for the rest of the Chancellor's departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of spending on media advertising by his Department was each month since June 1997 through (a) radio, (b) newspapers, (c) magazines, (d) television and (e) new media and the internet. [108551]

The breakdown of HMT advertising costs by month is unavailable.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the Part-time Workers Directive on staff in his Department. [109278]

The Treasury complies with the requirements of the Part-time Workers Directive. Part-time workers in the Treasury are treated in the same way in their contractual terms and conditions as comparable full-timers. There are 60 staff across all grades who currently work either part-time or have job-shares. The Treasury has a number of practical policies in place to recognise the importance of having a work life balance. In addition to working part-time and job shares, the Department encourages other alternative working patterns such as term-time working, homeworking and working flexible hours.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of labour productivity in (a) the private sector and (b) the public sector was in each quarter of each year since 1997. [108465]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated value is of the property portfolio held by his Department. [108363]

The estimated value of the property portfolio of the Treasury and its Agencies at 31 March 2003 is £108,495,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate, on the basis of the current labour force survey panel data, how many people of working age have been out of paid employment for at least four consecutive quarters. [109060]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what policy on (a) core hours and (b) flexible working hours is operated by his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible. [107655]

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff were employed by the (a) Broadcasting Standards Commission, (b) Independent Television Commission and (c) Radio Authority in each of the last five years; and what the annual budget was in each of those years in each case. [108936]

The information requested is shown in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the cost of employing librarians in (a) Worcestershire County Council, (b) Warwickshire County Council, (c) Gloucestershire County Councils, (d) Birmingham, (e) Coventry, (f) Dudley, (g) Sandwell, (h) Solihull, (i) Walsall and (j) Wolverhampton metropolitan district councils. [109356]

This information is not held centrally. However, the total employee expenditure for the library services quoted can be calculated using the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's (CIPFA's) Public Library Statistics 2000–01 Actuals volume. The total population for each authority is shown at column 1 and the employee expenditure per thousand population figure is at column 148.The House of Commons Library has a copy of the above publication which is the latest available in this series.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will fund and support a National Sports Day to encourage young people to try sport or exercise. [105597]

We encourage as many schools as possible to have a sports day as part of an overall package of PE and school sport activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact of the Part-time Workers Directive on staff in her Department. [109267]

The Department supports a range of flexible working options aimed at helping staff to achieve a better work/life balance including part-time working, job-share, compressed hours, term-time working, home-working and flexible working. Currently, 6 per cent. of the total number of staff at the Department work part-time. Part-time workers have the same developmental opportunities as staff that work full time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made by the Department towards the aim in the White Paper, Your Region, Your Choice, of encouraging applicants to public bodies from all parts of England; and what change there has been in the geographical diversity of appointees to NDPBs and other public bodies sponsored by the Department since the publication of the White Paper. [108565]

DCMS undertakes a variety of activities to encourage a wider diversity of applicants for public appointments, including those from all parts of England. This includes advertising in the national press, articles in selected publications, advertising of all vacancies on our own website (www.culture.gov.uk), the new public appointments website (www.publicapptsvacs.gov.uk) and the Just Do Something site (www.justdosomething.net) run by Common Purpose. We also participated in the regional public appointments seminars organised by the Women and Equality Unit during 2002.There has been little change in the geographical profile of people appointed to DCMS public bodies since the publication of Your Region, Your Choice in May last year. However, recent restructuring of several of our strategic bodies supports the aim set out in the White Paper to reflect the needs of individual regions in developing national policies and programmes. For example, we have created regional representation on Arts Council England and Sport England through the appointment of regional Board Chairs to their Councils, and recognised the role of Regional Development Agencies in restructuring support for tourism.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2003, Official Report, column 665W, on sports facilities, how many community sports coaches will be based in (a) the London Borough of Harrow and (b) other London boroughs; and if she will make a statement. [109321]

Decisions on the locations of the first phase of Community Sports Coaches will not be made until the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the (a) summer schools and (b) performance camps which will be based in the London borough of Harrow over the next 12 months. [109322]

