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Of these, the applications from Cwmcarn, Brynmawr, Bishop Vaughan, and Emrys ap Iwan schools have been approved for grant-maintained status and those from Queens and Cefnpennar have been rejected. Proposals from the other six schools are currently before me for decision and I hope to make announcements on them soon.River Corring (Pollution)
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment has been made of the pollution caused from the spoil from the Nantewlaeth reclamation scheme discharging into the River Corring in the Aran valley following flooding.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The National Rivers Authority undertook a visual assessment following the pollution incident which affected the Rivers Corrwg and Afan on 30 November 1992. This found siltation of the river gravels and a corresponding smothering of fish spawning reeds. A survey of the effect of this incident on fish populations will be undertaken by the authority later this year.
Assisted Places Scheme
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the amount of money given under the assisted places scheme to each of the private schools of Wales in each of the years from the schemes inception up to the latest possible year ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The information requested is as follows :
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Assisted Places Scheme: Payment to Schools Financial Years 1981-82-1991-92
School |1981-82 |1982-83 |1983-84 |1983-84 |1985-86 |1986-87 |1987-88 |1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92
[NL] |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£
Christ College,
Brecon |7,986 |21,443 |36,063 |48,289 |62,116 |95,473 |131,470 |155,404 |189,033 |244,081 |321,779
Howell's
School,
Denbigh |11,011 |37,883 |70,107 |96,971 |132,971 |179,033 |225,465 |243,740 |237,474 |231,442 |254,759
Howell's
School,
Llandaff |17,774 |57,094 |106,799 |144,940 |209,858 |274,274 |314,274 |319,099 |334,290 |358,798 |328,763
Llandovery
College |3,737 |9,217 |19,615 |31,013 |38,279 |454,407 |55,732 |75,308 |92,650 |140,381 |203,641
Monmouth
School (for
Boys) |18,515 |52,035 |92,610 |134,170 |181,642 |233,684 |307,291 |277,352 |323,194 |303,951 |374,475
Monmouth
School (for
Girls) |9,644 |21,677 |37,072 |52,598 |68,760 |90,225 |109,297 |144,422 |128,010 |140,618 |166,552
Penrhos
College |5,108 |21,973 |38,489 |62,843 |81,089 |99,399 |140,459 |136,944 |156,617 |183,500 |225,688
Rydal School |4,194 |38,206 |53,896 |56,864 |67,768 |93,274 |110,254 |112,767 |128,121 |153,508 |189,153
Lowther
College* |23,709 |15,244 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |101,678 |274,772 |454,651 |627,688 |842,483 |1,519,769 |1,394,242 |1,465,036 |1,589,389 |1,756,279 |2,064,810
*Lowther College closed in July 1982.
Labour Statistics
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many economically active males there were in each district in (a) 1987 and (b) 1991 ; what percentage those numbers represented of the population of each district ;
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and what was the percentage change in the number of economically active males in each district between 1987 and 1991.Mr. David Hunt : The number of economically active males and the percentage they represent of the male population of working age are given for 1986 and 1991 in the following table. Data for 1987 are not available. The percentage change between the two years is not shown as the sources used for the data are not strictly comparable.
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Economically active males in Welsh districts 1986 and 1991
1986 1991
|Econ active males |Percentage of males|Econ active males |Percentage of males
|aged 16-64 (000) |aged 16-64 |aged 16-64 (000) |aged 16-64
|economically active |economically active
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alyn & Deeside |19.1 |87.2 |20.8 |87.2
Colwyn |10.8 |83.4 |12.5 |81.1
Delyn |17.6 |86.3 |18.3 |84.2
Glyndwr |10.4 |86.0 |11.0 |84.6
Rhuddlan |11.7 |81.0 |12.2 |79.7
Wrexham Maelor |31.0 |85.6 |30.0 |83.3
Carmarthen |12.8 |83.5 |13.8 |81.4
Ceredigion |15.1 |80.7 |15.6 |80.1
Dinefwr |8.6 |80.1 |9.2 |78.1
Llanelli |17.4 |78.1 |17.2 |76.9
Preseli Pembrokeshire |17.8 |84.7 |18.2 |82.5
South Pembrokeshire |9.7 |82.2 |10.5 |81.7
Blaenau Gwent |18.8 |77.6 |18.4 |76.9
Islwyn |16.3 |81.5 |16.7 |79.1
Monmouth |19.6 |86.6 |20.5 |84.7
Newport |33.0 |84.0 |34.2 |82.9
Torfaen |23.4 |83.1 |23.1 |81.2
Aberconwy |10.3 |85.0 |12.6 |82.4
Arfon |13.1 |84.4 |13.3 |80.2
Dwyfor |6.4 |82.5 |6.7 |82.4
Meirionnydd |7.4 |83.5 |8.1 |82.2
Ynys Mon-Isle of Anglesey |18.0 |85.0 |17.6 |82.3
Cynon Valley |15.6 |78.3 |15.2 |76.0
Merthyr Tydfil |13.9 |75.8 |13.7 |75.9
Ogwr |31.9 |79.1 |33.2 |80.4
Rhondda |18.3 |72.5 |17.9 |74.5
Rhymney Valley |25.3 |76.3 |25.0 |76.8
Taff-Ely |22.8 |78.6 |25.0 |81.0
Brecknock |10.0 |84.1 |10.4 |81.6
Montgomeryshire |13.8 |89.8 |14.4 |86.1
Radnor |5.9 |87.0 |6.2 |85.5
Cardiff |68.0 |82.0 |70.3 |81.8
Vale of Glamorgan |29.0 |85.9 |29.4 |83.5
Lliw Valley |14.9 |82.1 |15.3 |79.3
Neath |16.2 |77.0 |15.8 |78.1
Port Talbot |12.2 |76.5 |11.8 |75.0
Swansea |45.7 |79.5 |43.8 |78.7
Notes:
