To ask the Leader of the House what percentage of questions tabled by hon. Members remained unanswered after a month in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by Department. (106834)

This information is not collected centrally. My Office monitors the performance of Departments in answering questions, but does not hold detailed statistics on a comparable basis. Individual Departments are responsible for keeping their own records on the timeliness of answers and providing this information to the House when requested by the Public Administration Select Committee or through Members’ questions.

The last available figures for my Office relate to the whole of the last session. These show that 100 per cent. of the 188 ordinary written questions tabled were answered within a working week and 100 per cent. of the 71 named day questions tabled were answered on the date specified. No questions remained unanswered after a month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the England Rural Development Programme 2007-13 promotes higher animal welfare standards; and if he will make a statement. (106728)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 23 November 2006, Official Report, column 156W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what status in potential court actions the proposed codes relating to welfare of animal species will have under the Animal Welfare Bill.[R] (106853)

The proposed codes relating to welfare of animal species under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 are intended primarily to help animal owners and keepers understand the welfare needs of their animals. Failure to comply with a code will not, in itself, constitute an offence. However, evidence of non-compliance with a code may be used by the courts in deciding whether a person has committed an offence under the other provisions of the Act. Similarly, a code could be used by the defence to support any claim of compliance with the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what his most recent estimate is of (a) the number of batteries used by UK households and (b) the number of batteries collected for recycling from UK households in each year since 1997, broken down by battery type; and if he will make a statement; (106425)

Recent consultancy work, carried out on behalf of DEFRA, estimates that 24,850 tonnes of household batteries were sold in the UK in 2003. The great majority of these were alkaline manganese and zinc carbon varieties. There has been no legislative requirement for waste household batteries to be separately collected and detailed statistics have not therefore been kept. However, we estimate that various local voluntary schemes have resulted in a capture rate of less than 2 per cent.

The Batteries and Accumulators Directive (2006/66/EC) came into force on 26 September 2006. Member states have two years to transpose this measure into national law. This is a “producer responsibility” directive and, as such, the onus on collection and recycling will fall on battery producers in the first instance. However, local authorities are also likely to play a role given their current involvement in the collection of household waste. The exact form this may take will not be decided until the completion of formal domestic consultation with all parties concerned.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is currently working in partnership with a range of local authorities and not-for-profit organisations which already run recycling collection services on a number of pilot battery collection schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of greenhouse gas emissions came from cows in the last period for which figures are available; and what plans he has to reduce such emissions. (106300)

Agriculture as a whole contributes 7 per cent. of all UK greenhouse gas emissions and 14 per cent. globally. The sector accounts for 36 per cent. of methane and 67 per cent. of nitrous oxide emissions in the UK, but only 1 per cent. of carbon dioxide. About 80 per cent. of this methane comes from enteric fermentation in the digestive system of animals (sheep, pigs and bovines), and 20 per cent. from animal waste. Methane emissions from agriculture have declined by 12 per cent. since 1990.

Recent research suggests that substantial methane reductions could be achieved by changes to feed regimes. Improving the longevity of dairy cows will also result in decreased methane production as a result of a reduction in the total number of animals needed to produce the same quantity of milk.

Defra is exploring the role of anaerobic digestion in reducing methane emissions in agriculture, both domestically and internationally. For example, we are taking a leading role in the Methane to Markets Partnership, an international initiative that advances cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and its use as a clean energy source.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking through the EU to address the carbon outputs of (a) Luxembourg, (b) Spain and (c) Portugal. (107118)

The UK works closely with the European Commission and other member states to ensure that we are on target to meet our Kyoto Protocol targets.

The Commission recently announced decisions on the National Allocation Plans for phase II of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme of 10 member states. A number of member states were asked to undertake further work and the Commission is looking for significant further reductions in emissions. The framework under which the decisions have been taken has been set out clearly, which the UK welcomes.

This framework sets a standard for the National Allocation Plans yet to be submitted and assessed. The Commission has made clear the importance of using the Emissions Trading Scheme to achieve Kyoto targets and to make good use of the available potential for emissions reductions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) which projects are supported by his Department through carbon offsetting schemes; and where each project is located; (106899)

[holding answer 4 December 2006]: DEFRA is taking the lead on offsetting emissions associated with the UK’s presidency of the G8 in 2005, to help ensure that the presidency is carbon-neutral. All of last year’s G8-associated meetings, including the G8 summit, were included in the DEFRA-led carbon offsetting initiative. The calculations included the emissions associated with air travel, local transport, energy use at venues and accommodation, and waste production.

To offset these emissions, the Government have agreed to purchase 10,000 Certified Emission Reductions from the Kuyasa low-income housing energy upgrade project in Cape Town, South Africa. This is the first Clean Development Mechanism project to be registered in Africa, and the first Gold Standard project to be registered anywhere in the world.

DEFRA is also responsible for administering the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund, which offsets all official and ministerial air travel of all central Government Departments (except the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which have their own offsetting schemes). Proceeds from the Fund will be used to purchase Certified Emission Reduction credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that are based in developing countries and accredited under the Clean Development Mechanism. The organisations and specific projects that will be involved will be finalised soon and more details will be included in an announcement to be made shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with farming organisations on the use of farmland for carbon sequestration. (106296)

While carbon sequestration by forestry is a useful tool for offsetting some greenhouse gas emissions, sequestration in cropland and pasture through new management practices is less certain. This is because new management practices have to be followed for a substantial period of time in order to record additional carbon storage. Also, several years of stored carbon could be released by a change of practice in just one season.