There is a wide variety range of summer school and performance camp activity planned for the London borough of Harrow in the next year.Sport England's Active Sports Programme will deliver activities across an increasing range of sports in the area. More details on these are set out in the table.Arts Council England will also be funding summer school activity in the Borough. This will include a four-week summer school at Arts Culture, Harrow, providing a wide range of arts and crafts sessions for pre-school children to 16-year olds. The organisation is also running two weeks of participatory musical theatre courses for children of all ages and Tomorrow's Warriors, a local information, co-ordination and advisory resource centre for promoters, musicians, and arts organisations, which is currently developing plans for a series of 'jam' sessions for local young people over the summer.Harrow will also be covered by the new holiday activities programme jointly developed by DCMS and others across Government. Building on the success of last year's summer activities schemes, the new programme will, through a 'single pot', provide funding for positive activities for children and young people aged 8–19 during all school holiday periods. While the scheme is due to go live in the Whitsun break, delivery plans for this are still in development, so it is not possible to say at this stage what provision there will be in Harrow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has commissioned into the environmental benefits of compulsory environmental liability insurance [108925]

The Department, in consultation with business generally, the insurance industry, and other relevant Government Departments, undertook a detailed assessment of the implications of compulsory financial security, which has emerged in the course of the Council negotiation on the European Commission's draft Directive on Environmental Liability. The Commission's proposal was merely For Member States to encourage operators to use appropriate insurance or other forms of financial security. The need to have financial cover could impose disciplines on operators to improve their operations in order to minimise the risks of environment damage. The assessment suggests that the environmental benefits, which were evaluated in the Department's Extended Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment (COM(02)17), could be substantially lower than the costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has commissioned into the impact compulsory environmental liability insurance may have on British businesses; and if she will make a statement [108926]

The Department, in consultation with business generally, the insurance industry, and other relevant Government Departments, undertook a detailed assessment of the implications of compulsory financial security, which has emerged in the course of the Council negotiation on the European Commission's draft Directive on Environmental Liability. The Commission's proposal was merely for Member States to encourage operators to use appropriate insurance or other forms of financial security. The assessment revealed costs to business ranging from £79million (managed funds) to £1.8billion (insurance).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department's proposed 'broad and shallow' agri-environment scheme will include measures which will help alleviate soil erosion and run-off from the land. [108530]

The 'broad and shallow' Entry Level Agri-environment Scheme Pilot does include specific measures aimed at improving resource protection and combating soil erosion, such as buffer strips next to watercourses and improved management of high erosion risk cultivated land. The pilot will be used to evaluate whether this approach is successful and if it is, such measures will be incorporated into the main scheme to be rolled out in 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 8 April; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [109079]

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Commons) and I represented the UK at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 8 April. The Ministers with agriculture and fisheries responsibilities in the Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly Government were also present.The Council held an in-depth debate on the Commission's proposals for decoupling farm aids, cross-compliance, transferring funding from direct subsidies into rural development spending and other cross-cutting measures which form the centrepiece of its proposals for reform of the CAP. I expressed the United Kingdom's broad support for the proposals while calling for greater simplification, reduction of bureaucracy and fairer mechanisms for allocating reductions in direct aids and increases in rural development funding. The Council will return to this dossier at its next meeting with a view to reaching a conclusion in June if possible.The Council held a brief debate on the WTO agriculture agreement negotiations in Geneva and endorsed Commissioner Fischler's intention to continue working to secure a balanced package that could enable agreement to be reached at the WTO Ministerial in Mexico in September.The Council received progress reports on a Commission proposal to improve hygiene controls on products of animal origin and its proposed new directive on the control of foot and mouth disease. It approved an Italian state aid to assist members of agricultural cooperatives that had become insolvent.On fisheries, the Council agreed a Commission proposal to amend the cod recovery measures agreed last December to clarify and correct various points and to make the measures slightly more flexible. The Commissioner also presented a communication aimed at improving the scientific advice available to fisheries managers. Under other business it was announced that, because of the poor state of the cod stock, the Commission would be using emergency powers to close the Baltic cod fishery with effect from 15 April.Under other business the Council heard reports on the avian influenza outbreak in the Netherlands, the Commission's plans for carrying forward the French initiative on trade measures to assist sub-Saharan Africa and negotiate on wine agreements with the United States and Canada

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she advises under the Animal By-Products Regulation to householders who find a (a) deer, (b) badger and (c) fox carcase in the garden. [107915]

The carcases, or parts of carcases, of wild animals, including deer, badgers and foxes, will be exempt from the scope of the Regulation unless they are thought to be diseased or are used to produce game trophies. Householders are advised to contact their local authority for advice on appropriate disposal methods.However, in some parts of the country (Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire) badgers may be infected with TB. In these areas, householders are advised to contact their local Animal Health Office who may wish to test the carcase for TB.

