PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES - United Kingdom Parliament
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES - United Kingdom Parliament PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES - United Kingdom Parliament
1043W Written Answers 26 MARCH 2013 Written Answers 1044W 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Consumer Council for 12 10 0 4 7 Water Environment Agency 1,600 1,526 305 435 1,501 Gangmasters Licensing 8 16 28 1 5 Authority Joint Nature 24 28 16 11 35 Conservation Committee Marine Management — — — 55 59 Organisation 1 National Forest Company 2 2 2 2 1 Natural England 243 251 18 24 32 Royal Botanic Gardens, 121 106 82 88 122 Kew Sea Fish Industry 15 11 1 2 33 Authority Sustainable Development Commission (Abolished on 31 March 2011) 0 9 2 — — 1 Became Marine Management Organisation on 1 April 2010. Note: For years where information is not held centrally, ″n/a″ is shown. Where a body was not in existence that year has been left blank. River Derwent Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to compensate people in Cockermouth for the breaching of the River Derwent’s flood relief channel in that town in 2005, 2006 and 2009; and whether that compensation will take account of historic lack of maintenance of flood relief work on the River Derwent. [149469] Richard Benyon: The Government is not legally liable to pay any compensation for the flooding which occurred in the town of Cockermouth in 2005, 2006 and 2009. There was no breaching to the existing flood defences during these floods; the defences were overtopped due to very high river flows. In November 2009, West Cumbria was subject to unprecedented and record rainfall, which fell on already saturated ground. The river levels were so high and the flooding was so significant that any removal of additional gravel, beyond that already removed as part of the Environment Agency’s routine maintenance programme, would not have prevented the flooding. Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the change in the proportion of the River Derwent’s flood relief channel in Cockermouth covered by wooded islands in the last 30 years; and what assessment he has made of the contribution of such islands to the breaching of flood defences in the town. [149470] Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency and its predecessor organisations do not have records of the exact proportions covered by wooded islands over the last 30 years. However, since 2003 the Environment Agency has based its maintenance work on a technical evidence base, and its assessments have indicated that removing gravel or wooded islands would not have prevented the flooding since that date. Keeping rivers clear from the build up of gravel, plants and debris forms an important part of the Environment Agency’s river maintenance plan in priority flood risk areas, such as Cockermouth. In these key locations, the river channels are surveyed annually to determine what work is required to maintain the capacity of the river. This survey information is then used in mathematical river modelling. Using these techniques the Environment Agency has assessed the impact of the gravel and wooded islands on the capacity of the river. The assessment confirms that the gravel and wooded islands had a negligible effect on the flood levels in 2005, 2008 and 2009 and the subsequent overtopping of the town’s flood defences. The main hydraulic constraint (or bottle neck) in the river during significant flood flows is Gote Bridge which is located immediately upstream of the wooded islands. Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the evidential basis is for the statement by the Environment Agency that the build-up of wooded islands in the River Derwent’s flood relief channel in Cockermouth was not the main cause of flooding in Cockermouth in 2005, 2008 and 2009. [149471] Richard Benyon: In November 2009, the river levels in Cockermouth were so high and the flooding was so significant, that any removal of additional gravel or wooded islands would not have prevented the flooding. The evidence to support this statement is contained within the Environment Agency’s ‘Cockermouth Maintenance Plan’ (2012), and associated reports, which have been assessed and verified by an independent consultant and were drawn up after surveying and modelling the river using the latest water industry recognised techniques. The reports also demonstrate that the management of gravel in the preceding years helped to maintain the one in 100 year standard of flood protection for Cockermouth in combination with the existing flood defences. The main cause of the flooding in Cockermouth in 2005, 2008 and 2009 was the exceptional rainfall and subsequent flood flows in the river. Sick Leave Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many days (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies has lost to staff sickness in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such absence in each year; [147987] (2) how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies have had (i) fewer than five days, (ii) five to 10 days, (iii) 10 to 15 days, (iv) 15 to 20 days, (v) 20 to 25 days, (vi) 25 to 50 days, (vii) 50 to 75 days, (viii) 75 to 100 days, (ix) 100 to 150 days, (x) 150 to 200 days, (xi) more than 200 days, (xii) more than three months, (xiii) more than six months and (xiv) more than one year on paid sick leave (A) consecutively and (B) in total in each of the last five years. [148006] Richard Benyon: The following table shows the number of working days lost due to sickness in core DEFRA, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five calendar years, unless otherwise stated as being for financial years.
