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Radioactive Fallout
23. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about restrictions on sheep sales in the United Kingdom due to radioactive fallout.
Mr. Curry : Movement and slaughter restrictions continue to apply to sheep from those upland areas of Cumbria, north Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland most affected by radioactive fallout following the 1986 Chernobyl accident. A mark and release scheme is in operation under which every animal from the restricted area is live-monitored prior to marketing, thereby guaranteeing full protection to consumers in all circumstances. It is not possible to say how much longer restrictions will need to stay in force. They will be lifted as soon as it is possible to do so without compromising the safety of the food chain. All monitoring results are regularly published and copies are placed in the Library of the House.
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Aujeszky's Disease
24. Mr. Colvin : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the discussions held at the European Community Agriculture Council meeting on 25 and 26 June regarding Aujeszky's disease.
Mr. Curry : At the meeting of the Agriculture Council on 25 and 26 June, Aujeszky's disease was discussed in the context of a proposal for Community rules governing trade in porcine semen.
I made it clear that we would not accept provisions which would jeopardise our hard-won freedom from the disease and I am therefore pleased to report that the directive which was eventually adopted contains the necessary safeguards.
Consumer Panel
26. Mr. Skinner : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his consumer panel last met ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Maclean : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley).
Mr. Jim Marshall : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the consumer panel last met ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Maclean : The last meeting of the consumer panel took place on 2 May 1990. It discussed a wide range of issues including water quality, food labelling, BSE, hygiene training for food handlers and food irradiation. The minutes of this meeting are publicly available and have been placed in the Library of the House.
Milk Production
27. Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was milk production in 1989 and in each of the two previous years.
Mr. Maclean : United Kingdom milk production was as follows :
Year |Quantity
|(million
|litres)
---------------------------
1989 |14,477
1988 |14,684
1987 |15,039
Agricultural Development Advisory Service
28. Mr. Hunter : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received recently about the future of the Agricultural Development Advisory Service.
Mr. Curry : Many of the representations I receive about ADAS express the view that the very valuable services which it provides to the industry should continue.
Food Inspection
29. Mr. Loyden : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals to change the present arrangements concerning food inspection which lie within his responsibilities.
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Mr. Maclean : My hon. Friend the Minister of State stated in another place on 5 December 1989 that the powers in clause 5(4) of the Food Safety Bill to vary the division of responsibility for food law enforcement would be used to continue broadly the existing split of responsibilities in England and Wales.Agriculture (Fixed Capital)
32. Mr. Wigley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total annual investment in fixed capital in agriculture during each of the last five years.
Mr. Curry : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran) on 19 April at columns 973-74.
Factory Farming
33. Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to further regulate factory farming.
Mr. Maclean : I have just laid before this House for approval regulations that will apply to all farm animals. These regulations will implement recommendations by the Farm Animal Welfare Council and include measures to improve compliance with the welfare codes, to make certain provisions in the codes mandatory, and to require ventilation systems in intensive units to have alarms and back-up systems in the event of a failure.
I am continuing to press in the European Community for harmonisation of welfare standards at the highest possible level for all farm livestock species.
Sea Defences
35. Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to improve the financial arrangements for sea defences.
Mr. Curry : Under the Land Drainage Act 1976 drainage bodies (the National Rivers Authority, local authorities and internal drainage boards) have powers to carry out flood and sea defence works. Grants are available from my Department towards the cost of schemes which are technically sound, economically worth while and environmentally sympathetic. Basic rates range from 15 per cent. to 55 per cent., while sea and tidal defence schemes attract a supplement of 20 per cent.
Following the 1988 and 1989 public expenditure surveys, increased Government funding totalling£29.3 million was announced over the period 1989-90 to 1992-93. The greater part of this additional provision is being targeted towards urgent sea defence works on the east coast and elsewhere, and to works which will protect people and property.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent measures have been taken by his Department to help improve Britain's coastal defences.
Mr. Curry : My Department maintains a close liaison with the National Rivers Authority and local councils responsible for the promotion of coastal defence work to ensure that the state of the nation's defences is continually monitored. To assist with the promotion of such defence
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works, increased Government funding totalling£29.3 million was announced following the 1988 and 1989 public expenditure surveys over the period 1989-90 to 1992-93. This increased funding is being mainly targeted towards the improvement of defences on the coastline and for the protection of people and property.Sheep Dips
36. Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the continued use of organophosphorous sheep dips.