To ask the Secretary of State for. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will list the EU countries which (a) have classified shellfish waste as animal waste for the purposes of the Animal By-Products Regulation and (b) have obtained derogations exempting shellfish or fish producers in remote areas from the regulation; [108792](2) when she decided that fish and shellfish waste should be treated as covered by the EU Animal By-Products Regulation; when this decision was communicated to the fish and shellfish processing industries; and if she will list the bodies or companies in those industries who were consulted by the Department on this issue; [108793](3) if she will make transitional provisions to enable shellfish producers to find alternative means to landfill of disposing of shellfish waste after 1May. [108794]

[holding answer 14 April 2003]: Council Directive 90/667/EEC (the Animal Waste Directive) already classifies shellfish and fish waste as an animal by-product and applies to all member States. The Directive will be replaced by Regulation 1774/2002 (the Animal By-Products Regulation) which maintains the same principle. The Sea Fish Industry Authority was consulted during negotiations on the Regulation and a number of other fish and shellfish industries were sent the consultation document of 27 January 2003 on enforcing the Regulation. The consultation document and list of consultees can be found at http://defraweb/corporate/consult/euanimbyprod/conslist.htm. As landfill is not currently a permitted disposal route for most shellfish waste, we have not asked the Commission for a transition period to allow that practice to continue. We do not know whether, or how, other member States intend to apply the derogation permitting the burial or burning of animal by-products in remote areas. However, in the UK it is likely to be limited to parts of the Highlands and the Islands of Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the obligations on property owners for the disposal of carcases from their land which are of animals that are (a) wild and (b) owned by another; [108126](2) if she will make a statement on the obligations of property owners for the disposal of animals deceased in their burrows. [108127]

The carcases, or party of carcases, of wild animals will be exempt from the scope of the Animal By-Products Regulation unless they are thought to be diseased or are used to produce game trophies. Although the regulation places them under no legal obligation, owners of property on which there are dead wild animals are advised to contact their local authority for advice on appropriate disposal methods.However, in some parts of the country, (Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire), badgers may be infected with TB. In these areas, householders are advised to contact their local animal health office who may wish to test the carcase for TB.Where an animal carcase is found on private land and ownership of the animal is known, then the owner of the animal will be held responsible and must dispose of the carcase appropriately. However, if ownership cannot be proven, responsibility for disposal rests with the landowner. The local authority, usually Trading Standards, has powers under the statutory nuisance provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to deal with "accumulations or deposits which are prejudicial to health or a nuisance". Appropriate action can subsequently be taken against the owner of the carcase.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what cost-benefit assessment she has undertaken on the new arrangements for farm carcase disposal; and if she will deposit it in the Library; [108128](2) what assessment she has made of costs incurred by industry from new measures for the disposal of carcases; what additional financial assistance will be made available; and if she will make a statement. [108129]

A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as part of the consultation procedures for implementation of the Animal By-Products Regulation, of which the ban on on-farm burial of fallen stock forms a part. The costs for any individual farmers will depend on the location of the farm and the kind of stock kept.Copies of the assessment will be deposited in the Library. In addition, these documents are available on the Defra website at the following address: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/euanimbyprod/index.htmNo funds have been made to the livestock industry to help them meet the costs of complying with the EU Animal By-Products Regulation. However, Government are willing to contribute to the establishment of a national fallen stock collection scheme provided that part of the costs are met by farmers themselves. We will shortly be writing to all livestock farmers to invite them to join a voluntary subscription scheme to help finance a national fallen stock collection system. If there is sufficient interest, we will take this forward in partnership with the collection and disposal industries. Government will contribute to the funding, but the amount cannot yet be determined, as it will be linked to membership.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the (a) estimated current and (b) future levels of fly-tipping of animal carcasses with reference to new regulations on carcass disposal; what powers there are to discourage such; what additional powers are planned; and what assessment of increased risk to health from a consequential increase in such activity has been made; [108130](2) whether she has undertaken a health assessment of the impact of fallen stock lying in water: and if she will make a statement. [108131]

