To ask the Leader of the House if he will ensure that English wine is made available at dinners, receptions and parties he hosts at which hospitality involving wine is appropriate (a) during the EU presidency and (b) generally; and if he will make a statement. [9153]

I have no plans to host any dinners, receptions or parties specifically for the EU presidency, but—subject to value for money and where possible—British products are used.

To ask the Leader of the House if he will list (a) the special advisers in his Department, (b) their specific areas of expertise and (c) the total cost of employing them in the latest year for which figures are available. [8828]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 36W.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the recent proposals announced to help first-time buyers. [9721]

The Government want to offer everyone the opportunity of a decent home at a price they can afford. We set out our overarching proposals earlier this year in Sustainable Communities: Homes for All." We published a consultation document, HomeBuy—Expanding the Opportunity to Own," in April. We are currently considering the responses received. Copies of both of these documents can be found in the Library of the House.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what mechanisms he will use to test the East of England Regional Spatial Strategy house building targets. [9722]

An examination in public, before an independent panel, will test the proposed house building targets contained in the draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport regarding the future of Milton Keynes's grid road system in relation to his sustainable communities plan for the city. [9723]

Both the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Department for Transport are aware of the local debate in Milton Keynes about whether to extend the grid road system in the city, although my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has not met my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport to discuss it. I look forward to the local partners resolving this matter.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to review planning policy relating to telecommunications masts; and if he will make a statement. [9725]

The Government's will be commissioning further research to identify the future direction of mobile phone technology and the need for mast developments. This forms part of a wider review the Government is undertaking of all the planning arrangements for telecommunication masts.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for the establishment of regional fire control rooms. [9726]

The timetable for the control centre project is contingent upon a final decision being made on how best to take forward plans for modernisation of control centres.

We expect to make an announcement about locations shortly. Once this has been made we will then have a clearer view on what the overall timetable will be for their completion.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to announce the location of the regional control centre for the fire service in the south-east of England. [9281]

Discussions with developers in the south-east are taking slightly longer than in other regions. I expect to make an announcement on the location for the south-east regional control centre shortly after the announcements for the other centres.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to review the law on planning gain. [9727]

As set out in the March 2005 Budget report, the Government will respond to the recommendations in the Barker Review of Housing Supply, including a proposed Planning-gain Supplement, later this year.

The Government are also shortly due to publish a new circular on planning obligations which seeks to improve the operation of the system under the current legislative framework.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Best Value performance indicators each tier of local council were required to compile, (a) in each year since the introduction of Best Value and (b) in 2005–06. [9535]

The information is set out in the following table:

⁽¹⁾Includes Audit Commission Performance Indicators which were replaced entirely in 2001–02 by Best Value Performance Indicators.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Beaconsfield of 15 June. [10100]

I replied to the hon. Member on 5 July.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to raise the required height of doorways in new buildings from 6 ft 8 in to 7 ft. [9724]

There are no proposals, nor has there been any consideration of proposals, to amend the Building Regulations to require doors to be built to any specific height.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the role of his Department in the proposed e-Government Regional Partnership Group. [9532]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) currently funds nine local e-Government Partnerships representing each of the English regions to the tune of £300,000 for the period April 2004 to March 2006 to develop local e-Gov solutions that can then be made available to all authorities in each region as well as throughout the country.

The local e-Gov programme is to conclude on 31 March 2006. This is as originally planned and reflects the support necessary to deliver my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's pledge that 100 per cent. of services would be available on-line by December 2005. We are migrating the outputs from the programme to ownership largely within the local authority community. The Regional e-Government Network—consisting of the nine regionally based partnerships, is part of that community. The network has come together as a way to collaborate and share knowledge and experience and reduce duplication of effort. The ODPM continues to be responsible for leading on local e-Government and related issues and has no plans to transfer this responsibility to any other body.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) genuine and (b) malicious false alarm fire emergency calls have been received in Hampshire in each year since 1997. [9797]

The number of false fire alarms attended by Hampshire fire and rescue service since 1997 is set out in the following table. Genuine false alarms are those generated by automatic equipment (due to apparatus) and by people believing that there was a fire (good intent).

