House of Commons Hansard Debates for 15 Oct 1990

Mr. Onslow : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has published the results of the inquiry into the north-east coast drift net policy ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Curry : Under the terms of section 39 of the Salmon Act 1986, Ministers are required to carry out a review of salmon fishing on the east coast of Scotland and the north-east coast of England and to lay a report before Parliament as soon as practicable after November last year. The report, incorporating background information collected by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland and the Department will be submitted to Parliament as soon as possible.

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Dairy Products

Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the relationship between Dairy Crest and the Milk Marketing Board.

Mr. Curry : We receive representations on this subject from organisations and individuals from time to time. The Department monitors the relationship between the Milk Marketing Board and its subsidiary Dairy Crest to ensure that the latter operates on an equal footing with independent dairy companies.

Agricultural Exports (France)

Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken in respect of French attacks on agricultural exports from the United Kingdom ; what further proposals he has to support the United Kingdom farming industry ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Curry : My colleagues and I have taken every opportunity to make clear to the French authorities that everything possible should be done to ensure the safety of British drivers, livestock and vehicles, allowing our exports to flow freely and safely. The Government already provide very significant support for farmers, both nationally and through our membership of the European Community. I will continue to keep the situation of the agricultural industry under review.

Livestock Industry

Mr. Moate : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to assist the livestock industry to encourage beef consumption; and what are the latest trends and figures.

Mr. Maclean : The Meat and Livestock Commission, which is financed by a statutory levy on the meat industry, is charged, among other tasks, with the promotion of the meat and livestock industry. The latest figure of beef consumption from the national food survey (which does not include beef consumed in restaurants or as processed products) covers the period from April to June 1990. In that period the average person in the United Kingdom consumed 5.13 ounces of beef and veal a week. This compares with 5.62 ounces a week in the same period last year.

Mineral Hydrocarbons

Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to introduce further controls on the use of mineral hydrocarbons in veterinary medicines, pesticides or food additives.

Mr. Maclean : Our intention to prohibit the remaining uses of mineral hydrocarbons in food following the advice of the Food Advisory Committee and the Committee on Toxicity was announced to the House on 9 February 1989, at column 781 . Proposals to amend the Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food Regulations 1966 were subsequently issued for public comment. The comments received are currently under consideration and I shall make a further announcement on the outcome as soon as possible.

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Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library the report of the committee on toxicology on mineral hydrocarbons.

Mr. Maclean : In this instance the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) did not produce a report. Its findings were passed directly to the Food Advisory Committee, which in turn advised me of its recommendations. However, the considerations on which the COT based its advice were published in a consultation letter to interested parties on 9 February 1989. I have arranged for a copy of this letter to be lodged in the Library.

Personal Data

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department will take positive steps to discuss with the Data Protection Registrar all his Department's legislation that impacts on the use, collection, processing or holding of personal data ; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Curry : My Department will take all necessary steps to ensure that new legislation or major computer applications wherein personal data, as defined by the Act, are used, will be drawn to the attention of the Data Protection Registrar, and his views sought, before the introduction of such legislation.

The hon. Member will no doubt be aware that the Home Office is currently considering a system to cover the notification by Government Departments of any legislation likely to be sensitive in the area of personal data. My Department will comply fully with its instructions.

Eastern Europe (Imports)

Mr. Moate : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the level of soft fruit imports from eastern Europe ; what steps are being taken to monitor quantities and prices ; and what is his assessment of whether the European Economic Community and the United Kingdom have the necessary information and power to ensure that such imports are unsubsidised.

Mr. Curry : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have received numerous representations from growers and their representatives about the instability in the Community market for semi-processed soft fruit in recent months. This market is significantly influenced by substantial imports from Poland and Yugoslavia, with which the EC

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Commission makes annual agreements involving monitoring of quantities and prices of imports. Subsidies on imports from third countries generally are a matter for the EC Commission which has the necessary power to take any appropriate action. Following a request from the United Kingdom, the Commission has now introduced minimum import prices in the face of a disturbed market.

I have continued to press the Commission to implement the undertaking it gave last year when substantial tariff concessions were granted on Polish imports of the products in question. These involved the strengthening of the agreements with suppliers, notably by the introduction of different prices for the different qualities of products involved.

Fur Farms

Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what agricultural grants are available for fur farms ; whether there are grants which apply specifically to fur farms ; and what has been the level of agricultural grant uptake by fur farms in the past three years.

Mr. Maclean : Fur farmers are eligible for the same grants under the farm and conservation grant scheme and the farm diversification grant scheme as other farmers. No agricultural grants are targeted specifically to fur farms. Figures indicating the level of grant uptake by farmers do not allow for separate identification of fur farmers.

Live Animals (Export)

Mr. Michael : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list his responsibilities in relation to the export of live animals purely for slaughter.

Mr. Maclean : The Minister has licensing responsibilities for the export of farm livestock from Great Britain under the Export of Animals (Protection) Order 1981. Under the requirements all animals destined for slaughter must be rested for a minimum of 10 hours at an approved export lairage near the port, and be offered food and water. They receive a veterinary inspection for fitness to travel and their loading is supervised. Other orders made under the Animal Health Act 1981 lay down requirements for welfare conditions during export journeys.

There are also responsibilities under sections 40 to 49 of the 1981 Act which were designed to prevent the export of horses and ponies for slaughter.

The Minister is responsible for the issue of health certification for exported cattle and pigs in accordance with the requirements of EC directive 64/432.

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