Question & Replies No 2251 to 2275

2009-11-27

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[PMG note: Replies are inserted as soon as they are provided by the Minister]

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION 2272

DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2009 [IQP No 28 -2009]

FIRST SESSION, FOURTH PARLIAMENT

Question 2272 for Written Reply, National Assembly: Ms M R Shinn (DA) to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:

(1) Whether the moratorium on new applications for pesticide or fungicide registrations has been lifted; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2)(a) what is the status of the backlog of new applications for registration, (b) at which research entity is the backlog occurring, (c) what is the cause of the backlog and (d) what steps are being made to rectify the situation? NW2982E

REPLY:

1. The department has never had a moratorium on the registrations of pesticides or fungicides.

2. (a) There has been a significant improvement in registrations since I granted the use of conditional registrations for pesticides containing new molecules.

b. The backlog is at the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

c. The backlog is created by delays with the handling of toxicological evaluations to determine maximum residue limits for public health and safety which is a mandate of the Department of Health. There is a general shortage of toxicologists in the country. The registrations have therefore to be forwarded to DoH before finalization by DAFF.

d. The Registrar has requested the Minister to grant approval for conditional registrations. The conditions require that the product is independently evaluated by a toxicologist and such reports made available to the Registrar. Clearer guidelines have been given to industry on how to prepare requests for approval to achieve conditional registrations. At the same time additional staff is being recruited.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO. 2271

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 13 NOVEMBER

2009 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 28)

"2271. Ms M R Shinn (DA) to ask the Minister of Science and Technology:

(a) What initiatives is her department taking to drive vaccine production to combat both (i) human and (ii) anlmal illness, (b) What vaccines are being prioritised, (c) which entity will be responsible for producing them, and (d) under which departmental budgets in each case? (NW2981E)

REPLY:

(a)(i) Cape Biotech Trust, one of the Biotechnology Innovation Centres of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is in the final stages of obtaining 12,5% equity in the Biovac Institute, a public-private partnership created by the South African Government through the Department of Health in 2003. Funds provided through Cape Biotech Trust assisted the Biovac Institute with the building of a facility compliant with current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) to manufacture clinical trial material for new African vaccines; the construction of a new quality control building to a standard appropriate to support the manufacturing of cGMP-compliant vaccines; and the establishment of a development facility and conjugate cGMP-compliant vaccine manufacturing platform.

Furthermore, the DST continues to interact with the Biovac Institute at a strategic level to explore further funding mechanisms.

In addition to the above, the DST is busy conducting a feasibility study on the establishment of a vaccines research and development initiative in South Africa for both anlmal and human vaccines. The aim of the initiative would be the coordination of all human and animal vaccine research and development activities in South Africa, which would eventually culminate in the production of such vaccines in the country. The initiative should support a more concentrated and effective handling of the country's vaccines development and production challenges, for both human and animai vaccines. It would also provide better funding opportunities, access to new technologies and the pooling of knowledge, skills and technical resources from the various human and animai vacclne production facilities In the country.

(b) Vaccines that support the Department of Health's Expanded Programme on immunisation and vaccines against neglected "third world" infections will be given priority. Furthermore, the DST will support the creation of the necessary infrastructure for human vaccines production at Biovac, as well as any necessary improvement of the infrastructure for anlmal production in line with modern requirements. The DST will also facilitate close Interaction between the animal and human vaccines experts in the country so that In case of zoonotic infections or other unexpected pandemics such as the current HlNl influenza pandemic, South Africa could produce its own pandemic vaccines.

(c) Blovac will become the primary agency for the production and distribution of human vaccines. Animal vaccines in South Africa are developed and produced at the Agricultural Research Council's Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute and at Onderstepoort Biological Products.

(d) The DST, the national Department of Health, and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, are all providing some funding towards vaccine development and production.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO 2270

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 23 OCTOBER 2009.

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 22-2009

"2270. Ms M R Shinn (DA) to ask the Minister of Science and Technology:

(1) Whether she intends bringing the medical and agricultural research councils under the jurisdiction of her department; if not, why not; is so,

(2) whether negotiations with the relevant government departments has started; if not, why not; if so, (a) what progress had been made and (b) what are the further relevant details? NW2981E

REPLY:

1. The Minister of Science and Technology does not intend to bring the medical and agricultural research councils under the jurisdiction of the Department of Science and Technology.

