§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what(a) representations her office has received and (b) meetings she has held on the topic of the proposed pesticides tax with (i) the British Agrochemicals Association, (ii) UKASTA, (iii) NOAH, (iv) the National Farmers' Union, (v) the Country Landowners' Association and (vi) agrochemical companies, giving the name of each company, including the dates and duration of the meetings. [126899]
§ Mr. TimmsI have been asked to reply.
Ministers and officials have had numerous meetings with representatives of the agrochemicals industry, agriculture and environmental non-governmental organisations, and received a number of representations on a possible pesticides tax and on a voluntary package of measures to reduce the environmental impact of pesticides use.
The Government are currently consulting on a formal set of voluntary proposals which have been published by the British Agrochemicals Association. The Government welcome the views of all interested parties on these proposals and their effectiveness in tackling the environmental impacts of pesticide use.
1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 AIDS Support Grant 800,000 770,000 810,000 Drugs and Alcohol Specific Grant 61,744 27,421 0 Drugs and Alcohol Special Grant1 — — 0 Guardians Ad Litem and Reporting Officer Services2 28,784 — — Mental Health Grant 942,203 927,401 1,159,163 Training Support Programme 215,091 198,259 196,791 Secure Accommodation (Capital) 0 0 0 Community Care Special Transitional Grant3 2,304,652 2,170,586 — Asylum-Seekers' Accommodation Grant4 3,846,920 75,306,235 — Persons from Abroad Children's Grant4 2,835,433 3,753,040 — Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children's Grant 41,163 879,200 2,769,000 Promoting Independence: Partnership Grant5 ‑ — 1,754,966 Promoting Independence: Prevention Grant5 — — 146,487 Promoting Independence: Carers' Grant5 — — 137,108 Children's Social Services Grant6 — 32,500 755,373 1This grant was available in 1999–2000 only 2This grant ended in March 1998 3This grant ended in March 1999 4These grants were transferred to the Home Office from 1999–2000 5These grants began in 1999–2000 6This grant began in 1998–99 7This is the total actually paid. However, auditors have certified that £5,074,621 was the correct amount due. The Department is recovering £231,614.