House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 8 Mar 2006 (pt 3)

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Badgers

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to ensure that badgers (a) killed as part of a cull and (b) otherwise found dead are disposed of in a way which does not represent a potential notifiable disease hazard. [53448]

Margaret Beckett [holding answer 27 February 2006]: We are currently consulting on both the principle and method of a badger culling policy, including what methods of disposal would be suitable to minimise risk of disease transmission, assist in monitoring a cull of badgers and be practical. Decisions on whether to introduce a culling policy and, if so, how to implement it will be taken only once the consultation period has ended.

It is unlikely that it would be possible to tell whether a badger otherwise found dead was infected with bovine TB. The presence of the bovine TB causative organism (M. bovis) is established by post-mortem examination and the bacteriological culture of samples.

The EU Animal By-Products Regulation requires that wild animals suspected of being infected with diseases communicable to humans and animals, such as bovine TB, are disposed of at an approved plant using one of the following methods:

(1) incineration;

(2) rendering followed by incineration; or

(3) pressure rendering followed by landfill.

Information on the disposal of animal carcasses is available on the Defra website, at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/by-prods/default.htm, and from local Defra animal health offices.

Carcase Disposal

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of the ban on burning carcases; and if she will make a statement. [55652]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 3 March 2006]: The EU Animal By Products Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002 prohibits the 'open burning' of animal carcases. It is there to protect public and animal health from any potential risks associated with the burning of fallen stock.

A number of disposal routes for fallen stock are permitted by the regulation including rendering, incineration or sending the carcasses to a knackers yard or hunt kennel. The National Fallen Stock Scheme, aimed at reducing the cost to farmers of disposing of their fallen stock, was launched in November 2004.

Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the expected commencement date is for sections 69 to 76 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, on alarm notification areas. [56222]

8 Mar 2006 : Column 1494W

Mr. Bradshaw: The sections on alarm notification areas under Part 7 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 will be commenced on 6 April 2006.

Coast Protection Act

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the operation of the Coast Protection Act 1949. [55862]

Mr. Morley: Defra has policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England and provides most of the Government funding for managing that risk. Flood and coastal defence operating authorities (the Environment Agency, local authorities and internal drainage boards) are Defra's delivery partners. Operating authorities have permissive powers" which means that while they may undertake flood and coastal erosion risk measures, they are not generally obliged to do so.

Coast Protection authorities (district or unitary councils) have permissive powers to carry out works to manage the risk of coastal erosion or encroachment by the sea under the Coast Protection Act 1949. Subject to conditions determined by the Treasury, Defra may make grants towards any expenditure. To satisfy conditions, proposals must satisfy essential technical, economic and environmental criteria and achieve a relevant priority.

The Act also includes provisions for the safety of navigation. Sections 34 and 35 refer to consents to undertake a broad range of marine works in the sea around the coasts of England and Wales. Defra is responsible for administering these provisions on behalf of the Secretary of State. Defra expects to make proposals for improving the regime for regulating works at sea, of which these controls are a component, in a Marine Bill to be introduced later in this Parliament.

Common Agricultural Policy

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what baseline figures she is using for assessing progress on her Department's targets to (a) deliver step-change improvements to the way common agricultural policy schemes are administered, (b) rationalise delivery programmes, (c) implement the Modernising Rural Delivery plan, (d) implement the England Rural Development ICT programme, (e) implement the EA Efficiency programme, (f) generate efficiencies in flood defence provision in the Environment Agency, (g) place a greater emphasis on the provision of online services in the Environment Agency, (h) make back-office improvements at the Environment Agency, (i) streamline policy-making, (j) rationalise back-office functions in her Department, (k) improve procurement and (l) work with local authorities to deliver efficiency gains on waste services; what progress has been made towards these targets to date; and what the total efficiency savings achieved to date are for these targets. [52928]

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Jim Knight: The response is set out in the following table. Baseline figures are provided at programme level where available, although these are mostly held in detail at project level with efficiencies reported through local governance processes. Stated efficiency savings are as

8 Mar 2006 : Column 1496W

reported to OGC in January 2006, at which time quarter 3 information from Executive agencies and non departmental public bodies had yet to be approved by their management boards.