Local authorities will enforce the EU Animal By-Products Regulation. The local authority, usually Trading Standards, has powers under the statutory nuisance provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to deal with "accumulations or deposits which are prejudicial to health or a nuisance". Appropriate action can subsequently be taken against the owner of the carcase. Animal by-products legislation already controls the collection, storage, transportation and disposal of animal by-products, including fallen stock. It also requires records to be kept of any off-site consignment of animal by-products to assist in the auditing and traceability of this material. In addition, there will be a record keeping requirement to ensure that all animals which die on-farm are accounted for and disposed of through permitted routes.The Department does not have information on either current or future levels of animal carcase fly-tipping. To obtain this information would involve my Department in disproportionate costs.No formal health assessments have been undertaken by my Department on the disposal of fallen stock after the Regulation comes into effect. However, the Regulation is based on a number of opinions from the EU Scientific Steering Committee (SSC). Among other things, the Committee advised that the routine burial of animals should be prohibited except in exceptional circumstances (e.g. in remote areas and emergency situations).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what efforts her Department is making to test cattle for bovine TB in those areas which have been restocked following the end of the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001. [108747]

Newly formed cattle herds and premises restocked after a herd slaughter require, as a rule, one whole-herd TB test three to six months after restocking. To manage the increased risk of introducing TB through movements of infected cattle into re-formed herds, DEFRA has instigated a programme of frequent testing of premises restocked after the foot and mouth outbreak. In addition to the usual check test carried three to six months post-restocking, those premises now require two further check tests at 12-month intervals before reverting to the normal testing interval for their parish.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what livestock movement restrictions apply to farms where (a) there has been a recent bovine TB reactor and (b) the farm is overdue for a bovine TB test. [108748]

Cattle which react to the TB test are removed for slaughter, and the herd is placed under movement restrictions until all the eligible cattle have cleared two further short interval tests (60 days).Movements of cattle to and from herds with unknown disease status constitute a disease risk. Historically, herds with overdue TB tests have not automatically been put under movement restrictions. After the TB testing programme was suspended during the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001, there was a backlog of 27,000 overdue tests at the end of December 2001. On 31 January 2002, after veterinary risk assessment, herds considered most at risk of infection were put under movement restrictions. On 1 February 2003, as part of the 'autumn package' of measures for the control of bovine TB, herds with tests overdue by more than 12 months were put under movement restriction. From 1 April 2003, herds with tests overdue by more than six months were also placed under movement restriction. Herds with a TB test overdue by three months or more will be put under movement restriction from 30 September 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's latest estimate is of the number of (a) late bovine TB reactor tests and (b) bovine TB reactor cattle which were not collected within the Department's target collection time in each of the last 12 months for which records are available. [108761]

The information requested is given in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what animal welfare standards have been set by (a) her Department and (b) Professor John Bourne's scientific committee overseeing the Krebs field trials on bovine TB. [108762]

In designing and conducting the randomised badger culling trial (the "Krebs" trial), MAFF (now DEFRA) and the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB have given a high priority to animal welfare issues. Snares and gassing are not used in the trial. Badgers are caught in cage traps, and shot at close range by personnel trained in the safe and humane use of firearms, specifically in relation to badgers. Traps are set as late as possible in the day, and checked as early as possible next morning, to minimise the time badgers spend in traps. Trial procedures require that trapping be suspended if, due to bad weather, there is a risk that cage traps could be flooded or that trapped badgers would suffer from extreme exposure. Both temperature and wind chill must be taken into account. Seven day weather forecasts are used in the planning of trapping operations. Badgers are not culled between 1 February and 30 April (the closed season) each year to minimise the risk of capturing lactating sows with dependent cubs below ground.The humaneness of despatch procedures has been subject to independent audit which found trial procedures to be humane. The audit report is published on DEFRA's website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/publications/auditor/report.shtml

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to alter the regularity of on farm bovine TB tests. [108763]

Officials are drawing up a range of policy options for possible introduction later this year. Among the measures to be considered are a review of test frequencies to ensure compliance with EU regulations, and a review to identify whether test frequencies above the EU requirements are needed in certain areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress her Department has made in identifying a vaccine to assist in the control of bovine tuberculosis. [108768]