A more important issue is protecting the 10 billion tonnes of carbon held in UK soils, especially upland peat soils, from release through soil erosion and inappropriate management practices such as over-grazing. For example, allowing the peat soils of the High Peak to dry out would alone release carbon equivalent to 270 million vehicle miles.

Defra is undertaking research to understand fully the issues on sequestration and protection of carbon stores. We are considering how to ensure agri-environment measures address this problem and are engaging with stakeholders, notably through the Rural Climate Change Forum, to ensure full understanding between the Government and industry on this problem.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the Common Fisheries Policies on cetaceans; and what mitigation measures are currently under discussion at EU level. (106743)

European Council Regulation (EC) 812/2004 lays down measures concerning incidental catches of cetaceans in fisheries. The Regulation makes the use of acoustic deterrent devices ("pingers") mandatory for vessels over 12 meters in length, involved in fixed-gear fisheries in the Celtic Sea Channel and Western Waters. It also sets up mandatory observer schemes to increase our knowledge of by-catch in fisheries.

Unfortunately, there has been a delay in implementing pingers because studies of their effectiveness, costs and availability indicate that there are currently no devices suitable for use. A discussion was held at a Council Working Group on 27 September which recognised that, because of deployment problems in certain fisheries, some member states could not currently implement pingers as required. However, the group recommended that member states should continue work towards developing a suitable pinger.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provision he expects to make for pre-legislative scrutiny of the Climate Change Bill. (107488)

[holding answer 4 December 2006]: We are determined to promote the widest possible debate, in the Houses of Parliament and across the country, about the contents of the Climate Change Bill. This will ensure that all views are taken into consideration when the terms of the Bill are drafted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which officials represented the Government at the recent United Nations climate change talks in Nairobi; and what assessment he has made of the outcome of the talks. (106887)

The UK delegation to the twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the second session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto protocol, in Nairobi, was led by the Secretary of State. It also included officials from DEFRA, the Department for Trade and Industry, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development, the Scottish Executive and Her Majesty’s Treasury.

The conference took important steps forward in the battle against climate change. However, greater urgency and momentum need to be injected into the international negotiations to secure a global agreement that builds on the first Kyoto commitment period, which ends in 2012, and ensures there is no gap between commitment periods.

In addition, I refer the hon. Member to the statement by the Secretary of State on 21 November 2006, Official Report, columns 38-39WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people in his Department work in (a) environment, (b) agriculture, (c) rural affairs and (d) food. (104395)

The number of staff (in full-time equivalents) in the policy areas of the Department as at 31 October was as follows:

It is not possible to provide a breakdown of numbers precisely into the areas requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether people employed (a) through employment agencies and (b) on a consultancy basis are included in the calculations for the full-time equivalent staff mentioned in his Department’s annual report. (102987)

People employed through employment agencies and on a consultancy basis are not included in the calculations for the full-time equivalent staff mentioned in the Department’s annual report as they are not members of DEFRA staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department’s (a) budget and (b) outturn expenditure was in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. (103320)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 6 November 2006, Official Report, column 704W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to his intervention of 7 November 2006, Official Report, column 721, if he will give further details of the (a) accounting changes and (b) pressures of previous years which have contributed £65 million and between £70 million to £80 million respectively to his Department’s funding deficit of £200 million. (102143)

The accounting changes arose from clarification and application of Treasury consolidated budgeting guidance rules. This guidance set out constraints over movements between sub-control totals within departmental resource budgets.

The pressures from previous years have been previously summarised. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 6 November 2006, Official Report, column 730W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with farming organisations on the impact on farmers of the introduction of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. (106295)

The agricultural sector is not covered under the present EU Emissions Trading Scheme, and so is not directly affected by it.

However, as part of the Government’s commitment in the UK Climate Change Programme 2006, we will examine the scope and feasibility of a market-based mechanism. This will need to be compatible with our aspirations for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, to facilitate trading of greenhouse gas reductions from agriculture and other land management sectors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance has been given by the Department to farming food collaboration partnerships over the last financial year, broken down by partnership. (103315)

Farming and food enterprises are eligible for various types of assistance from DEFRA. For the most part, it is not possible to distinguish between those enterprises in receipt of assistance which have a collaborative or co-operative business structure, and other business types.

DEFRA also provides indirect assistance to collaborative enterprises through its support for English Farming and Food Partnerships (EFFP). The aim of EFFPs is to make collaboration work through the growth of market-focused and professionally run farmer-controlled businesses. They also develop co-operation and partnership activities between farmers and the rest of the supply chain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to grant a trial for genetically modified potatoes in England; and if he will make a statement. (106302)

We have recently granted a consent, to the company BASF, to conduct research trials of a genetically modified blight-resistant potato. The trials will start in 2007 and take place at two sites in England; one in Derbyshire and one in Cambridgeshire. The independent Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) has confirmed that these trials do not give rise to any health or environmental concerns. The statutory consent details and ACRE’s advice are available on the DEFRA website at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/regulation/consents/index.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on the protection of harbour porpoises under the Habitation Directive in 2006; and if he will make a statement. (106491)

The Department has had no direct discussions with the European Commission regarding protection of harbour porpoises. However, harbour porpoises are a European Protected Species and we are committed to their conservation.

