Minutes of Proceedings 2007-08 for Website
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Minutes of Proceeding 2007–08 1 Proceedings of the Committee Wednesday 7 November 2007 Members present: Mr Michael Jack, in the Chair Mr David Drew David Taylor Mr James Gray Mr Roger Williams Lynne Jones 1. The UK Government’s “Vision for the Common Agricultural Policy” The Committee considered this matter. Draft Report (The UK Government’s “Vision for the Common Agricultural Policy”: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report of Session 2006–07), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read. The draft Report was agreed to; the formal minutes relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the First Report of the Committee, HC 48. 2. Flooding The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee visit Lyon in connection with its inquiry into Flooding and that the Chairman seek the approval of the Liaison Committee for expenditure in connection with the visit. 3. Badgers and Cattle TB: Final Report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB The Committee considered this matter. 4. Flooding The Committee further considered this matter. Professor Edmund Penning-Rowsell, Head of Flood Hazard Research Centre, Middlesex University and Professor Howard Wheater, Imperial College, London, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Monday 12 November at 4.15 p.m. 2 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Minutes of Proceedings 2007–08 Monday 12 November 2007 Members present: Mr Michael Jack, in the Chair Mr David Taylor Mr Roger Williams Four Members not being present, the Chairman adjourned the Committee until Wednesday 14 November at 2.30 p.m. Wednesday 14 November 2007 Members present: Mr Michael Jack, in the Chair Mr David Drew Paddy Tipping Patrick Hall Dr Gavin Strang Lynne Jones Mr Roger Williams David Lepper 1. Declaration of interests Paddy Tipping declared a non-pecuniary interest, as a Vice-President of the Ramblers’ Association, in accordance with the Resolution of the House of 13 July 1992. 2. Flooding The Committee considered this matter. 3. Draft Marine Bill The Committee considered this matter. 4. Badgers and Cattle TB: Final Report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB The Committee considered this matter. 5. Flooding The Committee further considered this matter. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Minutes of Proceeding 2007–08 3 Mr Kim Ryley, Chief Executive, and Professor Tom Coulthard, Lead of the Independent Review Body in Hull, Hull City Council; Sir Robert Kerslake, Chief Executive, Councillor Jan Wilson, Leader of the Council, and Mr John Charlton, Director of Streetforce, Development, Environment and Leisure, Sheffield City Council; Mr Kevin Whiteman, Managing Director, and Mr Robert Salmon, Director of External Communications, Yorkshire Water; and Mr David Fullwood, Clerk to Beverley & Holderness Internal Drainage Board, Preston Internal Drainage Board and Wilberfoss & Thornton Level Internal Drainage Board, Dr Jean Venables, Chief Executive of the Association Drainage Authorities, and Mr David Sisson, Engineer to Lindsey Marsh Internal Drainage Board, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Monday 19 November at 4.15 p.m. Monday 19 November 2007 Members present: Mr Michael Jack, in the Chair Mr Geoffrey Cox Paddy Tipping Mr David Drew Dr Gavin Strang Lynne Jones Mr Roger Williams David Taylor 1. Badgers and Cattle TB: Final Report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB The Committee considered this matter. 2. Defra priorities The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee take oral evidence from the Permanent Secretary, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 21 November. [Adjourned till Wednesday 21 November at 2 p.m. 4 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Minutes of Proceedings 2007–08 Wednesday 21 November 2007 Members present: Mr Michael Jack, in the Chair Mr Geoffrey Cox David Lepper Mr David Drew Sir Peter Soulsby Mr James Gray Dr Gavin Strang Patrick Hall Paddy Tipping Lynne Jones Mr Roger Williams 1. Climate change: the “citizen’s agenda” The Committee considered the Government response to the Committee’s Report. 2. Committee’s working methods The Committee considered this matter. 3. Flooding The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That Mr David Drew have leave to visit Gloucestershire Constabulary for the purpose of the Committee’s inquiry into Flooding in a representative capacity. Mr Duncan Jordan, Group Director for Environment, Gloucestershire County Council, and Mr Richard Dudding, Director for Environment and Economy and Mr Dave Etheridge, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, Oxfordshire County Council; and Mr Tony Wray, Chief Executive, Mr Andy Smith, Water Services Director and Mr Martin Kane, Customer Relations Director, Severn Trent Water, and Mr Richard Aylard, External Affairs and Sustainability Director, and Mr Bob Collington, Director of Wastewater Services, Thames Water, gave oral evidence. 