HC Deb 20 January 2004 vol 416 cc1189-90W
Mr. Paterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department spent on fishing research in each of the last five financial years. [149140]

Mr. Bradshaw

The Department has spent the following amounts on marine fisheries research in each of the last five financial years.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how her Department is working with(a) other Departments, (b) the EU and (c) governments of developing countries to help them tackle their illegal CFC trade. [148008]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 19 January 2004]Within the EU, licences issued by the Commission and quotas that are agreed in advance by member states control trade in CFCs. UK Customs and Excise have a monitoring system known as CHIEF system that processes import declarations. Profiles are set against commodity codes on products that could contain a potential ozone depleting substance. Customs officers then seek clarification from my officials at Defra, when there is a potential problem with an import.

The Montreal Protocol established the Multilateral Fund to assist developing countries in their phase-out of ozone depleting substances. The UK has so far contributed over $105 million to the fund. The fund supports projects prepared by developing countries and Implementing Agencies (UNEP, UNIDO, UNDP and the World bank) aimed at phasing out ozone depleting substances. Their projects include institutional strengthening and capacity building, and also the compliance assistance programme run by UNEP. An example of activities supported by the fund are compliance with the Montreal Protocol, customs training, illegal trade information exchange and awareness raising workshops being organised by UNEP in regions such as South Asia and South East Asia. The UK has been an active member of the South Asia Network.

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