We consider the impacts of all marine developments on harbour porpoise. For example, my Department’s Marine Consents and Environment Unit is currently assessing the potential risk to porpoises in relation to an application for a licence pertaining to the construction of an offshore wind-farm in Swansea Bay.

We are also contributing to the development of a harbour porpoise recovery plan for the North Sea through the Agreement on Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Sea.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many of the inspectors employed by his Department on animal welfare and animal aspects of cross-compliance are (a) qualified and (b) not qualified as veterinary surgeons; (106180)

Responsibility for cross-compliance inspections is divided between the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), the state veterinary service (SVS) and the Environment Agency (EA).

The RPA employs over 260 multi-skilled farm inspectors who carry out livestock identification checks which involve physical ear-tag reading in the presence of the livestock handler. Veterinary training is not required. However, all RPA inspectors have had training and experience in working safely with livestock, and animal welfare issues form part of their training.

The SVS has over 200 qualified veterinary surgeons and a similar number of technical staff. Technical staff carry out cross-compliance inspections regarding restrictions on the use of substances that have a hormonal or thyrostatic action and beta-agonists on farm animals. Responsibility for cross-compliance inspections on the control of animal diseases lies mainly with veterinary staff, although they are assisted by technical staff. Inspections for animal welfare requirements, which come into force in 2007, will be carried out by veterinary staff.

The Environment Agency is responsible for carrying out inspections in relation to groundwater, sewage sludge and nitrate vulnerable zones. Approximately 170 appropriately trained inspectors have undertaken work on cross-compliance as part of their duties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the 10 top performing councils have spent on external (a) advisers, (b) lawyers and (c) consultants in each of the last five years. (104791)

I have been asked to reply.

The information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will investigate the extent to which fines levied on county councils in two-tier authority areas are passed on to and paid by district councils; and if he will make a statement. (106865)

Assuming the hon. Member’s question relates to the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme, no penalties have been imposed to date under this scheme. All waste disposal authorities in England met their obligations in 2005-06 to landfill, and were within the limits of the allowances they held.

More generally, DEFRA has no plans to investigate the extent to which penalties levied on county councils in two-tier authority areas are passed on to, and paid by, district councils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effect of central and eastern European migrant workers on UK agriculture. (106299)

Migrant workers from countries which acceded to the EU in May 2004 have made a significant contribution to UK agriculture. According to the Government’s Accession Monitoring Report, between May 2004 and September 2006, 56,230 workers from the new member states registered under the Workers Registration Scheme to work in agriculture. Many of these took up jobs which UK farmers and growers have traditionally found hard to fill.

Bulgaria and Romania accede to the EU on 1 January 2007. From that date preference for places on the two low-skilled migration schemes for non-EU workers (the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme and the Sectors Based Scheme) will be given to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals, subject to a cap on the combined existing quota of 20,000. It is anticipated that Bulgarian and Romanian workers will also play an important role in addressing the recruitment difficulties experienced by farmers and growers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) has been formally notified of cases of illegal trade in plant protection products in each of the last three years; and on how many occasions such notification led to enforcement action being taken by the PSD. (106883)

There is no formal procedure for notifying cases of “illegal” parallel imports of plant protection products. However, PSD has, since November 2003, been informed of and investigated 23 cases involving parallel imports as shown:

Enforcement action has or is being taken in eight cases and a further six cases are still under investigation pending possible enforcement action. Enforcement action has not been taken in nine cases because of lack of evidence of an offence basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much energy consumed by his Department is acquired from renewable sources. (106157)

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs currently acquires 62.3 per cent. of its electricity from certified renewable sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much his Department plans to spend on an additional two prototype boats to skim River Thames sewage; and if he will make a statement; (107047)

[holding answer 4 December 2006]: DEFRA does not hold this information. Thames Water is in the process of developing prototype boats to skim off in-river sewage—derived litter. Therefore, the cost and maximum capacity of the vessels is a matter for Thames Water.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding was allocated to the Rural Stress Information Network in 2005-06; and how much it will receive in 2006-07. (106429)

The Rural Stress Information Network (RSIN) acts as DEFRA’s agent in administering the Rural Stress Action Plan. Separately, they receive funding for projects under the plan. The following table sets out the amounts in 2005-07.

In addition, RSIN received £20,000 in extra funds from DEFRA in early 2006 to boost rural support organisations in their capacity to deal with issues arising from the delays in payment to farmers under the Single Payment Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the process is for considering payments under the single farm payment regime to farmers who have holdings in England and Scotland; and when such farmers will receive their payment awards. (106286)

Farmers are advised to complete an English SPS application in respect of their English land details, and the relevant devolved paying agency SPS application form in respect of any land that lies in another region. Guidance also states that both claims should be sent together to the paying agency where most of the land lies. This paying agency will also be responsible for making the single payment.