4. Defra priorities The Committee considered this matter. Helen Ghosh, Permanent Secretary, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Monday 26 November at 4.15 p.m. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Minutes of Proceeding 2007–08 5 Monday 26 November 2007 Members present: Mr Michael Jack, in the Chair Mr David Drew David Taylor Mr James Gray Paddy Tipping Dr Gavin Strang Mr Roger Williams 1. Correspondence with Defra The Committee considered this matter. 2. Badgers and Cattle TB: the Final Report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB The Committee considered this matter. Ordered, That the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 Sub-committee be discharged and a Sub committee be appointed to consider the Badgers and Cattle TB: the final report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB. Ordered, That all the Members of the Committee be members of the Sub-committee. Ordered, That Mr Michael Jack be the Chairman of the Sub-committee. [Adjourned till Wednesday 28 November at 2.30 p.m. Tuesday 27 November 2007 The Chairman, Mr Geoffrey Cox, Mr David Drew, Lynne Jones, Dr Gavin Strang, Paddy Tipping and Mr Roger Williams visited Weybridge in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into Badgers and Cattle TB: Final Report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 24 October 2007. 6 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Minutes of Proceedings 2007–08 Wednesday 28 November 2007 Members present: Mr Michael Jack, in the Chair Mr David Drew Sir Peter Soulsby Mr James Gray David Taylor Patrick Hall Paddy Tipping Lynne Jones Mr Roger Williams David Lepper 1. Climate Change: “the citizen’s agenda” The Committee considered the Government response to the Committee’s Report. 2. Flooding The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee visit Lincoln in connection with its inquiry into Flooding. 3. Committee’s working methods and future programme The Committee considered this matter. 4. Flooding The Committee further considered this matter. Mr Stephen Haddrill, Director-General, Association of British Insurers, Mr Igal Mayer, Chief Executive, Norwich Union, and Mrs Bridget McIntyre, UK Chief Executive, Royal & Sun Alliance; and Ms Regina Finn, Chief Executive, and Mr Jonathan Hodgkin, Director of Network Regulation, Ofwat, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Monday 10 December at 4.15 p.m. Tuesday 4 to Wednesday 5 December 2007 The Chairman, Mr David Drew, Mr James Gray, Lynne Jones, David Taylor and Mr Roger Williams visited Lyon, France, in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into Flooding in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 7 November 2007. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Minutes of Proceeding 2007–08 7 Monday 10 December 2007 Members present: Mr Michael Jack, in the Chair Mr Geoffrey Cox Dr Gavin Strang Mr David Drew Paddy Tipping 1. Badgers and Cattle TB: the Final Report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB The Committee considered this matter. Rt Hon Lord Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Food, Farming and Animal Health, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Thursday 13 December at 11.15 a.m. Wednesday 12 December 2007 Members present: Mr Michael Jack, in the Chair Mr David Drew Dr Gavin Strang Patrick Hall David Taylor Lynne Jones Paddy Tipping Dan Rogerson Mr Roger Williams 1. Climate change: the “citizen’s agenda” The Committee considered this matter. Draft Report (Climate change: the “citizen’s agenda”: Government Response to the Committee’s Eighth Report of Session 2006–07) proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read. The draft Report was agreed to; the formal minutes relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Second Report of the Committee, HC 189. 2. Declaration of interests 8 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Minutes of Proceedings 2007–08 Dr Gavin Strang declared non-pecuniary interests as an Honorary Associate of the British Veterinary Association and as a Life Member of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, in accordance with the Resolution of the House of 13 July 1992. 3. Flooding The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee take oral evidence from National Grid. 4. Committee’s future programme The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee inquire into the implementation of the Nitrates Directive in England and the consultation on Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, and take oral evidence thereon from the National Farmers Union and the Minister of State (Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 5. Correspondence with Defra The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Chairman write to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to request further information on the Defra Resource Accounts 2006–07 and the Winter Supplementary Estimates, including the reallocation of funding from Animal Health to the Rural Payments Agency. 6. Flooding The Committee considered this matter. Mr Richard Benyon MP, Mr David Curry MP, Martin Horwood MP, Mr Laurence Robertson MP and Ms Angela C.