False fire alarms, by type, attended by Hampshire FRS, 1997–2004

⁽²⁾Includes estimates for incidents not recorded during periods of industrial action in 2002 and 2003.

⁽³⁾Provisional

Source:

Fire and Rescue Service FDR3 returns to ODPM.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire crews have trained for Essex fire brigade in each of the last five years; and how many are on the waiting list for training. [9971]

This is a matter for the local fire and rescue service. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will provide funds under the Bellwin Formula for the funding of repairs and clear-up following the recent floods in North Yorkshire; if he will ensure that payments are made swiftly; and if he will relax the deadline for applications. [9459]

Emergency financial assistance is available to the affected local authorities under the Bellwin scheme to help with their costs incurred in taking immediate action to safeguard life or property or to prevent severe inconvenience to the inhabitants of the area. Local authorities have one month from the end date of an incident in which to notify OPDM of an intention to make a claim. This deadline is fixed but we are prepared to consider extending the usual two month eligible spending limit, subject to the relevant local authorities providing a reasonable case for this. To date one local authority in the North Yorkshire area has been in touch to register a possible Bellwin claim.

Once a valid claim is received, we will make payment as swiftly as possible. This is usually within 15 working days.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will reconsider the restrictions on Bellwin Formula payments excluding claims for personal items. [9460]

Emergency financial assistance is available to the affected local authorities under the Bellwin scheme to help with their costs incurred in taking immediate action to safeguard life or property or to prevent severe inconvenience to the inhabitants of the area. It has been the policy of successive Governments not to pay compensation to householders or businesses for any losses suffered as a result of flooding as this is an insurable risk. If the Government were to underwrite insurable costs, it would remove the incentive for people to take out appropriate insurance cover with considerable dissatisfaction on the part of those who had chosen to take out cover. However, in cases of genuine hardship, help may be available from the social fund; details are available from Benefits Agency offices.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make available emergency funds to repair the damage to roads following the recent floods under the Bellwin formula in North Yorkshire county council area. [9466]

Emergency financial assistance is available to the affected local authorities under the Bellwin scheme to help with their costs incurred in taking immediate action to safeguard life or property or to prevent severe inconvenience to the inhabitants of the area. Such costs can include the immediate repairs to highways, pavements and footpaths but longer term repairs are deemed ineligible under Bellwin. The Department for Transport operate a scheme which specifically deals with emergency road repairs.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will allocate emergency funds under the Bellwin formula to be made available for the clear-up of the countryside and carriageways of people's possessions and debris in North Yorkshire following the recent floods. [9468]

Emergency financial assistance is available to the affected local authorities under the Bellwin scheme to help with their costs incurred in taking immediate action to safeguard life or property or to prevent severe inconvenience to the inhabitants of the area. It has been the policy of successive Governments not to pay compensation to householders or businesses for any losses suffered as a result of flooding as this is an insurable risk. If the Government were to underwrite insurable costs, it would remove the incentive for people to take out appropriate insurance cover. However, in cases of genuine hardship, help may be available from the social fund; details are available from Benefits Agency offices.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received from (a) landlord and (b) tenant organisations on houses in multiple occupation licensing fees; and what response he has made. [6420]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 5 July 2005 (ref. 4872).

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the number of homeless people in Hornsey and Wood Green in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8402]

Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level and is in respect of households rather than persons. Hornsey and Wood Green are within the London borough of Haringey.

The number of households accepted by the borough as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need for each year since 2000–01, and the number of households in temporary accommodation arranged by the borough under homelessness legislation as at 31 March in each year is tabled as follows. Information is also collected on the number of people who sleep rough—that is, those who are literally roofless on a single night—and these are also presented in the table.

The duty owed to a person accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need is to secure suitable accommodation. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available. As an alternative to the provision of temporary accommodation some authorities arrange for households to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.

London borough of Haringey reported activity on homelessness

'—'denotes an authority failed to provide a return for 1 or more quarters.

⁽⁴⁾Data shown where 4 quarterly returns were received.

⁽⁵⁾All households eligible under homelessness legislation, found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category and consequently owed a main homelessness duty during the year.

⁽⁶⁾Households in accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting allocation of a settled home following acceptance.