Why not:

A high-level model for strategic management of South Africa's science and technology system was developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and approved by Cabinet in October 2004. This model aimed to address fragmentation within the science and technology system and also to define the roles and responsibilities of science-based departments. The model outlines the role of DST as responsible for driving the cross-cutting science and technology initiatives and identifies the statutory institutions to support it to achieve this objective. The line departments are driving the sector-specific science and technology programmes. The focus of these programmes is on applied research and dominantly experimental development. In line with the Act governing the ARC and MRC, the 2004 strategic management model recommends that the science councils that undertake this kind of research are best placed in the relevant sector departments thus ARC and MRC have been assigned to the Departments of Agriculture and Health respectively.

The DST still maintains the responsibility of promoting and establishing common governance standards across the S&T system. As such, there are DST representatives on the Boards of the ARC, MRC, Mintek, SANBI, NECSA, SANER1 and WRC. The DST, in partnership with relevant sector departments, supports and develops interventions where there are technology gaps or market failures.

2. No negotiations are taking place between the DST and the Departments of Agriculture and Health: The DST is still guided by the "Strategic Management Model of South Africa's Science and Technology System (2004)" regarding the institutional framework of the science councils and the Acts governing the ARC and the MRC regarding the administration of their Acts.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO 2269

DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: TUESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2009

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2009 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: NO 28 – 2009)

Mr M S F de Freitas (DA) asked the Minister of Transport:

(1) Whether an analysis has been done with regard to the state of readiness of the Gautrain for the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup tournament; if not, why not; if so, what are the conclusions;

(2) whether alternatives are being considered should the said train not be ready; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether there is any budgeting implications for ensuring the train's readiness for the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup tournament; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

The Minister of Transport:

(1) The Gautrain Management Agency (GMA), which is responsible for managing the Concession Agreement (CA) with the Bombela Concession Company, on behalf of the Gauteng Province, continuously monitors the progress of the project. The completion of Phase 1 of the project, between Sandton and the O R Tambo International Airport, in time for the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup was not a condition of the CA, although provision was made for the Bombela Concession Company to earn a bonus for completion of Phase 1 in time for the tournament. However, Bombela has stated its willingness, subject to approval by the Gauteng Province, to commission a modified scope Phase1 rail service in time for the World Cup. The GMA is currently in discussion with Bombela regarding the specifications, terms and conditions associated with this offer.

(2) Consideration is being given to the introduction of bus services on a commercial contract basis as an alternative, should the Gautrain not be ready.

(3) The budgeting implications of Bombela's offer, if any, still have to be determined.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO 2268

DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: TUESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2009

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2009 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: NO 28 – 2009)

Mr M S F de Freitas (DA) asked the Minister of Transport:

(a) Who will manage the roll out of the demerit licence system, (b) when will this system officially come into operation, (c) what amount has been spent thus far against what has been budgeted and (d) what is budgeted for the future for this system?

______________________________________________________________________________

REPLY:

The Minister of Transport:

(a) The Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) will manage the rollout of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) in terms of the Provisions of the AARTO Act, which incorporates the Points Demerit System. The RTIA will be assisted by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) in the rollout of the AARTO.

(b) The AARTO pilot projects were implemented in the Municipalities of Tshwane and Johannesburg from July 2008 and February 2009, respectively. However, the national roll-out of the Points Demerit System will only be implemented through a phased approach when AARTO is implemented throughout the country in 2010.

(c) A budget of R5 million for the Points Demerit System was provided for the 2009/10 financial year. To date an amount of R893,135.01 was spent on international bench-marking for the Points Demerit System.

(d) A budget of R3 million and R1.5 million is provided for the 2010/11 and 2011/12 financial years, respectively.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO 2267

DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: TUESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2009

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2009 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: NO 28 – 2009)

Mr M S F de Freitas DA MP asked the Minister of Transport:

(a) Why do Airports Company South Africa's financial results indicate a shortfall of R17 billion to find a capital expenditure commitment and (b) what is being done to deal with this shortfall?

REPLY:

The Minister of Transport:

(a) and (b)

The Airports Company South Africa Limited's (ACSA) financial results will show that over the last three years the Company spent approximately R17 billion on infrastructure development, of which R5 billion will be spent this financial year. To date, ACSA has acquired sufficient funding to finance all its funding requirements, including the remaining R5 billion capital investments for this financial year.

When the current infrastructure development programme is completed, ACSA would have spent a total of R17 billion.

Therefore, there is no shortfall of R17 billion.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO 2266

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 13 NOVEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 28- 2009)

Date reply submitted : 15 December 2009

Dr L L Bosman (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:

(1) (a) How many (i) licensed and (ii) unlicensed hunting rifles that were used in violent crimes in the past year, (b) what is the most used caliber of firearms that were used in violent crimes and (c) what is the most popular origin of these firearms;

(2) whether he has considered the loss of income to the hunting and farm tourist sector by the (a) introduction of unprecedented red tape to local and foreign hunters, (b) relicensing of rifles and (c) introduction of the red tape to foreign hunters;

(3) whether any steps have been considered to further allow firearm owners with licensed firearms who failed to relicense their firearms to license them under the new act; if not, why not; if so, what steps?