1. Economically active students are excluded.
2. Data for 1991 are from the 1991 Census.
3. Data for 1986 are extracted from the Welsh Inter Censal Survey are subject to sampling error, and are not strictly
comparable to Census data.
Roads Department (Wildlife Protection)
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures his Roads Department has taken and will take to minimise disturbance to badgers and other wildlife ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The provision of badger-proof fencing, badger crossings and gates, together with the relocation of setts are among steps that are, or may be, taken, depending on the particular circumstances. Mitigating measures for other wildlife are subject to the species involved.
The Department's highways directorate recognises the need to mitigate and minimise the effects of road construction on wildlife and will continue to pursue that objective.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the budget for the programme for environmentally sensitive areas in each year since 1985 ; and what the budget will be in each year for the next three years.
Mr. David Hunt : The first environmentally sensitive area in Wales- the Cambrian mountains (original)--was
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not designated until 1 March 1987. The Cambrian mountains (extension) and Lleyn peninsula ESAs were designated on 1 January 1988. I intend to designate four further ESAs--Anglesey, Radnor, Preseli and the Clwydian range--during 1993. Actual and estimated Welsh ESA payments to farmers are set out in the following table :
|Year
------------------------------------------------------
1987-88 | 0.02 (actual)
1988-89 | 0.37 (actual)
1989-90 | 0.70 (actual)
1990-91 | 0.88 (actual)
1991-92 | 1.46 (actual)
<2>1992-93 | 3.74 (estimate)
<3>1993-94 | 5.79 (estimate)
<3>1994-95 | 7.61 (estimate)
<3>1995-96 | 7.76 (estimate)
Notes:
<1> The figures have been rounded.
<2> Actual 1992-93 expenditure will be published in
the 1992 Appropriation Accounts.
<3> The 1993-94 provision will be published in the
1993-94 Main Supply Estimate Class XV Vote 2. The
provision for 1994-95 and 1995-96 will also be
published in the Main Supply Estimate for those
years.
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Special Education
Mr. Richards : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how special education will be regarded under the proposed system of unitary authorities ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Special education will continue to be treated as a matter of high priority under the new structure of local government. The local education authority will retain responsibility for assessing, and making appropriate provision for, children with special education needs.
National Biodiversity Plan
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to develop a national biodiversity plan for Wales.
Sir Wyn Roberts : The action plan on biodiversity is being prepared on a UK-wide basis, but the Welsh Office and the Countryside Council for Wales are, of course, being closely consulted. National Museum
Mr. Faulds : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the attendance figures for 1992 reported by the national museum of Wales, including its outstations ; and what was the percentage change compared with the attendance figures for 1991.
Sir Wyn Roberts : A total of 867,943 people visited the national museum of Wales during 1992, an increase of 27 per cent. over the attendance reported for 1991.
Farm Incomes
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the level of farm incomes in (a) less favoured areas, (b) disadvantaged areas and (c) severely disadvantaged areas, in cash terms and real terms in each year since 1982.
Mr. David Hunt : The information is available in this form only since 1985-86 and is as follow :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Technology Growth Fund
Year |Expenditure |Percentage of Agency|Percentage of WDI
|Expenditure |Expenditure
|£K |Per cent. |Per cent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988-89 |80 |0.07 |3.18
1989-90 |540 |0.41 |17.24
1990-91 |120 |0.08 |3.40
1991-92 |90 |0.06 |2.16
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the level of cereal crop production in Wales in 1992 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Hunt : According to the cereal production survey conducted during September 1992, the production of cereal crops in Wales for the 1992 harvest was as follows :
Wheat 80 thousand tonnes
Winter barley 90 thousand tonnes
Spring barley 80 thousand tonnes
Oats 20 thousand tonnes
Triticale 1 thousand tonnes
Roads
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when work to improve the A483 Welshpool to Shropshire borders road is due to commence ; and if he will make a statement.
