HC Deb 10 December 2001 vol 376 cc672-3W
Mr. Peter Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 28 November 2001, Official Report, column 1029W, (Ref 17635), on strike action, how many staff have been engaged in industrial action; and in which divisions of her Department. [20685]

Margaret Beckett

[holding answer 4 December 2001]: On 28 September, the last day on which PCS members in all DEFRA offices were asked to take action, 2,102 members of staff took action. Since then there has been further action but this has affected only a limited number of DEFRA offices, and thus staff, on any particular day.

Most divisions which have staff in PCS grades who are covered by the proposed pay settlement for staff formerly in MAFF have lost some staff days due to industrial action.

Mr. Breed

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 30 November 2001,Official Report, column 1172W, on industrial action, if she will list the targets on service standards that are likely to be missed. [21361]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 6 December 2001]: It is recognised that the current industrial action could potentially put at risk our ability to meet all our service standard targets. However, it is not possible to predict which of those targets might be missed.

Mr. Breed

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 30 November 2001,Official Report, column 1172W, on industrial action, if she will list the (a) total and (b) per capita amount of payments by category that have been delayed since the dispute began. [21360]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 6 December 2001]: All payments are currently being made within the payment periods set in the EU regulations.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what is the value of payments due to farmers which have been delayed by industrial action in her Department; and what was the value on the last day of each month since May. [20665]

Margaret Beckett

[holding answer 4 December 2001]: Industrial action, which commenced in August, has mainly affected the Arable Area Payments Scheme. Payments under this scheme are made in a payment window running from 16 November to 31 January. In a normal year 60–70 per cent. of the aid would be paid out in the first two to three weeks. This year the figure is likely to be a little over 50 per cent.