Programme Quarter Efficiency savings delivery
by end Baseline Target efficiency saving SR04 Efficiency savings reported

Total for DEFRA Efficiency Programme

£ million 2 2005–06 3,416 610 141

Headcount (FTE⁽¹⁾) 3 2005–06 13,650 2,400 1,016

(a) Deliver step-change improvements to the way common agricultural policy schemes are administered

£ million 2 2005–06 157,230 32 0

Headcount (FTE⁽¹⁾) 3 2005–06 3,953 1,400 876

(b) Rationalise delivery programmes ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾—

(c) Implement the Modernising Rural Delivery Plan

£ million 2 2005–06 ⁽³⁾— 13 0

Headcount (FTE⁽¹⁾) n/a n/a ⁽³⁾— 0 0

(d) Implement the England Rural Development ICT Programme

£ million 4 2004–05 ⁽⁴⁾— 21 7.6

Headcount (FTE⁽¹⁾) 3 2004–05 ⁽⁵⁾— 150 0

(e) Implement the Environment Agency's Efficiency Programme

£ million 2 2005–06 ⁽⁶⁾— 106.2 47.2

(f) Generate efficiencies in flood defence provision in the Environment Agency

£ million 2 2005–06 ⁽⁷⁾— 53 21

(g) Place a greater emphasis on the provision of online services in the Environment Agency

£ million 2 2005–06 ⁽⁷⁾— 10.5 2.2

(h) Make back-office improvements at the Environment Agency

£ million 2 2005–06 ⁽⁷⁾— 19.4 12.4

(i) Streamline policy-making

£ million 3 2005–06 121.9 10 0

Headcount (FTE⁽¹⁾) 3 2005–06 2,761 327 3

(j) Rationalise back-office functions in her Department

£ million — — 23 6.6 34

Headcount (FTE⁽¹⁾) — — 680 254 126

(k) Improve procurement

£ million 2 2005–06 ⁽⁷⁾— 41 ⁽⁸⁾8.9

(l) Work with local authorities to deliver efficient gains on waste services

£ million — 2004–05 ⁽⁹⁾— 299 54.3

⁽¹⁾ Full-time equivalent.
⁽²⁾ No other delivery programmes within DEFRA efficiency portfolio.
⁽³⁾ 2004–05 resource figures set out in DEFRA's Annual Report 2005 for Natural Resources and Rural Affairs (NRRA) Directorate General, and the Rural Development Service (RDS); and in the 2004–05 corporate plans of the Countryside Agency and English Nature.
⁽⁴⁾ Productivity savings measured annually against a calculation of time taken to process number of applications received using previous methods.
⁽⁵⁾ Staff complement in 2005–06 RAE.
⁽⁶⁾ 2004–05 expenditure.
⁽⁷⁾ Determined in detail at project level.
⁽⁸⁾ Plus 6.5 non-sustainable in 2004–05.
⁽⁹⁾ Defined by local authorities previous year spend. Data reported on Annual Efficiency Statements.

Programme	Quarter	Efficiency savings delivery by end	Baseline	Target efficiency saving SR04	Efficiency savings reported
Total for DEFRA Efficiency Programme
£ million	2	2005–06	3,416	610	141
Headcount (FTE⁽¹⁾)	3	2005–06	13,650	2,400	1,016
(a) Deliver step-change improvements to the way common agricultural policy schemes are administered
£ million	2	2005–06	157,230	32	0
Headcount (FTE⁽¹⁾)	3	2005–06	3,953	1,400	876
(b) Rationalise delivery programmes	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—
(c) Implement the Modernising Rural Delivery Plan
£ million	2	2005–06	⁽³⁾—	13	0
Headcount (FTE⁽¹⁾)	n/a	n/a	⁽³⁾—	0	0
(d) Implement the England Rural Development ICT Programme
£ million	4	2004–05	⁽⁴⁾—	21	7.6
Headcount (FTE⁽¹⁾)	3	2004–05	⁽⁵⁾—	150	0
(e) Implement the Environment Agency's Efficiency Programme
£ million	2	2005–06	⁽⁶⁾—	106.2	47.2
(f) Generate efficiencies in flood defence provision in the Environment Agency
£ million	2	2005–06	⁽⁷⁾—	53	21
(g) Place a greater emphasis on the provision of online services in the Environment Agency
£ million	2	2005–06	⁽⁷⁾—	10.5	2.2
(h) Make back-office improvements at the Environment Agency
£ million	2	2005–06	⁽⁷⁾—	19.4	12.4
(i) Streamline policy-making
£ million	3	2005–06	121.9	10	0
Headcount (FTE⁽¹⁾)	3	2005–06	2,761	327	3
(j) Rationalise back-office functions in her Department
£ million	—	—	23	6.6	34
Headcount (FTE⁽¹⁾)	—	—	680	254	126
(k) Improve procurement
£ million	2	2005–06	⁽⁷⁾—	41	⁽⁸⁾8.9
(l) Work with local authorities to deliver efficient gains on waste services
£ million	—	2004–05	⁽⁹⁾—	299	54.3

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