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Sir Wyn Roberts : The A483 Pant-Llanymynech bypass scheme is expected to start in the medium term, between April 1995 and March 1998.
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the consultants for the Newton bypass will be appointed ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : Consultants are expected to be appointed in spring 1993.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received in relation to the possibility of trunking the South Glamorgan peripheral distributor road ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts : I am aware of no such representations.
Council Rents
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average rent of council homes in Wales for each year since 1979 adjusted for rises in inflation.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The average rents of council homes set by local authorities are given in the following table :
Average weekly rent of council homes in Wales
|Rents adjusted to
|1992-93 prices
|£s
------------------------------------------------------
1979 |15.26
1980 |16.02
1981 |21.27
1982 |24.20
1983 |24.16
1984 |24.51
1985 |24.77
1986 |25.01
1987 |24.64
1988 |25.32
1989 |26.90
1990 |27.21
1991 |28.05
1992 |29.81
Source: 1979-1989 CIPFA.
1990-1992 Local authority returns.
Farm Incomes
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average income of hill sheep farmers in Wales in each of the past five years ; and what are the projected levels for the present and the coming financial years, taking into account any changes to the grant system.
Mr. David Hunt : Average incomes of hill and upland sheep farms for each of the years 1987-88, 1988-89 and 1989-90 are as follows :
|£
----------------------
1987-88 |9,380
1988-89 |15,283
1989-90 |9,468
Figures for 1990-91 and 1991-92 together with income forecast for 1992-93 are at table 14 of the statistical tables prepared in connection with the 1992 autumn review of hill
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livestock compensatory allowances. A copy is available in the Library of the House. Forecasts are not yet available for the coming financial year but it is presently estimated that the net effect of the increase in sheep annual premium payments, including the less- favoured area supplement, as the result of green pound devaluations, together with HLCA payment reductions will represent an enhancement of about £10.0 million in total Welsh LFA sheep producer incomes.Operation Wizard
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 14 January, Official Report, column 771, under what statutory powers the Operation Wizard consultancy exercise was authorised ; if prior authorisation was agreed by his Department before each of the consultants was engaged ; if the choice of consultants followed an open advertisement and competition relating to a published brief ; if he will publish a full list of the consultancy companies and partnerships engaged ; and on what date each of them started and completed their work.
Mr. David Hunt : The agency has wide-ranging powers under the Welsh Development Agency Act 1975 which includes powers to commission studies in relation to the discharge of its functions. Within the guidelines set out in the financial memorandum, day-to-day management, including the use of consultants, is a matter for the agency. In awarding contracts, the agency is required to have regard to best practice and value for money.
Cardiff Bay Barrage
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what negotiations he has had with his counterparts in the European Commission concerning the principle of and level of European regional development fund grant for the proposed Cardiff bay barrage.
Welsh Council for Voluntary Action
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action concerning the grant aid for volunteering in the next financial year ; what evaluation he has made of the consequences of grant aid settlement on the level and quality of volunteering activity ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Welsh Office officials are in regular contact with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action about many matters concerning the voluntary sector, but there has been no specific consultation concerning grant-aid for volunteering in 1993-94. The WCVA has responsibility for administering the volunteering in Wales fund and were awarded £215,000 by the Department in 1992-93 for distribution to eligible projects which promote volunteering. Resources for the VIWF, along with all other applications from Welsh generalist intermediary bodies, including the WCVA itself, are being considered in the light of the total resources available for 1993-94.I expect to be in a position to make an announcement in February 1993.
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Search and Rescue
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions during each of the last five years the search and rescue helicopter squadron has been called out to deal with reported emergencies in and around the Ceredigion and Pembroke North constituency.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I have been asked to reply.
Statistical data are not recorded in the form requested.
DEFENCE
Search and Rescue
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many offshore emergency incidents have been dealt with by the search and rescue helicopter squadron at RAF Brawdy in each of the last five years ; and how many such incidents have involved the winching of firefighters to stricken vessels.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The table gives the number of offshore emergency incidents dealt with by the search and rescue flight at RAF Brawdy over the past five years. Statistical data are not held on the number of incidents involving the winching of firefighters.
Year |Callouts |Persons Rescued ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1988 |71 |53 1989 |66 |38 1990 |62 |92 1991 |69 |48 1992 |63 |15
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the bases for search and rescue helicopter squadrons within the United Kingdom which have closed during the last 10 years, indicating the average response time to coastal and offshore emergencies (a) within a radius of 25 miles, (b) 50 miles, (c) 75 miles, (d) 100 miles and (e) 150 miles from the base both (i) prior to and (ii) following the removal of the service from the vicinity.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No bases with search and rescue helicopters have closed in the last 10 years.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been undertaken by his Department to date concerning the effect of the removal of search and rescue helicopter squadrons upon localised emergency rescue arrangements.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The new basing structure for the RAF search and rescue helicopter force took into account, and will very largely meet, the established civil SAR criteria.