NW2976E

REPLY:

(1) To answer this question, an ad hoc request will have to be forwarded to Information Systems Management (ISM) to identify all cases in which firearms had been used by the perpetrators. Once that has been established, a request will have to be sent out to all the police stations where such cases have been registered. Police officials will then have to be withdrawn from operational duties to work through the identified dockets in an effort to try and establish what types of firearms had been used; and if hunting rifles are thus identified, whether these were licensed or unlicensed at the time, as well as their caliber and origin. In view of the above it could not be regarded as cost-effective to answer the question.

(2) The Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No 60 of 2000) does not differentiate between categories of citizens in the country. The Firearms Control legislation has not deprived any person of an income. If a hunter wishes to continue to generate an income, the only requirement is that the person must comply with the provisions of the Firearms Control legislation.

(a) It is not clear what Ared tape@ is being referred to. Government opted to introduce new legislation in South Africa to ensure that proper control, over firearms is exercised. The Government=s stance, on addressing serious and violent crime is therefore, to impose stricter firearms control. The Firearms Control Legislation has made provision for individual firearm owners (including hunters), firearm dealers, the professional hunting industry and other institutions to possess firearms, as long as the respective persons and institutions, comply with the said legislation. There has never been any malicious or dubious intent, to local and foreign hunters, in respect of firearms control in South Africa and did not single out local hunters or foreign hunters.

(b) The introduction of the renewal of firearm licenses, within the Firearms Control legislation, was to ensure that all firearm owners who had received such firearm licences, in terms of the repealed Arms and Ammunition Act, 1969 (Act No. 75 of 1969) comply with the Transitional Provisions of the Firearms Control legislation since its implementation. It was required of all citizens to ensure that they do in fact, comply with the renewal procedure. Where a hunter is in possession of rifles and he/she wished to renew such rifles, it was required of such hunter to apply for the renewal of the firearm license in terms of section 15 (occasional hunting) or section 16 (dedicated hunting) of the Firearms Control legislation.

(3) a. 84% foreign arrivals to South Africa in 2008 had visited SA before. In terms of the breakdown that the Departure Survey measures:

(i) 16% (1,5 million) were first time visitors who are predominantly arrive by air. This represents 47% of the overseas air arrivals, which make up 26% of the total foreign arrivals. 22% had visited 2-3 times, 16.8% had visited up to 9 times and 14,3% over 10 times.

(ii) Land arrivals from Africa who make up 74% of total foreign arrivals – of which 79% have visited South Africa more than 10 times and 96% have visited South Africa before.

b. A typical tourist from the Africa land markets stayed 1 night and spent R6,200 per trip contributing R43,5billion to the economy in 2008. A typical tourist from the air markets stayed 6 nights and spent R13,800 per trip contributing R30,7billion to the economy in 2008.

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 2264

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 28 OF 13 NOVEMBER 2009

Mr K S Mubu (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

(1) (a) How many South African citizens are imprisoned in foreign countries as at the latest specified date for which information is available,

(b) how many of these persons have been convicted of dealing in drugs and

(i) men and

(ii) women that were convicted of drug dealing;

(2) Whether any of them have the possibility of serving their terms in South Africa; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how many?

REPLY:

(1) (a) The Department is aware of 1,062 South African citizens who are incarcerated abroad as on 18 November 2009. The number reflected are known cases where citizens exercised their right to request consular assistance in terms of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963.

(b) 691 (65%) of South African citizens are detained (abroad) for drug related offences.

(i) Male: 362

(ii) Female: 329

(2) Because of Government's Policy not to enter into Prisoner Transfer Agreements, no prisoner has the possibility of serving their terms in South Africa.

Where requests for release on humanitarian grounds have been received, these have been considered according to the approved Departmental criteria.

WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION 2260

13 November 2009

Publication No 28- 2009

Dr W G James (DA) to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training:

(a) Who were the members of the Transition Oversight Committee and the six technical task teams appointed to oversee the migration of the Further Education and Training Colleges to his department, (b) what budget was allocated for their work and (c) what are the (i) timelines and (ii) deadlines for the reports to be submitted? NW2969E

REPLY:

(a) The membersof the Transition Oversight Committee are:

Ø Mr J Pampalis

Ø Prof M Metcalfe

Ø Dr M Qhobela

Ø Mr F Patel

Ø Dr B Mahlobo

Ø Adv E Boshoff

Ø Mr S Mommen

Ø Mr T Tredoux

Ø Mr A Schoeman

Ø Ms T Futshane

Ø Ms A Singh

COMPOSITION OF THE SIX TECHNICAL TASK TEAMS ON THE TRANSFER OF COLLEGES

Name of Task Team	Composition
1. Legislation Matters	· Adv E Boshoff (Convenor) · Mr S Richter · Mr C Leukes · Dr BS Mahlobo

2. Institutional support: Governance, Management, IT Support, Information and Data Collection	· Mr S Mommen (Convenor) · Mr ATP Mpanza · Dr BS Mahlobo · Mr A Raubemheimer · Dr J van Rensburg · Ms S Swaratlhe · Mr J Mogale · Dr M Buthelezi · Dr N Nkoe
3. Finance and Funding	· Mr T Tredoux (Convenor) · Dr S Padayachee · Ms Masipa · Dr J van Rensburg · Ms S Swaratlhle · Mr S Mommen · Dr BS Mahlobo

4. Staffing and Human Resources	· Mr A Schoeman (Convenor) · Ms S Gear · Mr J Slater · Dr BS Mahlobo

5. Student Enrolment and Support	· Ms T Futshane (Convenor) · Ms Z Gungwa · Ms K Madumo · Mr S Ntuli

6. Qualifications, Programmes and Assessment	· Ms A Singh (Convenor) · Ms P Vinjevold · Ms R Burger · Ms N Pote · Ms M Koen · Ms M Swart

(b) No budget was allocated for their work.

ii) The Technical Task Teams submit their reports on monthly basis to the Transfer Oversight Committee.

QUESTION 2257 (Written) 19 NOVEMBER 2009

Mr S J Masango (DA) to ask the Minister of Public Works:

(a) How many calls have been received through his department's hotline Operation Re Ya Patala's (i) toll free and (ii) fax numbers (details furnished), (b) how many of these calls have been dealt with, (c) what amount has been paid back to service providers as a result of the calls received by the hotline, (d) how many service providers are still owed money, (e) what is the amount that is still owed to service providers by (i) one month, (ii) three months and (iii) six months and (f) when will this money be paid?NW2966E

REPLY:

(a) The number of call received by the department's call center since the inception (from mid-October 2009) to date is only 32 formal queries.

(i) All 32 queries have been received through the toll free number.

(ii) No querry that have been received through fax number to date.

(b) All calls have been dealt with accordingly as they received.

(c) R 1 275.571.00

(d) According to the cases handled through the toll free line there are eleven service providers that are still owed by the department.

(e) (i) R2,557,521

(ii) Since the Hotline was only established in mid-October 2009, the Department does not have such information from the service providers

(iii) Since the Hotline was only established in mid-October 2009, the Department does not have such information from the service providers

(iv) The remaining invoices are getting paid as and when supporting documents are received and the verification is completed. The number changes on a daily basis depending on the cases received.

QUESTION NUMBER 2256

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 13 NOVEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 28)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) Whether the Peak Quarry in Eersterivier have an Environmental Management Programme Report (EPMR); if not, why not; if so, (a) when was it approved, (b) when did the quarry first commence operations, (c) in what year is expected to stop operations, (d) how many times has inspectors from her department visited the mine since January 2008 and (e) what was the date of each visit;

(2) Whether any directives have been issued against the mine for non-compliance on any matters relating to the EMPR since it commenced operations; if so, what are relevant details?

(3) What are provisions in EMPR that relate to how the quarry operators need to manage (a) noise and (b) dust?

1 (a) Yes, the mine has an approved Environmental Management Programme Report (EMPR), approved on 12 June 2000 in terms of the repealed Minerals Act, 1991 (Act 50 of 1991).

(b) A mining authorization was issued on 22 July 1994 in terms of the repealed Minerals Act, 1991, but the mine was in operation long before that time, in terms of legislation prior to the Minerals Act, 1991.

(d) Inspections are conducted in accordance with an inspection plan. As such a total of 6 mine health inspection have been conducted.

(e) Inspections were conducted as per the inspection plans.

(2) No.

(3) The information relating to noise and dust levels is contained in the approved Environmental Management Programme Report, as amended. The noise provision addresses noise within and outside the perimeter of the mine.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO. 2253 iNTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 28 of 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13 November 2009

Mr. GRKrumbock (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:

(1) Whether any positions of director with Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) have been filled without the posts being advertised since 1January 2009; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, why were these posts not advertised;

(2) whether any positions for new directors have been filled without being advert'lsed; 'If so, (a) what posts and (b) what is the name of the person appointed to the post in each case;
(3) Whether any grievances have been directed at the Deputy Director-General of MCM for the manner in which these posts were filled; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) What are the (a) names and (b) designations of all the persons who were on the selection panels for these posts?