Mr. Maclean : All organophosphorous sheep dip products are subject to the licensing requirements of the Medicines Act 1968. A review of these products is currently under way as part of a wider review to ensure that all licensed veterinary medicines meet modern standards of safety, quality and efficacy. The review is expected to be completed early in 1992. My Department is also currently considering the guidance available on the disposal of sheep dips to see how this can be improved.
Farm Pollution
38. Mr. Mans : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the uptake in the last 12 months of schemes designed to deal with on-farm pollution.
Mr. Curry : In the 1989-90 financial year, 8,082 United Kingdom farmers notified the agriculture Departments of their intention to claim grant to help meet the cost of equipment to handle, treat and store farm waste under the farm and conservation grant scheme, and £20.41 million was paid for such grants under the scheme and its predecessor the agriculture improvement scheme.
Food Exports
39. Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to improve the prospects for British food exports.
Mr. Maclean : The Government are firmly committed to improving the prospects for British food exports. Earlier this year my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced further funding of Food From Britain. More recently he announced the appointment of Mr. Paul Judge, a successful and highly respected food industry entrepreneur, as chairman of that organisation. I now look to the industry to make full use of the resources and expertise of Food From Britain.
Beef
42. Mr. Colin Shepherd : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the prospects for the United Kingdom beef industry ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : The European Community market support arrangements contain provision for special intervention measures which apply at times of particular market weakness. Under these arrangements, over 5,500 tonnes of beef have been accepted for purchase in the United Kingdom. This increased support buying coupled with the lifting of the import bans imposed by certain member states should help to sustain the beef market.
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Mr. Alexander : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether normal shipments of beef have now been resumed to European countries.
Mr. Gummer : Following the 6 June Council of Agriculture Ministers shipments of beef have been resumed to all European Community countries. Austria has imposed import restrictions which we and the Commission are attempting to have lifted as soon as possible.
Mr. Alison : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his current scientific advice continues to show that beef is safe to eat.
Mr. Robert Hicks : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he proposes to introduce any further measures to restore confidence in beef production and consumption ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : Our action on BSE will continue to be based on the best scientific evidence available. As the chief medical officer has said, British beef can be eaten safely by everyone. The special intervention arrangements now operating in the United Kingdom together with the lifting of the import bans imposed by certain countries should help to sustain the market.
Agricultural Land
43. Dr. Marek : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to protect agricultural land.
Mr. Curry : I assume the hon. Member is referring to development involving agricultural land. Responsibility for day-to-day planning control, including the consideration and determination of applications for planning permission, rests with the appropriate planning authority in the first instance. The Government issue guidance to local authorities on development involving agricultural land, which is contained in Department of the Environment (Welsh Office) circular 16/87 (25/87) issued on 8 May 1987. Copies of the circular are available in the Library of the House.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to release more agricultural land for purposes other than agriculture.
Mr. Gummer : The use of land for most purposes other than agriculture is controlled by the town and country planning system. Responsibility for day-to-day planning matters, including proposals for development involving agricultural land, rests with local planning authorities in the first instance. Other non-agricultural uses of land are a matter for individual landowners' decision.
Beef Prices
45. Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the Meat and Livestock Commission to discuss beef prices.
69. Mr. Cox : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the Meat and Livestock Commission to discuss beef prices.
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Mr. Gummer : I am in regular contact with the chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission about matters relating to the livestock and livestock products industries, including beef prices. I last met the chairman on 8 June following the special Agriculture Council on 6-7 June.
Consumer Protection
46. Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the Consumers Association to discuss the protection of consumers.
53. Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the Consumers Association to discuss food safety.
Mr. Maclean : On 3 April 1990 representatives of the Consumers Association attended the first of the periodic meetings set up by my right hon. Friend with representatives of consumer organisations ; a further meeting is planned for 12 July.
Meat and Livestock Commission
47. Mr. George Howarth : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the Meat and Livestock Commission ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Maclean : I last met the chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission on 8 June, following the special Agriculture Council on 6 and 7 June, to discuss the implementation of the new certification arrangements for exports of beef.
14. Mr. John P. Smith : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the Meat and Livestock Commission to discuss exports of meat.
