The Environment Agency publish permits that they issue under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED).
This decision includes the permit and decision for:
Updated: Year end Bovine TB area epidemiology reports 2017 now available.
These are detailed reports covering the epidemiology of bTB in the various counties or regions that make up the low risk areas (LRA) of England.
These supplement the regional breakdowns of the official bovine TB (bTB) statistics published every month, and provide cattle keepers and other interested parties with a clear overview of the TB situation in their area.
The reports pull together descriptive statistics on new and ongoing TB herd breakdowns (cases) in LRA at county level and include, among other information:
The reports are cumulative narratives and will be available at 6-monthly intervals during the year. For each calendar year, we publish an interim (mid-year) report covering the period from 1 January to 30 June, followed by a final (year-end) report.
In addition to these reports, the iBTB interactive map shows the location details of current TB breakdowns and breakdowns resolved in the last 5 years in England and Wales.
Professor Laurence Williams FREng FIMechE FNucI stood down as Chair of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) in November 2017. He has held the post since November 2012.
Professor Williams has had a long and distinguished career in the field of nuclear regulation, fulfilling the role of the government’s Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations from 1998 to 2005, and is currently Chair of the Defence and Nuclear Safety Committee. He is Professor of Nuclear Safety at the University of Central Lancashire, and a senior research fellow at Imperial College London.
Professor Williams said:
The effective management of the UK’s radioactive waste is essential not only to deal with past legacies but also for the successful exploitation of nuclear energy in the future. CoRWM has made, and will continue to make an important contribution to the management of radioactive waste.
The past 5 years have been both challenging and rewarding knowing that I have been able to contribute to this essential task. It has been both an honour and privilege to have chaired a committee of such distinguished and talented people.
I have every confidence that the current members of CoRWM will continue to provide invaluable advice to ensure that the new Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) siting process will be a success.
Energy Minister Richard Harrington said:
On behalf of BEIS and the devolved administrations, I would like to thank Professor Williams for his outstanding commitment, dedication and professionalism serving as Chair of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) for the last 5 years.
CoRWM performs a vital function in providing scrutiny and advice on government radioactive waste management programmes. This has included constructive feedback and challenge in various fora such as the Geological Disposal Programme Board, as well as an invaluable level of independent assurance.
You have made an enormous contribution to the committee over the years and we particularly wish to thank you for your commitment to the timely and effective delivery of successive work programmes and CoRWM annual reports; your contribution to the implementation strategy for Scotland’s policy on higher activity radioactive waste; and your assistance in the development of the Welsh government’s radioactive waste policy.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has launched a recruitment campaign to find a new Chair for CoRWM, expected to complete by April 2018. Further details can be found on the public appointments website.
CoRWM’s Deputy Chair Professor Campbell Gemmell is standing in as interim Chair of the Committee until a new Chair is appointed.
The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management provides independent scrutiny and advice to UK government and devolved administration ministers on long-term management of radioactive waste, including storage and disposal. The Committee’s primary task is to provide independent scrutiny of the UK government’s and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s proposals, plans and programmes to deliver geological disposal, together with robust interim storage, as the long-term management option for higher activity waste. For more information see the CoRWM website.
The role of CoRWM Chair is remunerated at a rate of £450 per day; it is expected that the Chair will spend about 1.5 days per week on CoRWM business.
The appointment is made by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Energy and Industry, on behalf of the Devolved Administrations as joint sponsors of CoRWM.
Appointments to CoRWM are made in accordance with the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the Nolan recommendations, appointees’ political activity (if any declared) must be made public.
A new condition will be added to make it explicit that catches of any species can only be attributed to the vessel used to capture, and cannot be transferred to another vessel.
Master and owners of vessels will be required to take reasonable steps to ensure that sales notes submitted to the MMO correctly attributes species to the correct vessel .
The MMO is intending to amend the current 10m and under licence condition by 19 January 2018.
Bovine TB will be caught and stamped out more quickly in England’s cattle herds under plans to strengthen testing in the highest-risk areas of the country.
Six monthly routine tests will be introduced for all herds in the High Risk Area – mainly the South West and parts of the Midlands – with annual tests preserved for herds that have gone five or more years without disease, and farms accredited under the Cattle Herd Certification Standards (CHeCS) scheme, requiring tougher biosecurity measures to be observed.
Grants to vaccinate badgers in the Edge Area of the country – the ‘buffer’ between the High Risk and Low Risk Areas – are also available now for schemes to run next year.
These moves are part of the government’s comprehensive 25-year plan to eradicate bovine TB in England and come as recent peer-reviewed research shows badger control in Gloucestershire (58%) and Somerset (21%) – where culling began in 2013 – has contributed to significant reductions in the disease in herds.
Results published today also confirm that all 19 licensed intensive badger control operations achieved the badger population reductions needed to realise disease control benefits.
Farming Minister George Eustice said:
Our comprehensive strategy to eradicate bovine TB is delivering results. We are introducing more frequent testing of cattle to find and stamp out disease more quickly than ever before, to add to our tough restrictions on cattle movements to stop disease spreading. We are also addressing the disease in wildlife and it is encouraging to see early research shows badger control is having the expected results in driving down levels of TB.
Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens said:
This year’s results show that badger control can be delivered successfully on a much wider scale, with all 11 new areas delivering effective operations. Expansion into further areas, alongside our robust cattle movement and testing regime, will allow us to achieve and maintain long term reductions in the level of TB across the South West and Midlands where the disease is widespread.
In the Edge Area of the country, testing frequency will become more risk-based from January 2018, with more herds undertaking six-monthly testing. This will help vets identify and address outbreaks more quickly, helping to stop the spread of disease to new areas.
The government is offering grants under the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme, which recommences in 2018 and aims to create a buffer zone between the highest- and lowest-risk disease areas of England. The scheme is open for the first round of applications until 19 January and successful applicants will receive a government grant for at least 50% of their costs from a fund worth £700,000 over four years.
Dealing with Bovine TB in England costs taxpayers over £100 million a year, required the culling of more than 29,000 cattle in 2016 and causes devastation and distress for rural communities.
Other measures announced today as part of the government’s 25-year strategy to eradicate bovine TB are:
New compensation arrangements for pigs, sheep, goats, deer and camelids which have to be slaughtered because of bovine TB. The changes will come into force on 2 January 2018 and will bring statutory compensation in line with arrangements in Scotland and Wales.
Reduced compensation for animals which are unclean when presented for slaughter.
Delayed slaughter of pregnant cattle which test positive for bTB.
Farmers can also access practical guidance on the TB Hub website, which brings advice from farming experts, vets and government together in one place.
Background:
The recent research paper referred to is Brunton et al (2017) Assessing the effects of the first 2 years of industry-led badger culling in England on the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in 2013-2015. Ecology Evolution. 7 (18). 7213-7230.
The vaccination grants application page can be accessed here.
The cull results can be accessed here.
In September, the government awarded a contract to the Origin Group to deliver a new bTB advisory service. The easily accessible service offers clear, practical advice to help farmers in High Risk and Edge Areas to protect their herds from the disease and manage the impacts of a TB breakdown on their farm.