Defra is funding research at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA), Weybridge to produce candidate vaccines and to evaluate these in host species. The candidates include a range of live attenuated vaccines and sub-unit vaccines. Defra is also funding experimental vaccination of cattle with BCG and other vaccine candidates, development of a test to differentiate vaccinated animals from infected animals, and development and testing of vaccines against TB in badgers, in collaboration with University College, Dublin.The sequencing of the genome of Mycobacterium bovis (announced by Defra in March 2002) represents significant progress in vaccine research, as all genes, proteins, enzymes and antigens present in M. bovis are likely to be identified rapidly in a highly cost-effective manner. This will underpin all future Defra bovine TB research in the development of vaccines and improved diagnostic tests. Defra is funding research at the VLA in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with (a) scientists undertaking research and development and (b) pharmaceutical companies regarding the timetable for developing a vaccine for the control of bovine TB within the last 12 months. [108769]

Over the past 12 months Defra has maintained close links with its vaccine research contractors through regular contact by officials and via the independent TB Vaccine Programme Advisor, the late Dr. Jo Colston.The Vaccine Scoping Study Sub-Committee (VSSSC) of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) includes both

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the (a) earliest possible and (b) optimum time for the practical introduction of a vaccine to control the spread of bovine TB. [108770]

The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle (ISO) set up a Vaccine Scoping Study Sub-Committee in January 2002 to assist in advising DEFRA Ministers on the feasibility of pursuing TB vaccination in either cattle or wildlife. Seven meetings of the Sub-Committee have taken place and its report to Ministers is expected soon.The Chief Veterinary Officer initiated an Interdepartmental Committee in May 2000 to consider in advance the administrative and legal approval processes that would be necessary to allow a vaccine to be put into use with a minimum of delay, presuming that the research projects are successful and a suitable vaccine becomes available. The Committee met twice in 2002 and will meet again in the late spring/early summer to consider the ISG Scoping Study Report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of how many doses of vaccine would be required in each of the first years of a bovine TB control strategy once clinically viable vaccines become available. [109315]

Defra's extensive bovine TB vaccine research programme is aimed at identifying the most effective vaccine candidates and the most appropriate vaccination programmes to reduce the incidence of bovine TB. Decending on the outcome of this research, it will be necessary to gain approval for the selected vaccine or vaccines to be used in cattle or badgers or other susceptible species.At this stage the quantity of vaccine required, or the species it will be most effective to vaccinate, is not known.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what efforts her Department is making to prevent the spread of bovine TB through cattle movement (a) in foot and mouth affected areas which have been restocked since 2001 and (b) other areas. [108746]

Newly formed cattle herds and premises restocked after a herd slaughter require, as a rule, one whole-herd TB test three to six months after restocking. To manage the increased risk of introducing TB through movements of infected cattle into re-formed herds, Defra has instigated a programme of frequent testing of premises restocked after the foot and mouth outbreak. In addition to the usual check test carried out three to six months post-restocking, those premises now require two further check tests at 12-month intervals before reverting to the normal testing interval for their parish.Movements of cattle to and from herds with unknown disease status constitute a disease risk. Historically, herds with overdue TB tests have not automatically been put under movement restrictions. After the TB testing programme was suspended during the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001, there was a backlog of 27,000 overdue tests at the end of December 2001. On 31 January 2002, after veterinary risk assessment, herds considered most at risk of infection were put under movement restrictions. On 1 February 2003, as part of the 'autumn package' of measures for the control of bovine TB, herds with tests overdue by more than 12 months were put under movement restriction. From 1 April 2003, herds with tests overdue by more than six months were also placed under movement restriction. Herds with a TB test overdue by three months or more will be put under movement restriction from 30 September 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the amount of funds from (a) the BSE control and monitoring schemes, (b) the over 30 months scheme casualty collection service and (c) the fallen stock TSE surveillance scheme which would be used for a national scheme for collection and disposal of fallen stock. [107595]