Once the application forms have been received by the paying agency they enter all the land parcel details on the system, and then forward the non-English application to the other UK paying agency so the details can be validated. This agency will then validate the application and inform the processing Department/agency of the results.

Once all the claim has been validated and the payment window is open the claim will be paid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how his Department calculated the figure of £131 million for contingent liabilities in its 2005-06 accounts for errors and procedural mistakes in administering the single payment scheme. (102144)

A full disclosure of the potential financial risk attached to any errors and procedural mistakes in administering the Single Payment Scheme are set out in DEFRA’s resource accounts for 2005-06 as laid before Parliament on 30 October 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what EU guidance his Department bases its policy for managing breaches of the 5 per cent. heifer rule under the Suckler Cow Scheme 2003. (106557)

The requirement to maintain a minimum of 5 per cent. heifers within a claim under the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme (SCPS) is contained within Council Regulation (EC) No. 1512/2001 which amends Council Regulation No. 1254/1999.

Article 1(6) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1512/2001, which amends Council Regulation No. 1254/1999, sets out the minimum heifer percentage for scheme year 2003:

"However, for the years 2002 and 2003, the number of heifers to be kept shall be equal to at least 15 per cent. of the total number of animals for which the premium is requested.

In the United Kingdom, the obligation to keep a minimum number of heifers is not applicable in 2002 and is limited to 5 per cent. in 2003."

If a claimant fails to meet the minimum heifer percentage, then the number of animals on which premium can be paid is reduced. This is in accordance with Article 36 (1) of Commission Regulation (EC) 2419/2001, which states that

“Where an individual limit or individual ceiling is applicable, the number of animals shown in the aid applications shall be reduced to the limit or ceiling set for the farmer concerned.”

In order to ensure uniform implementation of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2419/2001, working document AGRI 49530/2002 and its accompanying Additional Information Notes (AIN) 1 to 6 were issued by Commission Services. AIN 6 describes how to manage cases where the foreseen split between cows and heifers is not respected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on which date his Department first received guidance from (a) the European Commission and (b) other EU agencies on how to manage breaches of the 5 per cent. heifer rule under the Suckler Cow Scheme 2003. (106558)

Council Regulation (EC) No. 1512/2001, which set out the minimum heifer percentage for 2003, is dated 23 July 2001 and came into force on 1 January 2002.

Working document AGRI 49530/2002 and its accompanying additional information notes were distributed at the IACS experts group meeting held in Brussels on 2 May 2002. Commission services later issued a slightly amended revision; AGRI 49530/2002-Rev.1 is dated 21 November 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will set up a working party on tail docking when the consultation is completed. (106399)

There are no plans to set up such a group. We intend to lay the regulations before Parliament immediately after the consultation responses have been considered. This is to ensure that they are brought into force in line with section six of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which bans tail docking with an exemption for working dogs.

The main principles of the ban on tail docking were thoroughly debated in Parliament and decided by a free vote of hon. Members during the passage of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The regulations will be made via the affirmative procedure and will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny in both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of how many trees were planted in each region of England in each of the last five years. (107011)

Information on the number of trees planted in each region is not collected. However, we do know the area of woodland created and the area restocked after felling that has been grant aided by the Forestry Commission and the area of woodland creation and restocking carried out by the Forestry Commission itself. These figures are given in the following tables. In addition planting is carried out in connection to development and by a large range of bodies, including the voluntary sector and local government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what requests he has received from Georgina Downs of the UK Pesticides Campaign for a meeting since May 2006; whether he intends to have such a meeting; and if he will make a statement. (106903)

[holding answer 4 December 2006]: Requests from Ms Downs for a meeting were received by the Secretary of State and Lord Rooker on 6 and 15 May 2006 respectively. Lord Rooker replied to both letters on 7 June stating that as Minister responsible for pesticides he would meet with Ms Downs in due course and this meeting took place on 31 July 2006. A further request from Ms Downs for a meeting was received by the Secretary of State on 13 September and a response declining this invitation was sent by the Secretary of State on 3 October. Ms Downs had also met with Lord Bach, who was previously responsible for pesticides, on 18 July 2005 and 11 January 2006.

Neither the Secretary of State nor Lord Rooker have current plans for a meeting with Ms Downs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guarantees are offered to householders who have had new central heating systems installed by the EAGA group under the Warm Front grants scheme. (107043)

[holding answer 4 December 2006]: Under the Warm Front scheme, gas central heating installations and gas replacement boilers receive two years’ breakdown cover and two annual service visits.

Gas repairs that cost more than £250 receive two years’ breakdown cover and two annual service visits. Gas repairs that cost less than £250 are subject to a one year cover from the contracted installer.

Oil central heating and electric systems are subject to a one year cover from the contracted installer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average length of time was between submission of an application for a warm front grant and the relevant works being completed in the latest period for which figures are available. (107044)

[holding answer 4 December 2006]: From June 2005 to October 2006, the average time across England for a warm front survey to take place, after initial contact was made by the applicant, was 14 working days.

The average time for completion of applications where heating work was required, from initial contact to all measures being installed, was 95 working days.

The average time for completion of applications where only insulation was required, from initial contact to measures being installed, was 48 working days.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to ensure that householders who have received warm front grants are entitled to a fully itemised list of all works completed. (107045)

[holding answer 4 December 2006]: When a household is recommended for energy efficiency measures under warm front, the householder will initially receive an indication, from a scheme manager assessor, of those measures that could potentially be carried out.