Sources:

ODPM: Homelessness returns (quarterly)

HOUSING Strategy Statistical Appendix (annual)

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will establish a register for independent tenant advisers; and if he will make a statement. [9959]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to establish a register for independent tenant advisers.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost will be to local authorities of revoking the changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme in the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2004. [4282]

A full statement on the outcome of the recently concluded statutory consultation exercise to amend the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2004 in England and Wales will be made shortly.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 497W, on referendums, what the expenses limit for (a) political parties and (b) registered third parties in mayoral referendums. [5562]

The expenses limit specified by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2001 of 2,000, plus 5p per elector on the relevant register of local government electors, applies to expenses incurred by or on behalf of an individual or body for the purpose of promoting a particular result in a referendum. The same limit applies to all individuals and bodies, including political parties.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 822W, on vehicle fires, what the figures are for 2004. [9527]

The information requested for 2004 is contained in the following table.

Deliberate road vehicle primary fires, by fire and rescue service area, 2004

⁽⁷⁾ provisional

Source:

Fire and Rescue Service FDR1 returns to ODPM.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on the removal of abandoned vehicles. [9214]

There is currently no central guidance supplied to local authorities on the removal of abandoned vehicles.

However, as part of the implementation of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, the government is in the process of drafting statutory guidance to local authorities on the discharge of their duty on abandoned vehicles. This guidance will be fully consulted on later in the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abandoned vehicles were reported in each year for which figures are available in (a) England, (b) each government office region and (c) each local authority area. [9545]

Local authorities are not asked to supply figures on how many reports of abandoned vehicles they receive, rather the number that they remove and destroy.

Numbers of abandoned vehicles reported does not give an accurate picture of the problem as a report of a vehicle being abandoned does not necessarily mean it will turn out to be abandoned. Also, reports can be malicious and single vehicles reported by more than one person.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the annual budget of the bee health progamme is being reduced by 20 per cent. [8347]

holding answer 30 June 2005

The decision to reduce expenditure on the bee health programme by around £250,000 per annum from 2008 was taken last year as part of a package of decisions on the future allocation of Defra's financial resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the threat of the varroa mite and other parasites to the UK bee population; and if she will make a statement. [8348]

holding answer 30 June 2005

Controlling varroa is still an important challenge to beekeeping today, but one which we believe beekeepers can manage through the application of good bee husbandry. The pest is now endemic across much of the UK and has become so despite its notifiable status. Defra has concluded that maintaining a statutory enforcement role for this pest is no longer appropriate and we plan to remove Varroosis from the list of notifiable diseases.

In terms of other bee parasites, the National Bee Unit has made an assessment of the exotic parasitic mite, tropilaelaps, and considers that its introduction could have a serious impact on UK beekeeping. We are developing contingency measures accordingly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been paid for cattle slaughtered because of bovine tuberculosis since 2000; and to how many farmers. [9661]

The following table provides details for compensation paid against cattle slaughtered since 2000 in Great Britain. Information about the numbers of farmers receiving compensation is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Compensation paid against cattle slaughtered

⁽⁸⁾TB Reactors plus Direct Contacts

⁽⁹⁾Data downloaded from State Veterinary Service database on 19 May 2005. All data provisional and subject to change as more data become available.

⁽¹⁰⁾TB Compensation data taken from the Animal Health 2004, Report of the Chief Veterinary Officer, page 161.

⁽¹¹⁾provisional figures data taken from the Animal Health 2004, Report of the Chief Veterinary Officer, page 161.

⁽¹²⁾In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. When testing resumed in 2002, resources were concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also the proportion of high risk herds tested immediately after the FMD outbreak was greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, data for 2001 and 2002 are not comparable with other years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring the UK Government have put in place following the discovery of BSE in a French goat; what discussions she has had with the French government; and if she will make a statement. [8986]

In line with EU legislation agreed following the discovery of BSE in a French goat slaughtered in 2002 and the announcement of a possible UK case slaughtered in 1990 which is subject to further investigations, the UK has arranged for all goats aged over 18 months that die or are put down on farms to be tested for BSE. In addition all goats aged over 18 months slaughtered in abattoirs handling significant numbers of older goats will be tested.

The Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) in its role as Community Reference Laboratory for TSEs is in regular contact with counterparts in France. The Food Standards Agency and Defra, including VLA, met the French Food Safety Agency in June and briefly discussed testing arrangements for goats.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle herds are under restriction orders. [9660]

On 30 April 2005, 4,164 cattle herds were under bovine TB restriction in England. This includes herds under restriction due to a TB breakdown and herds restricted due to an overdue TB test.

In addition, there are currently 36 cattle herds in Great Britain under restriction for cattle identification irregularities. These restrictions will be lifted once the correct identification requirements have been met.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to speed up the proposed en-maining of the Cod Beck and bring it under the Main Rivers category. [9470]

Hambledon district council, have recently completed a feasibility study for a flood risk improvement scheme for Thirsk. The Environment Agency is working with my officials and the council to determine the most appropriate way of promoting such works.

Cod Beck is one of the watercourses for which we plan to transfer responsibility to the Environment Agency on 1 April 2006. If the current classification of the watercourse creates difficulties in proceeding with a possible scheme we shall be prepared to consider bringing forward the proposed transfer date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to reverse declines in the numbers of each most endangered species in England. [9210]

The Department is taking action in many ways. The three key measures are:

(i) Our work under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan which sets out targeted plans for 391 endangered species and 45 habitats across the UK. These plans are delivered by partnerships with the public, voluntary and private sectors. A review of the Action Plan in 2006 will ensure that the list of priority species and habitats remains relevant, and will revise targets for the individual action plans. This will include setting targets at the individual country level.

Under Section 74 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, the Department prepared a list of habitats and species of principal importance in England. The England Biodiversity Strategy, launched by the Secretary of State in 2002, sets out the means by which the Government will comply with its duty under Section 74 to further the conservation of the listed species and habitats, including through the continued implementation of the Action Plans. The Strategy is one of Defra's key programmes;

(ii) Ensuring robust legal protection for endangered species and their habitats thorough legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The Department is currently reviewing Part I of the 1981 Act. This part of the 1981 Act is the principal piece of national legislation protecting our native birds, animals and plants. A consultation on the review was completed in March this year and a number of wildlife measures from the consultation have been included in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Bill;

(iii) Delivery of our PSA targets to bring into favourable condition by 2010 95 per cent. of all nationally important wildlife sites; and to reverse the long term decline in the number of farmland birds by 2020. This is being facilitated through our extensive network of protected sites and the agri-environment schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much EU financial support is available for growing low grade tobacco in 2005–06; what quantities of such tobacco are exported; to which countries; what discussions are taking place on reform of such practices; and if she will make a statement. [9027]

The EU budget provision for tobacco premiums in 2005 is €916 million. Higher grade tobacco attracts a higher premium than tobacco which is of lower quality. The main destinations for export of EU grown tobacco in its raw state are Russia, the United States, the Ukraine, and Egypt. The quantities exported to these and other destinations in 2004 are set out in the following table.

The practice of supporting raw tobacco production is one the UK has consistently opposed and I am pleased to say that from 2006 it is to be phased out. Under the agreement reached by the Council of Ministers in Luxembourg in April 2004, direct support for tobacco will be brought to an end by 2010. Between 2006 and 2010 producer member states will have the option of retaining up to 60 per cent. of the tobacco premium as a coupled payment. From 2010, support will be completely decoupled from production, with 50 per cent. being transferred to the single payment and the remaining 50 per cent. to be used for restructuring programmes under the rural development programme.

EU 15/25 exports of raw tobacco in 2004⁽¹³⁾

⁽¹³⁾EU 15 before 1 May 2004 and EU 25 after 1 May 2004.

Source:

Comext—Eurostat

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will expedite the flood alleviation scheme for (a) Thirsk and (b) other suggested flood defence projects in the area; and if she will relax the point scoring system on the project. [9471]

Defra has overall policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk in England. We fund most of the Environment Agency's activities in this area and provide grant aid on a project-by-project basis to the other flood and coastal defence operating authorities (local authorities and internal drainage boards) to support their investment in improvement works. Improvement projects funded by Defra, including those of the Environment Agency, must meet specified economic, technical and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score" to be eligible for funding. Defra does not build defences, nor direct the authorities on what specific projects to undertake. The works programme to manage risk is driven by the operating authorities.