1045W Written Answers 26 MARCH 2013 Written Answers 1046W Department 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Core DEFRA 17,251 14,953 14,393 10,331 8,694 Executive agency Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Food and Environment Research Agency Government Decontamination Service (absorbed into FERA on 1 April 2009) Marine and Fisheries Agency (until 1 April 2010, then became Marine Management Organisation—see NDPBs) Pesticides Safety Directorate (transferred to Health and Safety Executive on 1 April 2008) 23,495 22,078 20,822 18,477 13,855 3,622 3,443 3,381 2,203 2,463 4,507 4,336 3,996 4,625 4,604 237 27 1 — 1 — 1 — 1,517 1,242 323 1 — 1 — 278 1 — 1 — 1 — 1 — Rural Payments Agency 35,189 31,938 29,535 22,204 20,950 Veterinary Medicines 1,316 1,110 1,446 1,065 1,004 Directorate Non-departmental public body Agriculture and Horticulture n/a n/a n/a n/a 742 Development Board Commission for Rural 0 0 0 0 0 Communities Consumer Council for Water 624 820 450 723 795 Environment Agency 82,295 78,907 77,310 77,953 76,792 Gangmasters Licensing 731 397 327 217 313 Authority 2 Joint Nature Conservation 512 765 474 495 602 Committee Marine Management Organisation (created on 1 April 2010) 2 1 — 1 — 1 — 1,312 960 National Forest Company 2 86 60 125 22 22 Natural England 12,860 13,549 12,066 10,115 9,228 Royal Botanic Gardens, 2,074 1,555 2,270 1,634 2,128 Kew 2 Sea Fish Industry Authority 128 320 199 192 151 n/a = Information not available 1 Body no longer in existence. 2 Figures shown cover financial, not calendar, years, e.g.‘2012’ equates to the 2011-12 financial year. Most DEFRA bodies, including core DEFRA, were unable to provide information on the cost of sickness absence without incurring disproportionate costs. The following bodies were able to provide this information. £ Non-departmental public body 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Joint Nature Conservation Committee 53,248 79,560 49,296 51,480 62,556 National Forest 13,488 9,368 17,550 3,633 3,688 Company 1 Natural England 1,858,760 1,841,439 1,664,779 1,413,699 1,374,005 Royal Botanic 165,521 159,500 159,873 183,361 183,575 Gardens, Kew 1 1 Costs shown cover financial, not calendar, years. Only Natural England was able to provide a breakdown of staff sickness absences into the requested periods of time. All other bodies in the DEFRA network, including core DEFRA, could not provide this information without incurring disproportionate cost. Natural England Number of staff taking consecutive days Number of staff taking days in total 2008 1 to 4 days 454 693 5to10days 287 366 10 to 15 days 88 144 15 to 20 days 38 65 20 to 25 days 30 40 25 to 50 days 45 81 50 to 75 days 14 14 75 to 100 days 9 11 100 to 150 days 6 9 150 to 200 days 1 2 More than 200 days 0 1 More than 3 months 0 0 More than 6 months 0 0 More than 1 year 0 0 2009 1 to 4 days 388 705 5to10days 271 330 10 to 15 days 80 126 15 to 20 days 33 66 20 to 25 days 34 32 25 to 50 days 53 75 50 to 75 days 30 33 75 to 100 days 9 10 100 to 150 days 5 6 150 to 200 days 1 4 More than 200 days 1 3 More than 3 months 0 0 More than 6 months 0 0 More than 1 year 0 0 2010 1 to 4 days 408 792 5to10days 227 229 10 to 15 days 88 126 15 to 20 days 41 55 20 to 25 days 21 26 25 to 50 days 45 61 50 to 75 days 17 19 75 to 100 days 10 12 100 to 150 days 5 6 150 to 200 days 0 5 More than 200 days 1 1 More than 3 months 0 0 More than 6 months 0 0 More than 1 year 0 0 2011 1 to 4 days 318 623 5to10days 190 231 10 to 15 days 72 105 15 to 20 days 39 45 20 to 25 days 22 28 25 to 50 days 35 57 50 to 75 days 12 19
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1045W<br />
Written Answers<br />
26 MARCH 2013<br />
Written Answers<br />
1046W<br />
Department 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012<br />
Core DEFRA 17,251 14,953 14,393 10,331 8,694<br />
Executive agency<br />
Animal Health Veterinary<br />
Laboratories Agency<br />
Centre for Environment<br />
Fisheries and Aquaculture<br />
Science<br />
Food and Environment<br />
Research Agency<br />
Government<br />
Decontamination Service<br />
(absorbed into FERA on<br />
1 April 2009)<br />