The contractor appointed to undertake the work will then perform a full survey and provide the warm front scheme manager with a list of required materials, and an indication of the labour requirements to undertake the work.

Upon the householder's request, the scheme manager will provide a fully itemised list of all the works to be undertaken and the total cost of these works. For commercial confidentiality reasons, individual material prices are not shared.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) waste minimisation schemes and (b) the Real Nappy Programme in encouraging people to produce less waste; (106401)

[holding answer 30 November 2006]: The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) recently published an Achievement Report. This included details of progress made on minimising waste through composting, reusable nappies, and in the retail sector. Progress made included:

(i) signing up 92 per cent. of UK grocery retailers to the Courtauld Commitment to reduce packaging and food waste

(ii) recruiting an additional 335,000 households as home composters

(iii) diverting 22,954 tonnes of biodegradable nappy waste from landfill.

The Report is available from the WRAP website at:

http://www.wrap.org.uk/wrap_corporate/about_wrap/wraps.html.

As WRAP’s work on reusable nappies started in 2003, it is too early to say what long-term changes there have been in consumer behaviour. The challenge in relation to reusable nappies, because of the convenience of disposable nappies, was recognised from the outset. I understand that WRAP will be preparing a report on lessons learnt from the campaign in the spring of 2007.

Each of the elements of WRAP’s work on waste minimisation has produced valuable experience of how to influence consumer behaviour in making choices which reduce the amount of waste created.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government’s estimate is of how long existing landfill sites in England will be able to meet waste disposal needs. (107012)

There is sufficient landfill capacity in England to meet current waste disposal needs. Future capacity is difficult to predict. However, a number of Government policies are designed to significantly reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill.

More challenging waste targets, progressively lower landfill limits and the escalating landfill tax will all help the UK to move away from its reliance on landfill. These measures will also encourage more sustainable waste management through greater reduction, reuse and recycling.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what impact the decision to allow Folkestone and Dover Water Services to require households to have water meters has had on (a) the number of households with water meters installed and (b) the volume of water used; and if he will make a statement. (107426)

Following Folkestone and Dover Water Services' successful application for water scarcity status, determined on 1 March 2006, the company is able to compulsorily meter its customers for the 10-year period from 1 April 2006. The company plans to begin using these additional powers from January 2007, so there has been no impact on the number of households metered or the volume of water used, as yet.

During 2005-06, Folkestone and Dover Water Services installed 1,441 optional household meters and 2,108 selective household meters. Ofwat reported that by the end of the 2005-06 reporting year, 45.7 per cent. of the company's households were metered.

The impact of the decision to grant water scarcity status to Folkestone and Dover Water Services on the number of households with water meters will be reported to Ofwat for the first full year of reporting in June 2007. The information will be published in Ofwat's annual report “Security of supply, leakage and water efficiency” next year. The company plans to have 90 per cent. of its households metered by the end of the 10-year period.

The company estimates that metering households can reduce their water usage by up to 15 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to support the dualling of the A15 east trunk road between Glinton and Gunthorpe, east of Peterborough; and if he will make a statement. (107667)

The A15 between Glinton and Gunthorpe is not a trunk road and so is the responsibility of Peterborough city council as local highway authority. Their second Local Transport Plan, published in March 2006, currently being assessed by the Department for Transport, proposes incremental improvements beginning with dualling the section between junction 21 (Gunthorpe) and junction 20 (Werrington). The Department for Communities and Local Government announced approval on 3 August 2006 of Growth Area Funds to the sum of £5.85 million for this work. The target date for completion is March 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans (a) to resurface and (b) to remove the subsidence on the A630 Sheffield Parkway between the city of Sheffield and the M1 motorway. (106964)

I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 16 October 2006, Official Report, column 913W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many aircraft movements there have been into and out of (a) Southampton, (b) Gatwick, (c) Heathrow and (d) Farnborough airports in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. (107086)

Information on aircraft movements into and out of Southampton, Gatwick and Heathrow in each of the last ten years is published in table 3.2 of the publication “UK Airports Statistics: 2005” which can be found on the Civil Aviation Authority's website:

www.caa.co.uk/statistics

Data for Farnborough airport are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the annual number of aircraft movements over Basingstoke has been in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. (107081)

This information is not held by the Department for Transport. If the hon. Member writes to the chief executive of National Air Traffic Services Ltd., they will provide the information requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what altitude commercial aircraft are permitted to fly over Basingstoke; whether this has changed in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. (107082)

The base of controlled airspace over Basingstoke is 5,500 feet. Commercial aircraft flying within controlled airspace under the control of NATS would be above this level. There have been no changes to the vertical dimensions in this portion of controlled airspace within the last 10 years.

Commercial aircraft may also operate outside controlled airspace below 5,500 feet. Such traffic may use one of the aerodromes in the vicinity of Basingstoke including Farnborough, Blackbushe and Lasham. Commercial aircraft arriving at Farnborough, for example, would be at least 1,800 feet in the vicinity of Basingstoke.