Defra operates a priority scoring system to ensure that taxpayers' money is spent to best effect and to maximise the benefits achieved from a finite budget available for flood and coastal erosion risk management. The system is designed to be as logical, transparent and equitable as possible, with criteria published on our website. Prioritisation has to be based on risk and while I understand the desire for defences when areas flood, it is not, however, a defensible reason for allowing them to jump the queue ahead of areas where risks of future floods might be greater. Making an exception for Thirsk would clearly depart from the principles of objectivity, fairness and a risk based approach.

A feasibility study has been carried out by Hambleton district council to examine the possibility of a flood alleviation scheme for Thirsk. The best way to take this forward will be explored jointly by Hambleton DC and the Environment Agency, with Defra advice as required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reasons were for the delays in flood warning to be made public in connection with the recent floods in North Yorkshire. [9472]

Responsibility for flood warning arrangements rests with the Environment Agency.

I understand that on Friday 17 June 2005, Met Office forecasts to the Environment Agency indicated the likelihood of thunderstorms across North East Region over the weekend. However, due to the nature of the weather system, the Met Office were unable, even by Sunday lunchtime, to be more specific than to warn that most of the region was at continued risk of thunderstorms from the afternoon into the evening, and they had particular concern about the Pennines.

Three Flash Warnings of heavy rain were issued to the Environment Agency on Sunday 19 June at 13:57, 18:22 and 20:41 BST, but all the information related to scattered heavy thunderstorms", localised torrential downpours" and localised flooding" with no direct time or location given to them.

The Environment Agency was alerted to the onset of property flooding at Thirsk and surrounding areas between 17:30 and 18:00 on 19 June;. While I understand that flooding at this stage was confined to surface water runoff, the Environment Agency nevertheless deployed operational staff to the area to report back on the situation.

At 20:00 on 19 June, alarm levels were received from the Environment Agency's instrumentation on Cod Beck upstream of Thirsk and consequently the Flood Watch for the area was issued at 20:10.

By 21:30, Environment Agency patrol staff on site reported a rapid rise of water levels in Cod Beck and the decision was therefore taken to issue the Flood Warning for Thirsk. The warning for flooding from Cod Beck itself was issued at 21:38 to 184 recipients. By this time there had been some flooding to property as a result of surface water and drainage problems but not from Cod Beck.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make provision for the collection of animal carcasses to be free of cost to farmers following the flooding in North Yorkshire. [9474]

The Department does not have any provision for the free collection of animals lost in the recent flooding. However, although not compulsory, I understand that many farmers already insure their livestock against such eventualities and it is likely that the cost of collection and disposal of dead stock will be met by the insurance companies concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 552W, on fly-tipping, if she will break the figures down by (a) location and (b) type for (i) each region and (ii) each London borough. [8420]

The following data are from the Flycapture database which was established in April 2004 to record all fly-tips reported to and dealt with by waste collection authorities and the Environment Agency.

It is important to note that the data are probably an underestimate and will increase as more authorities submit returns and get better at collecting and reporting the data.

Table 1: Number of fly-tipping incidents in each English region by land type

Notes:

1.Fly-tipping data based on returns reported to the Flycapture database between April 2004 and March 2005.

2.No data are shown where an authority has failed to submit returns.

Table 2: Number of fly-tipping incidents in each English region by waste type

Notes:

1.Fly-tipping data based on returns reported to the Flycapture database between April 2004 and March 2005.

2.No data are shown where an authority has failed to submit returns.

Table 3: Number of fly-tipping incidents in each London borough by land type

Notes:

1.Fly-tipping data based on returns reported to the Flycapture database between April 2004 and March 2005.

2.No data are shown where an authority has failed to submit returns.

Table 4: Number of fly-tipping incidents in each London borough by waste type

Notes:

1.Fly-tipping data based on returns reported to the Flycapture database between April 2004 and March 2005.

2.No data are shown where an authority has failed to submit returns.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) value and (b) weight of fruit grown in the UK was in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by type of fruit. [9599]

Information on the value and weight of fruit grown in the UK for the calendar year 2004 is presented in the following table.