Mr. Curry : My right hon. Friend met the chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission on 8 June to discuss the new certification arrangements for exports of beef.
Farm Animal Welfare Council
48. Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he is awaiting from the Farm Animal Welfare Council.
Mr. Maclean : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Dr. Howells) on 19 April 1990 at column 1543.
61. Mr. Jack Thompson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to abolish the Farm Animal Welfare Council.
Fishing Industry
49. Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the fishing industry in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Curry : As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) on 17 May landings of all species by United Kingdom vessels in the United Kingdom for 1989 were worth some £389 million
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compared with £396 million in 1988. While fishing opportunities and earnings for North sea cod and haddock in 1990 have been reduced, the estimated value of landings so far this year based on the latest available information is at least similar to that at the same time last year.54. Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations to discuss catches.
Mr. Curry : I last met my hon. Friend the Member for St. Ives (Mr. Harris) together with representatives of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations, on 14 June, when a number of issues including catches were discussed.
Research
56. Mr. Wolfson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the latest developments in horticultural research.
64. Mr. Boswell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contribution his Department is currently making towards agricultural research.
Mr. Curry : My Department continues to make a substantial contribution towards research of relevance to agriculture, horticulture and protection of the rural environment. This year (1990-91) alone we plan to spend some £80 million, out of a total R and D budget of some £121 million. Details of my Department's activities, including a full list of MAFF-funded research projects in agriculture and food, were made available at the MAFF conference, "Effective R and D : a partnership for the 1990s", on 4 June. I am placing copies of these publications in the Library of the House. In addition, my Department maintains close links with the other agricultural Departments, research councils and associations and other bodies on the development of research programmes in this country.
57. Mrs. Roe : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on recent developments in the structure of horticultural research.
Mr. Curry : I am delighted at the recent launch of the British Society for Horticultural Research. We now have a single, unified organisation capable of taking horticultural R and D well into the next century.
Advisory Services
58. Mr. Steen : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which advisory and other services provided to farmers and fishermen are charged for in England.
Mr. Curry : My Department provides the following chargeable services to farmers and fishermen :
Advisory work undertaken by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service (with the exception of advice on animal welfare, conservation and rural diversification which continues to be free of charge). Milk and dairies inspections.
Licensing premises for the keeping of mink for fur-bearing purposes.
Testing, registration and approval of laboratories under the Poultry Flocks, Hatcheries and Protein Processing (Fees) Order 1990.
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Testing cattle for foot and mouth disease prior to export to the United States of America.Export inspection of poultry and hatching eggs.
Artificial insemination licences and approvals.
Waste food licensing.
Pig health scheme.
Poultry health scheme.
Sheep and goat health scheme.
Cattle health scheme.
Deer health scheme.
Approval of markets, assembly plants, pre-export private quarantine and isolation premises.
Export of birds, poultry and hatching eggs--inspection by whole-time veterinary officers.
Seed potatoes classification scheme. Plant health propagation scheme.
Plant health export certification and export nursery approval scheme.
Plant health import licences. Certain statistical data on the fishing industry. Shellfish export certificates.
Analytical, consultancy, training and R and D services provided by the fish technology laboratory.
Food (Consumer Spending)
60. Mr. Squire : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to commission research into the factors which influence consumer spending on food.
Mr. Maclean : My Department monitors consumer (household) expenditure on food through the national food survey. The results are published in the reports of the National Food Survey Committee and analyses are made into the variation in expenditure by type and size and income of household, by age of housewife, housing tenure and by region. The coverage and scale of the survey is being expanded.
Set-aside Scheme
65. Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the set- aside scheme.
Mr. Curry : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague).
Consumers and Farmers (Meetings)
66. Mr. Summerson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times since 1 January he has met (a) farmers' representatives and (b) consumers' representatives.
Mr. Gummer : Since 1 January 1990, I have met representatives of farming unions seven times and representatives of consumers three times. The three meetings with consumers' representatives included one, at my request, at which 15 consumer organisations were represented. My hon. Friends the Parliamentary Secretaries have met with representatives of consumer and farming organisations on a further 15 occasions.
Policy Decisions
70. Mr. Burns : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that policy decisions are based on sound scientific knowledge and advice.
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Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the new arrangements for research funded by his Department.
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