We are already contributing nearly £30 million annually for the collection and disposal of fallen stock for TSE testing purposes. We envisage utilising, and building on the existing infrastructure to form a wider service which will reduce the costs to the industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in respect of climate change levy agreements, if she will list each of (a) those facilities whose targets set for them in the relevant underlying agreement have been met and for which there is not a tolerance band in the underlying agreement in relation to that target, (b) those facilities whose targets set for them in the relevant underlying agreement have been met and for which there is a tolerance band but the target has been met without needing to take it into account, (c) those facilities whose targets set for them in the relevant underlying agreement have been met, for which there is a tolerance band and the target has only been met by taking account of it and the qualitative requirements set for the facility have been met and (d) those facilities in respect of which such qualitative requirements have been met and the target set for the facility has not been met because of a relevant constraint or requirement which had a major impact on the performance of the facility operator and prevented the target from being achieved. [82817]

Over 12,000 facilities were recently assessed against the terms of their climate change agreements. A total of 10,608 (88 per cent.) were re-certified for the reduced rate of climate change levy and all of these fall into one of the four categories above. A full list of those that have been re-certified is maintained on the following page of HM Customs and Excise website: www.hmce.gov.uk/business/othertaxes/ccl/red-rate-certs.htm. The number of re-certified facilities falling into the four categories on 31 March is given below.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will next meet EU partners to discuss the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy. [107957]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will next meet EU partners to discuss reform of the CAP at the Informal Agriculture Council meeting on 12–13 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made with the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy. [107958]

There have been four separate Agriculture and Fisheries Council discussions of the Commission's proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy since their publication on 22 January. Good progress has also been made on the technical issues in Working Group. We continue to support the Presidency and Commission in seeking a successful conclusion to negotiations in June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement, in relation to her Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which her Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years. [108869]

The table is based on data reported in the "Sustainable Development in Government" annual reports. Data on the Department's agencies and NDPBs are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost was of construction by the Environment Agency in Somerset and the Wessex area in each of the last three years. [107330]

The total cost of construction by the Environment Agency in Somerset and the Wessex area in each of the last three years is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress being made on the implementation of a national fallen stock collection and disposal scheme; what additional monies have been made available for such a scheme; and what guidance on the scheme has been issued to farmers. [107206]

We will shortly be writing to all livestock farmers to invite them to join a voluntary subscription scheme to help finance a national fallen stock collection system. If there is sufficient interest we will take this forward in partnership with the collection and disposal industries. Government will contribute to the funding, but the amount cannot yet be determined as it will be linked to membership.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the number of fallen stock in the last year which have been (a) removed by a hunt kennel, (b) buried on farm, (c) removed by the farmer to a rendering plant, (d) removed by contractor to a rendering plant, (e) subject to another form of off-farm disposal and (f) subject to other forms of on-farm disposal. [108760]

We do not have figures for the amount of fallen stock that were disposed of last year. To obtain this information would involve the Department in disproportionate costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the acceptability of on-farm (a) bio-digestors and (b) incinerators to deal with future fallen stock after 1 May. [108799]

The bio-digestion of fallen stock is not a permitted disposal route. However, the EU Animal By-Products Regulation may allow for novel disposal methods, such as bio-digestion, to be permitted after consultation of the appropriate scientific committee.The EU Commission has received a number of applications for approval of alternative processes and has sought an opinion from the Scientific Steering Committee. To assist the assessment the Commission requires any submitted data to cover:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department (a) is taking and (b) is taking jointly with other departments to protect (i) farms and (ii) food imports from the threat of terrorist action. [105074]

There is no information to indicate a specific threat to the agriculture or food industry in the UK, but if such a threat should arise then specific advice targeted to the nature of the threat will be provided. The Home Office terrorism website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/terrorism/index.html) currently contains general advice to the public and this will be updated and changed in accordance with the perceived threat. The Home Office publication "Bombs Protecting People and Property" also provides counter-terrorist security advice, specifically aimed at managers of businesses and organisations large or small and to local government. More specific advice and guidance is available from local police forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the Forestry Commission's forest and woodlands are certified to FSC equivalent standards; and how much (a) money and (b) time has been spent by her Department on developing and implementing a United Kingdom woodland assurance standard that is equivalent to the FSC. [107244]

Following an in-depth independent audit lasting several months, all 800,000 hectares of the forest and woodland area managed by the Forestry Commission were certified in 1999 in accordance with the UK Woodland Assurance Standard. The work to develop the Standard, which meets the criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council, was facilitated by the Commission over a period of 11 months, at a staff and overhead cost to the Commission of some £130,000. The audit work cost £145,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what strategies she has in place for tackling the spread of Johne's disease in animals; and if she will make a statement. [106534]