Value and weight of UK produced fruit for 2004

⁽¹⁴⁾includes gooseberries, red and blackcurrants, loganberries and blackberries

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the extent of (a) exploitation and (b) criminal activity by labour providers operating in second stage processing. [9571]

As indicated in the Consultation Document on the draft Gangmasters (Exclusions) Regulations 2005 published on 28 February 2005, Defra has commissioned research to assess the extent of worker exploitation or illegal activity involving labour providers who supply workers to undertake second stage processing. A draft report has been received and we intend to publish this once it has been finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial resources her Department plans to invest in enforcing the criminal offences of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 (a) in the present financial year and (b) in the next three financial years; how many officers in her Department will have responsibilities for enforcing the criminal offences of the Act; how many of these enforcement officers will be existing staff; how many will be additional recruits; and what proportion of their time she estimates will be spent on enforcing the Act. [9572]

The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 makes the Secretary of State responsible for appointing officers to enforce the criminal offences that the Act establishes. It is currently our intention to appoint officers of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to undertake enforcement activities on behalf of Defra. The Regulatory Impact assessment that accompanied the Act indicated that the cost of enforcing the new legislation would be £2 million in a full year. This would enable the creation of an enforcement team of some 20staff plus associated legal support. It is envisaged that the enforcement team will be additional to existingGovernment funded enforcement resources. Gangmaster Licensing Authority staff involved in enforcement work may have other duties. However in aggregate the resource available to undertake enforcement work should equate to some 20 full-time equivalents in a full year.

It is anticipated that the offences of operating as a gangmaster without a licence and using an unlicensed gangmaster will be triggered in summer 2006. Enforcement capabilities will be built up gradually over the intervening period with the intention that the enforcement team will be at full strength when the offences come into effect. A programme for recruiting and training enforcement officers is being developed and funding will be made available in the current and next financial year to support this programme. We anticipate that the enforcement team's first full year of operation will be 2007–08 and that from that year onwards, expenditure on enforcement activities will be some £2 million per annum. It is not intended to seek to recover the cost of enforcement activities through licence fee income.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what position the Government took on each of the votes at the recent meeting of EU environment ministers on Commission proposals to require countries to lift national bans on specified GM crops. [8735]

The UK voted to support the Commission decisions calling for the member states to withdraw their safeguard actions invoked under Article 23 of Directive 2001/18 because the scientific evidence provided does not justify taking such action. While the UK is very willing to consider any evidence that restrictions on specified GM crops could be justified, no new evidence was submitted to back such a case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how each EU country voted at the Environment Council in respect of the Commission proposal to rescind national bans on GM crops; and for what reasons the UK voted as it did. [9477]

holding answer 4 July 2005

The majority of member states either voted against the Commission proposals to rescind national bans on certain specified GM crops, or abstained. The formal record of the Council meeting has not yet been published, so I cannot yet confirm how each member state voted . However once this information is available, I shall place a copy in the Library.

While the UK is always ready to consider new information relating to the risk assessment of approved GMOs, the UK voted to support the Commission decisions because in our view the actions taken by the member states to invoke safeguard actions are not justified by the scientific evidence and are not in compliance with the terms of Directive 2001/18. Under the terms of the Deliberate Release Directive safeguard action may only be taken if adequate scientific evidence is provided to justify the claim. In these cases the UK Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment agree with the European Food Safety Authority that no new evidence has been brought forward for consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average amount spent by each household in England on water supplies was in the last period for which figures are available. [8996]

Average household bills are only available for England and Wales combined as the boundaries of water and sewerage companies do not follow national boundaries. In 2005–06 households will spend on average £134 on water supplies and the average amount households will spend on sewerage is £144. The total average household bill for water and sewerage in England and Wales is £278.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead of 21 June 2005, Official Report, column 887W, on nuclear waste, what the location is of the radioactive waste in Portsmouth; how much material is stored; how long it has been stored in this location; from where the material originated; who is responsible for the security of the site; and if she will make a statement. [8630]

Information about the amount of intermediate (ILW) and low level (LLW) radioactive waste held in the UK, including that held at HM Naval Base Portsmouth, is regularly published in the UK Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory which provides periodic snapshots of waste stocks. The latest edition for 2001 was published in 2002. However, MOD has provided additional information to answer some of the hon. Member's questions.

