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12 Feb 2003 : Column 849W—continued
Pig Industry
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total Government marketing funding for the pig industry was in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03. [96274]
Mr. Morley: While it is not Government policy to provide marketing funding for the pig industry, in 2000–01 a one-off payment of £2.65 million was made to the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) to help them advertise the "pork mark". This was a campaign to promote welfare friendly pork. No further payments were made in 2001–02 and 2002–03. Livestock and meat marketing, including the pig industry, is one of the functions of the MLC, established by the Agriculture Act 1967. The MLC has the general duty of promoting greater efficiency in the livestock products industry.
Responsible Pet Ownership
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the development of dog registration and education programmes for responsible pet ownership. [97134]
Mr. Morley: At present Defra has no funds available to implement the recommendations set out in the Dog Identification Group's "Report on the Permanent
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Identification of Dogs". However, the Government produce guidance, and encourage responsible dog ownership through leaflets. Information can be found on the Defra website.
The legislation relating to the welfare of captive and domestic animals is currently under review. As part of the review, I am looking to see how responsible pet ownership can be improved so that vendors, buyers and those who are considering buying pet animals are informed about the welfare needs of the animal.
Sudden Oak Death
Mr. Curry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is her policy to compensate nursery businesses in respect of viburnum and rhododendron stock destroyed to control the spread of the sudden oak death fungal pathogen phytophthora ramorum. [95947]
Mr. Meacher: Compensation is not generally paid for destruction of plants in order to prevent or control the spread of plant pests or diseases. The Plant Health Act 1967 gives a discretion to pay compensation. A claim has recently been made by a grower in respect of action against plants infected with Phytophthora ramorum (the pathogen which is causing Sudden Oak Death in the United States of America). No final decision has been made on this claim. A case is currently before the European Court of Justice on the question of compensation for the destruction of diseased fish. The outcome of that case will be taken into account in reaching a final determination on the issue of compensation.
Mr. Curry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at how many nurseries, broken down by county, viburnum and rhododendron stock has been destroyed to combat the sudden oak death fungal pathogen phytophthora ramorum. [95948]
Mr. Meacher: The table below provides the information requested for England and Wales. Action has also been taken in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Isles.
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Mr. Curry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to combat the spread of the sudden oak death (phytophthora ramorum); and if she will make a statement. [95950]
Mr. Meacher: Defra's Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate (PHSI) are continuing to survey nurseries and garden centres for symptoms of the disease and are examining established plants and trees in areas close to nurseries and garden centres in which the disease has been found. Substantial resources have been diverted into this work and the associated research programme. Plants moved from other member states or imported from third countries are being monitored to ensure that they meet movement requirements and are not carrying the disease. Any plants found to have the disease are destroyed. The devolved authorities and the Forestry Commission are taking similar action. Research is underway at the Central Science Laboratory and at the Forest Research Agency to assess the risk presented by this disease to a wide range of plants, in particular our native tree species and other native plants. The findings of this research will be used to update the Pest Risk Assessment in order to keep under review the precautionary actions being taken against the spread of this disease.
Waste Directive
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Department has responsibility for the transposition of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive into UK law. [96412]
Mr. Wilson: I have been asked to reply.
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DTI was the lead Department for the negotiations on this Directive and has now started to take forward transposition in close association with DEFRA and other parts of Government.
Waste Disposal
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional funding has been made available to the Environment Agency to enable it to (a) detect and (b) prosecute the (i) disposal and (ii) treatment of waste without a licence. [96466]
Mr. Meacher: No specific funds have been made available to detect and prosecute the disposal and treatment of waste without a waste management licence. The Department issues the Agency with a block grant for its environmental protection work (£121 million in 2002–03). It is for the Agency to decide how to prioritise work and expenditure within this, in discussion with the Department. Waste receives the second largest share of Grant In Aid funding.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions by the Environment Agency of waste offences involving disposing or treating of waste without a licence there were in each year since 1997. [96468]
Mr. Meacher: The Environment Agency keeps records of breaches to section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The figures in the table show the total incidents of illegally depositing controlled waste on land. The figure for January 2001 to December 2001 shows incidents involving fly tipping only.
Figures are recorded on a financial year basis. In respect of calendar year 2001, Environment Agency records are more precise and the number represents the offenders prosecuted for the section 33(1)(a) offence of unlawfully depositing waste.
| Number of breaches | |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 241 |
| 1997–98 | 345 |
| 1998–99 | 367 |
| 1999–2000 | 342 |
| 2000–01 | 439 |
| January to December 2001 | 234 |
The number of prosecutions by the Agency of offences committed under section 33(1)(b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for illegally treating controlled waste have only been recorded since 1999. The figures in the following table represent the three complete financial years since then:
| Number of prosecutions | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 37 |
| 2000–01 | 61 |
| 2001–02 | 90 |
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Water Framework Directive
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the role which Internal Drainage Boards will play in delivering the environmental objectives of the EC Water Framework Directive. [96399]
Mr. Morley: The functions of Internal Drainage Boards, including in relation to management of water levels in watercourses and flood defence, may be relevant to meeting the objectives of the Water Framework Directive.
The Government have proposed that the Environment Agency, in its role as competent authority, will given a duty to consult relevant bodies when preparing River Basin Management Plans. In order for the Secretary of State to be sure that the influence of other bodies with relevant functions are fully reflected in the measures and plans, statutory guidance to the Agency will also set out which bodies will need to be involved, and which functions need to be taken into account.
In river basins where Internal Drainage Boards operate, therefore, Boards will be consulted and their functions taken into account in order to achieve the environmental objectives set within each district.
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