Marine and Fisheries<br />
Agency (until 1 April 2010,<br />
then became Marine<br />
Management<br />
Organisation—see NDPBs)<br />
Pesticides Safety Directorate<br />
(transferred to Health and<br />
Safety Executive on 1 April<br />
2008)<br />
23,495 22,078 20,822 18,477 13,855<br />
3,622 3,443 3,381 2,203 2,463<br />
4,507 4,336 3,996 4,625 4,604<br />
237 27 1<br />
— 1<br />
— 1<br />
—<br />
1,517 1,242 323 1<br />
— 1<br />
—<br />
278 1<br />
— 1<br />
— 1<br />
— 1<br />
—<br />
Rural Payments Agency 35,189 31,938 29,535 22,204 20,950<br />
Veterinary Medicines<br />
1,316 1,110 1,446 1,065 1,004<br />
Directorate<br />
Non-departmental public<br />
body<br />
Agriculture and Horticulture n/a n/a n/a n/a 742<br />
Development Board<br />
Commission for Rural<br />
0 0 0 0 0<br />
Communities<br />
Consumer Council for Water 624 820 450 723 795<br />
Environment Agency 82,295 78,907 77,310 77,953 76,792<br />
Gangmasters Licensing<br />
731 397 327 217 313<br />
Authority 2<br />
Joint Nature Conservation 512 765 474 495 602<br />
Committee<br />
Marine Management<br />
Organisation (created on<br />
1 April 2010) 2 1<br />
— 1<br />
— 1<br />
— 1,312 960<br />
National Forest Company 2 86 60 125 22 22<br />
Natural England 12,860 13,549 12,066 10,115 9,228<br />
Royal Botanic Gardens, 2,074 1,555 2,270 1,634 2,128<br />
Kew 2<br />
Sea Fish Industry Authority 128 320 199 192 151<br />
n/a = Information not available<br />
1<br />
Body no longer in existence.<br />
2<br />
Figures shown cover financial, not calendar, years, e.g.‘2012’ equates to the<br />
2011-12 financial year.<br />
Most DEFRA bodies, including core DEFRA, were<br />
unable to provide information on the cost of sickness<br />
absence without incurring disproportionate costs. The<br />
following bodies were able to provide this information.<br />
£<br />
Non-departmental<br />
public body 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012<br />
Joint Nature<br />
Conservation<br />
Committee<br />
53,248 79,560 49,296 51,480 62,556<br />
National Forest<br />
13,488 9,368 17,550 3,633 3,688<br />
Company 1<br />
Natural England 1,858,760 1,841,439 1,664,779 1,413,699 1,374,005<br />
Royal Botanic<br />
165,521 159,500 159,873 183,361 183,575<br />
Gardens, Kew 1<br />
1<br />
Costs shown cover financial, not calendar, years.<br />
Only Natural England was able to provide a breakdown<br />
of staff sickness absences into the requested periods of<br />
time. All other bodies in the DEFRA network, including<br />
core DEFRA, could not provide this information without<br />
incurring disproportionate cost.<br />
Natural England<br />
Number of staff taking<br />
consecutive days<br />
Number of staff taking<br />
days in total<br />
2008<br />
1 to 4 days 454 693<br />
5to10days 287 366<br />
10 to 15 days 88 144<br />
15 to 20 days 38 65<br />
20 to 25 days 30 40<br />
25 to 50 days 45 81<br />
50 to 75 days 14 14<br />
75 to 100 days 9 11<br />
100 to 150 days 6 9<br />
150 to 200 days 1 2<br />
More than 200 days 0 1<br />
More than 3 months 0 0<br />
More than 6 months 0 0<br />
More than 1 year 0 0<br />
2009<br />
1 to 4 days 388 705<br />
5to10days 271 330<br />
10 to 15 days 80 126<br />
15 to 20 days 33 66<br />
20 to 25 days 34 32<br />
25 to 50 days 53 75<br />
50 to 75 days 30 33<br />
75 to 100 days 9 10<br />
100 to 150 days 5 6<br />
150 to 200 days 1 4<br />
More than 200 days 1 3<br />
More than 3 months 0 0<br />
More than 6 months 0 0<br />
More than 1 year 0 0<br />
2010<br />
1 to 4 days 408 792<br />
5to10days 227 229<br />
10 to 15 days 88 126<br />
15 to 20 days 41 55<br />
20 to 25 days 21 26<br />
25 to 50 days 45 61<br />
50 to 75 days 17 19<br />
75 to 100 days 10 12<br />
100 to 150 days 5 6<br />
150 to 200 days 0 5<br />
More than 200 days 1 1<br />
More than 3 months 0 0<br />
More than 6 months 0 0<br />
More than 1 year 0 0<br />
2011<br />
1 to 4 days 318 623<br />
5to10days 190 231<br />
10 to 15 days 72 105<br />
15 to 20 days 39 45<br />
20 to 25 days 22 28<br />
25 to 50 days 35 57<br />
50 to 75 days 12 19
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