Aircraft may not fly below 1,000 feet over built up areas without written permission from the CAA. The minimum height was changed from 1,500 feet in 2005 after extensive consultation by the CAA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many blue badges for children under two years old have been authorised by local authorities in England in each of the last 10 years; (102014)

Under the regulations governing the Blue Badge Scheme in England local authorities are not authorised to issue blue badges to children under the age of two. This rule was introduced in 1983 and there are no exemptions to that rule.

However, following a comprehensive review of the Blue Badge Scheme, we accepted a recommendation from our statutory advisers, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), to extend eligibility to children under two whose medical needs require the transport of bulky, essential medical equipment. This change, along with a number of others, requires amendments to secondary legislation and we are hoping to consult on draft regulations in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for a Christmas drink-driving campaign; and if he will make a statement. (106862)

For details of the Department’s THINK! Christmas drink-drive campaign, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) on 21 November 2006, Official Report, column 38W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department collects on pollution levels in the vicinity of the toll booths on the Dartford-Thurrock crossing, broken down by (a) hour of the day, (b) month and (c) season. (107517)

An annual survey of air quality in the toll booths is carried out. However the results are not broken down by (a) hour of the day, (b) month and (c) season.

The results of this annual survey are compared with the Health and Safety Executive’s Occupational Exposure Standards (OES). The most recent survey, completed in August 2006, showed that all the results achieved the OES.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanisms are in place to ensure that foreign hauliers contribute towards the environmental costs of their work in the UK. (104570)

We are taking forward plans for distance-based lorry charging as part of our wider work on national road pricing. Road pricing has the potential to reflect the wider costs which lorries impose in the UK, especially congestion costs.

All EU registered lorries operating in the UK have to pay at least the EU prescribed minimum levels of fuel duty and vehicle excise duty, thus contributing towards the costs which they impose.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to hold a public consultation on (a) a third runway and (b) ending runway alteration at Heathrow airport; when he expects such consultations to take place; and if he will make a statement. (104799)

We plan to consult next year on possible further development of Heathrow, following completion of our assessment of the environmental impacts. The consultation will address the impacts of a third runway. In the Air Transport White Paper we supported this in principle, provided key conditions can be met. Consultation will also cover the scope for greater utilisation of the two existing runways, which would involve loss of runway alternation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received on helicopter noise; and if he will make a statement; (106035)

The Department receives complaints from time to time about the noise arising from helicopter operations, particularly in the summer months.

The London Assembly Environment Committee’s report “London in a spin—A review of helicopter noise” was received with interest by the Department. The Department has no immediate plans to regulate helicopters more closely. The recommendations in the report are substantial and I will be meeting with representatives of the Committee in December to discuss these further.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking in response to the findings of the first phase of the study it commissioned into wheel loss; and when his Department intends to commission phase 2 of the study. (107847)

Following the completion of phase 1 of the wheel loss study (which looked at the scale of the problem and current operator practices), we have published the report and are sharing it with the operating industry. We shall also present it to the group of international experts at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe meeting in February 2007.

A further phase of research is planned. Department for Transport officials are currently finalising the specification for this. Allowing time to complete the specification and for the tendering process, I would expect the contract to be awarded early in 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his proposal for M6 widening between junctions 11A and 19 will be subject to a carbon dioxide assessment over a 60-year period before entering into the Targeted Programme of Improvements. (106661)

The M6 widening (11a to 19) scheme is being appraised using DFT’s recently modified standard Transport Analysis Guidance which requires the change in carbon emissions over a 60-year period to be estimated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent evaluation he has made of the (a) environmental and (b) economic effects of his Department's plans to widen the M6 between junctions 11A and 19. (106944)

The Highways Agency is continuing to develop the option to widen the M6 between junctions 11a and 19 following the announcement in July 2006 that further work should focus solely on this rather than the Expressway concept. As part of this development work, further evaluation of the environmental and economic effects of the plans is being undertaken to enable the scheme to be considered for programme entry. Statutory environmental organisations will be consulted in due course as part of this process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to investigate the feasibility of establishing new railway stations in areas of significant growth in residential housing in the east of England; and if he will make a statement. (107666)

The Department for Transport will consider any proposals for new stations associated with new developments. Any proposal would require an approved business case and agreement with Network Rail that additional stops on the route could be accommodated. In the majority of cases, it would be expected that third parties would fund the costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the connection arrangements will be for West Coast Main Line passengers wishing to travel on to European destinations by Eurostar trains from November 2007. (106610)

Virgin Trains are currently in discussions with Eurostar with a view to offering integrated ticketing to West Coast Main Line passengers wishing to travel onto European destinations, and vice versa. There will also be appropriate signage and directions in place for passengers wishing to interchange between Euston and St. Pancras stations, either on foot, by public transport or by taxi.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with Network Rail on the restoration of the direct rail link between Skipton and Colne. (106841)

The Department has had no discussions with Network Rail on the restoration of a direct rail link between Colne and Skipton.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department has taken account of EU procurement rules in retaining the services of a company to act as an operator of the last resort in the event of franchise failure. (106993)