2253. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
(1 )
(2)(a)&(b)
No. No appointments made in accordance with Public Service Act, 1994, as amended,
Yes. There are 3 new Director Positions that were filled through Section 40 of the National
Environmental Management Act (Act No, 107 of 1998) [NEMA] since 1January 2009, The
said appointments are as follows:
i) Speciaist Advisor: Antarctica and Islands [2-year Contract appointed at aDirector Level]: Mr.
H.A. SMIT.
Ii) Specialist Advisor: Biodiversity &Eco-System research [Oceans &Climate Change [3-year
Contract appointed at aDirector Level]: Professor G.B. BRUNDRIT
iii) Director: Stakeholder Engagement &Outreach [5-year Contract]', Mr. DDA Stevens.

(3) No.

(4)(a)&(b)(i) Not applicable,

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO 2251

DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: TUESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2009

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2009 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: NO 28 – 2009)

Mr G R Krumbock DA MP asked the Minister of Transport:

Whether he has found that the flights scheduled over the period of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup tournament are adequate; if not, (a) what potential bottlenecks have been identified, (b) what steps have been taken to address the bottlenecks and (c) what are the further relevant details?

NW2960E

REPLY:

The Minister of Transport:

(a) The aviation sector is currently finalising their planning for 2010 through the Aviation Sector Task Team (ASSTT), an umbrella structure which has been brought together under one body, covering airlines, airports, air traffic management, ground-handlers and other support functions. The sector produced their first preliminary draft plans in October 2008. These plans were revised and updated and submitted to FIFA in September 2009.

However, at the time there were still many unknown variables. These included the actual teams which would qualify, the team camps, how the teams would be drawn for the tournament and accommodation nodes where spectators would reside. The teams have since qualified and the forthcoming draw will illustrate where the highest demand for air travel is likely to be experienced. In this regard, South African airlines have made elaborate plans to accommodate the World Cup spectators. The airline schedules will be revised after the draw on 04 December 2009 and go live on the reservation systems to be accessed by prospective users.

(b) In order to address potential bottlenecks, the aviation sector will operate on a 24 hour basis during the World Cup. New routes will also be established to ensure the smooth and efficient transportation of spectators between host cities. In addition, some airlines have planned to use bigger wide-body aircraft on the domestic market to alleviate a potential shortage of seats.

International services will be enhanced through additional bilateral frequencies and supplementary flights. However, the bulk of spectators are anticipated to arrive by way of charter fights. In this regard, we are in constant contact with FIFA and MATCH to ensure adequate flight services to and from South Africa.

The domestic aviation sector has limitations in both infrastructure and services and any demand over and above available capacity will be shifted to land-based modes of transport such as busses, trains and taxis.

(c) In general, we are satisfied with the level of preparedness of the aviation sector to help deliver a successful World Cup in 2010. Our plans will be refined, finalised and ready for testing and implementation by the end of the first quarter of 2010.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

(For written reply)

QUESTION NO. 2249

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 28 of 2009

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13 November 2009

Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:

(1) Whether any functions besides the management of mariculture are still to be transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether (a) any new functions have been transferred or (b) transfer of such functions has started from the Department to Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) since 1 January 2009; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details in each case;

(3) whether a policy document or position paper is being drafted by MCM for making a case for it to be transformed into an agency; if so, who mandated this project; if not, what is the position in this regard;

(4) whether the matter is being reviewed in another form within Marine and Coastal Management; if so, what are the relevant details; if not,

(5) whether any entity outside MCM has been contracted to draft the policy document or position paper; if so, (a) what entity and (b) what is the cost of the project? NW2958E

2249. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

1. The possibility of transferring wild fisheries (in addition to marine aquaculture) to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) has been mooted, but no final decision has been taken in this regard.

(2)(a) No.

(2)(b) No. There has been no transfer of new functions from the Department to the Branch: Marine and Coastal Management. The only change since 1 January 2009 is that the corporate affairs or support functions which previously fell under the Branch: Corporate Affairs but whose staff were based at MCM, will now report directly to MCM.

3. No position or policy paper has been drafted to transform MCM into an agency. The Department is however, currently considering various organisational models and options.

(4) The possibility of creating an accounting board for the entity to alleviate the conflicting dual accounting authority role of the Director-General is being considered. This would require an amendment to the existing legislation.

(5) No. The Department has to date made use of internal organisational design capacity and expertise.

2009-11-27

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