At HM Naval Base Portsmouth solid LLW, very low-level (VLLW) and small quantities of ILW, are securely stored in a radioactive storehouse facility under the radiological control of the MOD Naval Base Radiation Safety Officer. The Inventory indicates that 3 cubic meters of LLW and less than 0.1 cubic meters of ILW are stored. ILW and LLW is stored for a maximum of three years before it is removal from the site, while VLLW is either disposed of immediately or stored for a period not exceeding 14 days.

The wastes primarily consists of naval equipment, such as dials, gauges, compasses and gaseous tritium light sources, which have been removed from naval vessels that have left service and are in the process of disposal. In addition, small quantities of LLW are also stored at the Naval Base on behalf of the Institute of Naval Medicine.

Security of the stored radioactive waste is maintained through the Captain of the Base.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the consultation on primates as pets. [10601]

The question of keeping primates as pets will be considered as part of a wider consultation on the proposed use of the Government's powers under Article 8.2 of Council Regulation 338/97, which is planned for the end of July.

Under this power EU member states may take measures to prohibit the keeping of endangered species, including primates, although such action must be broadly consistent with the conservation objectives of the Regulation as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs following the release by NIREX on 10 June of the list drawn up by its consultants of 537 sites across the country deemed potentially geologically suitable to locate a nuclear waste disposal repository, if she will make it her policy to postpone for three months the deadline of 27 June set by the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management prior to the release of the list, for responses to its current second stage public consultation on radioactive waste management options. [9450]

holding answer 5 July 2005

No. This previous site selection exercise was abandoned in 1997. UK Government and the devolved administrations subsequently established the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), under the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely" programme, to provide recommendation on the best option, or combination of options, for the long-term management of the UK's higher activity radioactive waste. CoRWM will deliver its recommendation by July 2006, in light of which future policy will be decided. Government have said that once the requirements for any future facility, or facilities, is known, in light of that policy decision, there will be an open and transparent discussion of the process and criteria to be adopted for site selection. The old Nirex list will not be the starting point for any future site selection process. There is no site selection process currently on-going. Hence there is no need or justification for extending the deadline for CoRWM's latest round of consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received about the Canadian seal hunt. [6587]

We have no record of representations received about the Canadian seal hunt as Defra officials forward any such correspondence or queries to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who deal with this issue.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise me that during the past 12 months (July 2004 to July 2005), they have received the following representations in relation to the seal hunt in Canada:

Letters from members of the public: 20

Letters from Members of Parliament: 24

Meetings with Foreign Office Ministers: 1

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether compensation payments to sugar beet growers will be paid at the same rate as to other EU growers; and whether the proposed mechanism for payment includes mandatory decoupling. [8363]

Proposals published by the European Commission on 22 June as part of a package of sugar reform measures include an amendment to Council Regulation 1782/2003 which provides the legal framework for the Single Payment Scheme (SPS). That amendment would provide for new decoupled income support for beet growers which would be integrated into the model of the SPS that member state have already adopted. National financial ceilings for the SPS will be raised accordingly, by amounts calculated with reference to member states' sugar production quota levels. It follows that payment rates for sugar beet growers will not be uniform across the EU any more than they are in the SPS at the moment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the number of households in Essex which have water meters. [9257]

Information on the number of households with water meters is not available by county. The Office of Water Services (Ofwat) collects the information for each water company. In 2005–06 there are expected to be 258,000 households that have water meters in Essex and Suffolk Water's supply area.

These figures are published in Ofwat's Tariff structure and charges 2005–06 report'.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will press Norway to stop commercial whaling. [7905]

We will continue to press Norway to desist from commercial whaling, which we believe contrary to the spirit of the International Whaling Commission moratorium. We made our objections very clear with regard to Norwegian whaling at the recent annual International Whaling Commission meeting in Korea. I also raised the matter with the Norwegian Fisheries Minister during a visit to Norway in November 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make representations to Yorkshire Water to ensure that regular maintenance is carried out on all pipes, drains and waterways. [9475]