The Strategic Rail Authority awarded a contract in July 2004 to procure specialist advice in connection with “Operator of Last Resort” activity following a competition under one of its framework agreements. The framework agreement was let in full compliance with EU procurement rules. The contract was subsequently transferred to the Department in July 2005 when it assumed the authority's responsibilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department employs (a) consultancies and (b) other companies on a regular basis to provide advice on the Department's responsibility when acting as an operator of the last resort in the event of franchise failure. (106994)

The Department has a retainer-based contract with First Class Partnerships relating to the procurement of specialist advice in connection with the Secretary of State's duties as “Operator of Last Resort”. It also procures other external specialist advice as and when necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department pays a retainer to companies to act as an operator of the last resort in the event of franchise failure; and if he will make a statement. (106999)

The Department has a retainer-based contract with one company—First Class Partnerships—relating to the procurement of specialist advice in connection with the Secretary of State's duties as “Operator of Last Resort”.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis he has agreed rail fare increases in the next calendar year; whether such rises were factored into recent franchise negotiations; and if he will link future fare increases to the rate of inflation. (107583)

Rail fares are set by train operators, not by Government. Fares which are regulated must be set within the limits laid down by fares regulation, which restricts annual average increases to inflation + 1 per cent. Other fares are a commercial matter for the operator concerned. Bids for franchises will take into account both the restrictions imposed by fares regulation and the bidders’ views of how the train service can best be developed, priced and marketed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the socio-economic profile of passenger use of the railways and its effects on the structuring of fares. (107584)

The Department for Transport’s National Rail Travel Survey has collected data on who uses the railways, where, when and for what purposes. The survey was completed last year and covered rail travel across Great Britain. The results will be available early in 2007 and will enable some socio-economic analysis of rail users.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions the (a) A10, (b) A406, (c) A40, (d) M4, (e) M25, (f) A1, (g) A103, (h) A105, (i) A503, (j) A109, (k) A1055, (l) A41, (m) A1010, (n) A504 and (o) A1201 have been closed as a result of (i) accidents involving heavy goods vehicles and (ii) other accidents in each of the last five years. (106845)

Within the Greater London Authority (GLA), Transport for London and the London boroughs are responsible for the majority of the road network.

The following table gives available information on closures for those roads within or surrounding the GLA area for which the Highways Agency is responsible.

Closures also result from incidents such as spillages and breakdowns. The figures shown within the table do not include these, as they are not defined as accidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total construction cost was of each Design, Build, Finance and Operate road; what the expected total cost of each contract is to public funds; and by what year all such costs are expected to have been paid in each case. (104403)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total construction cost was of each Design, Build, Finance and Operate road; what the expected total cost of each contract is to public funds; and by what year all such costs are expected to have been paid in each case. (102405)

The construction cost of a Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract is the responsibility of the DBFO company. This is an important part of the risk transfer in this type of project, which gives the Department cost certainty in relation to construction costs. However, the Department and the Highways Agency monitor trends in road construction costs and take account of them in planning the forward programme.

Unlike conventional road improvement contracts, the costs associated with DBFO contracts are not just for the construction work but also cover the maintenance and management of the associated road network over a typical period of thirty years. The actual cost of construction is a matter for each DBFO Company.

The following table gives the expected total cost of Unitary Charges for each contract and the year in which the payments end. These payments cover the cost of constructing the road improvements and also maintaining the road network covered by the contract over the contract period.

The Secretary of State has asked Mike Nichols, Chairman of the Nichols Group, to review the Highways Agency approach to cost estimating and project management, and to make recommendations, including on how the agency should best assess, monitor and report on risks to its costs estimates. He will report shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what lower cost alternatives to the Heysham M6 link (Northern route) Lancashire County Council has put forward to his Department. (104683)

Lancashire County Council’s Major Scheme Business Case for the Heysham to M6 Link, submitted in July 2005, included details of the Western Route as the Next Best Option and online improvements to the existing highway network as the Lower Cost Option. Department for Transport officials have requested additional information from the Council clarifying the work carried out on alternative options.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving (a) trains, (b) buses and (c) private hire vehicles there were in Essex in each of the last five years. (106256)

Information requested is as follows. No information is available for private hire vehicles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 16 to 19-year-olds in York were (a) in education, training or work and (b) registered as unemployed in each year since 1992. (106459)

The information requested is as follows.

(a) The percentage of 16 and 17-year-olds in education and work-based learning in York since 1997 is shown in Table 1. Data is not available at this local education authority level before 1997. Also reliable data is not available at this local level on the proportion in work or for 18 and 19-year-olds.

(b) The percentage of 16 to 19-year-olds claiming jobseekers' allowance in York in January of each year since 1992 is shown in Table 2.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many apprenticeships there were in York in each year since 1997. (106476)

Figures for those participating in apprenticeships (previously called modern apprenticeships) funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) can be derived from the Individualised Learner Record (ILR). This was collated for the first time in 2001/02 (as an interim ILR) and consistent and comparable figures are currently only available for the three following years.