Defra worked closely with the Food Standards Agency during the production of the FSA's strategy for the control of Mycobacterium avium sub-species paratuberculosis (MAP) in cows' milk a part of which was to assess and validate current methods for detecting MAP infection in cattle, organise a survey of MAP infection in the UK dairy herd and produce guidance for farmers on the control of MAP infection. The guidance is expected to be published shortly and the other two aspects are being taken forward by an expert sub-group of the Chief Veterinary Officer's Surveillance Group on Diseases and Infections of Animals (SGDIA).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has undertaken into methods of controlling Johne's disease; and if she will make a statement. [106535]

The Department is carrying out no specific research into methods of controlling Johne's disease. The former MAFF commissioned the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) to carry out a detailed review of surveillance and control options for Johne's disease in farm animals in Great Britain. The report was published in May 2001 and is available on the Defra website.In view of the absence of an established link between Johne's disease in cattle and Crohn's disease in humans, the need for research on Johne's disease was considered against research needs in respect of other non-zoonotic endemic livestock diseases. A number of these diseases are more significant economically or have a greater adverse impact on sustainable development than Johne's disease; priority has therefore been given to research on those diseases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has undertaken into the relationship between Microbacterium avium sub-species paratuberculosis and (a) Crohn's and (b) Johne's disease. [106536]

Mycobacterium avium sub-species paratuberculosis has been known for many years to be the cause of Johne's disease. With regard to the relationship between Mycobacterium avium sub-species paratuberculosis and Crohn's disease experts differ in their opinion on such a link and worldwide there is no consensus. The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens has on two occasions (1992 and 1998) concluded that a link could not be established on current evidence. A similar view was reached by the EU Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare.The Advisory Committee on he Microbiological Safety of Food did however, recommend that, given differing views on possible links to human illness, which are unlikely to be resolved in the foreseeable future, the Food Standards Agency should convene an expert group of stakeholders to look at ways to prevent the bacterium from entering the food chain. Consistent with this recommendation Defra's research programme has been directed towards reducing the levels of MAP in milk and milk products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to prevent the unlawful culling of magpies. [108114]

The control of certain birds, including magpies, is permitted under a series of general licences issued by my Department. This system, first introduced in 1992, offers a practical and easily understood method of control of certain bird species and ensures that birds are killed or taken by certain methods only, with the minimum of distress to the birds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated percentage was of disposed-of mobile phones that were recycled in 2002. [107403]

Industry estimate that over 14 per cent. of the mobile phones disposed of in the UK in 2002 were reused or recycled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost will be to public funds in 2003–04 of the rise in national insurance contributions on the salary bill of her Department. [107894]

It is estimated that the changes to employers' national insurance contributions announced in the 2002 Budget will increase core-Defra pay costs on average by 0.7 per cent. in 2003–04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of the over thirty months scheme. [106676]

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement on 9 April, Official Report, column 19WS, concerning payment rates under the over thirty month scheme (OTMS).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the per kilogram rate of compensation is in the Over-Thirty-Month scheme for slaughtering cattle; what plans she has to alter this; and what the equivalent rates are in (a) France, (b) Germany and (c) Republic of Ireland. [106759]

I refer the hon. Member to my Written Ministerial Statement of 9 April, Official Report, column 19WS concerning payment rates under the Over-Thirty-Month-Scheme (OTMS). The current rates set down in Commission Regulation 716/96 are 0.8 euros/kg (£0.55) for cull cows and 0.9 euros/kg (£0.62) for other cattle. The scheme is not operated in France, Germany or the Republic of Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people are employed in her Department's press office; and how many were employed on 2 May 1997. [108405]

Defra was formed in June 2001. As at 14 April 2003 the staff complement of the press office was 22 press officers and five support staff. Information on the numbers employed in equivalent press office posts in the departments that previously dealt with Defra's policies and activities would not provide an accurate comparison and could only be achieved at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated value is of the property portfolio held by her Department. [108361]

As at 1 April 2003, the estimated value, as assessed for capital charging purposes, of the Department's property portfolio, including properties occupied by the Department's Executive Agencies, was £361,244,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on the eradication of wild mammals in the event of an outbreak of rabies. [108138]