The following table shows the total number of apprentices in York (based on the home postcode of the learner) for each year from 2002/03 to 2004/05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many councils have had proposals submitted under the Building Schools for the Future Programme rejected; and what the reasons were for the rejection in each case; (106496)

[holding answer 30 November 2006]: So far, within the Building Schools for the Future programme, no proposals involving academies or otherwise have been rejected outright. When local authorities submit their proposals to the DFES most are returned to the authority for further clarifications before receiving full departmental approval. This is part of the normal scrutiny of BSF projects to ensure they are deliverable and within the Government's overall objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the total lifetime contract cost of the Connexions scheme contract with Capita. (107146)

It is estimated that the total lifetime contract costs of the Connexions Card scheme will be £89.1 million (of this £83.1 million relates to payments to Capita Business Services Ltd.).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what estimate he has made of the number of schools teaching creationism in (a) Oxfordshire, (b) the South East and (c) England; (106583)

[holding answer 30 November 2006]: Ofsted, the official body for inspecting schools, has not found any evidence that creationism is being taught in science lessons. The Department has not made an estimate of the number of schools or academies teaching creationism or intelligent design in religious education lessons.

The national curriculum for science clearly sets down that pupils should be taught: how uncertainties in scientific knowledge and scientific ideas change overtime; the role of the scientific community in validating these changes; variation within species can lead to evolutionary changes; and, similarities and differences between species can be measured and classified. To meet the requirements of the national curriculum for science teachers have to teach about scientific theories. Neither intelligent design nor creationism is a recognised scientific theory and should not therefore be taught as part of the science curriculum.

Creationism and intelligent design can be explored in religious education as part of developing an understanding of different beliefs. It is up to the local SACREs (Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education) to set the syllabus for how this should be done. The guidance for schools on collective worship states that every school must provide a daily act of collective worship for its pupils. There is no specific reference to creationism or intelligent design. The Department does not produce guidance on what should be discussed at scripture unions or religious clubs.

The Department is currently working with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to communicate this message to schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what change there has been in the number of staff in his Department dealing with (a) gender, (b) disability and (c) ethnic minority personnel issues since 1997. (107198)

The Department has only been in existence since 2001. Our policy is to mainstream equality and diversity into all our personnel policies/processes, which includes gender, disability and black and minority ethnic issues. To support that process and advise colleagues, we have in place a specialist team of three to formulate and drive through our equality and diversity delivery plan. The team has been in place since 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what Government expenditure was on (a) schools and (b) universities in (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 2005-06; and what the percentage change was for each figure in real terms over that period. (106385)

(a) The following table gives the information requested for schools. (b) Government expenditure on Higher Education for 1996-97 was £3,448 million and the total for 2005-06 was £6,172 million. It is calculated that the real terms increase is 44 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) financial and (b) other assistance his Department provides to local education authorities to provide sprinkler facilities in new educational facilities; and if he will make a statement. (107090)

[holding answer 4 December 2006]: The Department does not set aside funding specifically for the installation of sprinklers in schools. It is for local authorities to decide what they do with the funding they are allocated. They can use it to install sprinklers where their need is demonstrated by a risk assessment, or where they represent value for money. Where a local authority has a general policy of installing sprinklers in schools, and need or value for money is not demonstrated in a particular project, it can of course provide additional funding to cover sprinklers.

The Department is preparing a new publication on fire safety in schools—Building Bulletin 100, “Designing and Managing Against the Risk of Fire in Schools”. This includes guidance on sprinklers but, following public consultation, we saw the need to do more work in this area. We therefore commissioned consultants to analyse case studies of school projects where sprinklers have been installed. They are establishing reliable figures for both installation and maintenance costs, and developing these into a full cost benefit analysis. This work will be completed in January and then integrated into the final version of Building Bulletin 100, which we expect to publish several months later.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the impact of energy prices on school budgets. (106620)

[holding answer 30 November 2006]: The funding that individual schools receive via their school budget shares is a matter for individual local authorities to decide locally through their own local funding formulae (subject to satisfying the minimum funding guarantee for schools).

Over the past three financial years (2003-04 to 2005-06) the cost pressure attributed to expenditure on energy has been increasing. Expenditure by schools on energy as a percentage of total gross school expenditure (less staffing costs) has increased from 5.0 per cent. of the total in 2003-04 to 6.2 per cent. of the total in 2005-06. Energy costs, in particular, increased by 16.1 per cent. between 2003-04 and 2004-05 and by 28.5 per cent. between 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Of the increases in total gross expenditure (less staffing costs) by schools, 8.8 per cent. can be attributed to increases in energy costs between 2003-04 and 2004-05 and 15.3 per cent. to increases in energy costs between 2004-05 and 2005-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to increase the teaching of (a) Russian and (b) Chinese. (106318)

While our National Languages Strategy “Languages for All: Languages for Life—a strategy for England” does not promote the teaching of one language above another, the United Kingdom has signed Memoranda of Understanding with both Russia and China to promote the teaching and learning of both languages in schools.

A number of specialist language colleges offer Russian and Chinese. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) also hosts Russian and Chinese Networks.

In addition, the Department for Education and Skills and the Higher Education Funding Council for England are agreed that languages, such as Russian and Chinese, are of strategic importance to the UK and are working together to support initiatives to stimulate demand and increase the supply of languages places at higher education level.

Our national recognition scheme—the Languages Ladder—introduced in September 2005 also offers alternative assessment opportunities for learners of both languages to have their skills recognised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in each local education authority area in England are in receipt of free school meals. (106185)

Information on the numbers of pupils in receipt of free school meals in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England is shown in the following table.