Western European Union
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations his Department had at the most recent part-session of the Assembly of Western European Union.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence gave an address to the Western European Union assembly on 1 December 1992,
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during the second part of its 38th ordinary session. Officials from my Department attended for part of the session.Chemical and Biological Weapons
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the reason for withholding papers on chemical and biological weapons, and the authority of command of nuclear weapons, beyond 30 years.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Those Ministry of Defence papers which are not already open continue to be withheld from the public domain under the criteria of the Public Records Acts for reasons such as national security. They will be progressively released as their sensitivity lapses.
Nuclear Proliferation
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) all measures taken by his Department in the last 12 months to prevent nuclear proliferation, (b) the number of personnel in his Department working to prevent nuclear proliferation and (c) his Department's total expenditure on control of nuclear proliferation in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : It is Government policy to meet all our obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and our commitments under the nuclear suppliers group regime. My Department supports fully the Government's efforts to promote effective international controls on nuclear weapon-related and nuclear dual-use exports to help prevent proliferation. A wide range of personnel within my Department work on nuclear non- proliferation-related matters ; the direct costs of pursuing this policy are not separately identifiable.
AWRE Aldermaston
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what projects are currently under way at the atomic weapons research establishment, Aldermaston ; what work is planned to finish within the next year ; what new projects are planned for the establishment ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : We are committed to maintaining the United Kingdom's minimum nuclear deterrent. The atomic weapons establishment has a complex and continuing programme of work in fulfilment of this policy, including support for in-service weapons, the Trident programme, and preliminary work towards a possible replacement for the WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb.
Bosnia
Lady Olga Maitland : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to strengthen the rules of engagement for the British troops in Bosnia ; and if he will make it his policy that they will have the means to protect themselves with all the appropriate light weapons and radar- seeking missiles being made available on HMS Ark Royal.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Rules of engagement governing the use of force by the British battaliion group carrying out its humanitarian role in Bosnia already provide satisfactorily for our troops to respond in self- defence,
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with the means available to them, to any attacks. In his statement on 14 January, Official Report, columns 1057-58, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said that the forces which are being currently deployed to the Adriatic have been sent as a contingency, to be available to provide additional protection for the battalion group should that be required.RAF Pilot Training
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to review levels of RAF pilot training ; whether the future viability of RAF Chivenor is contingent upon a review ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : While there are currently no plans to review RAF training, all aspects of my Department's activities are examined to see what scope exists for making savings on the defence budget. This is done through the annual process of re-costing the defence programme. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on what the results of this or subsequent years' examinations may be for individual capabilities or establishments.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the net effect on Exmoor farming incomes of changes he proposes to hill livestock compensatory allowances for the next year.
Mr. Curry : The conditions of the HLCA scheme are determined on the basis of national statistical data and it is not possible to measure the impact on different localities.
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I have no reason to believe conditions for farmers in Exmoor are materially different from those obtaining elsewhere in the less favoured areas in England. The HLCA reductions were taken in the light of increased incomes in the hill sheep sector and will in any case be more than offset by increases in ewe premium payments next April resulting from green pound devaluations and decisions taken at the December Agriculture Council.Farm Income
Mr. Tyler : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the level of average net farm income at constant prices for (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
Mr. Curry : Provisional estimates of net farm income in 1992 will be published shortly. Estimates for 1993 and 1994 income levels are not available.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the level of farm incomes in (a) less-favoured areas, (b) disadvantaged areas and (c) severely disadvantaged areas, in cash terms and real terms in each year since 1982.
Mr. Curry : Year by year comparisons can best be made by reference to results from a constant sample of farms. The following table shows indices of net farm income in nominal and real terms for each year from 1982-83 to 1992-93 on farms in the United Kingdom's less favoured areas and estimated income levels for the latest available constant sample. The information given takes no account of the impact of the recent green pound devaluations. Sheep farmers in the less favoured areas can expect an additional total subsidy of at least £1.80 per ewe in respect of 1992.
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Average net farm income on LFA livestock farms in the United Kingdom
Severely Disadvantaged All LFA
Disadvantaged Area Area<1>
Nominal terms Real terms Nominal terms Real terms Nominal terms Real terms
<2>Year |£ thousands per farm|<3>Index |<3>Index |£ thousands per farm|<3>Index |<3>Index |£ thousands per farm|<3>Index |<3>Index
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
]982-83 |- |112 |172 |- |- |- |- |112 |172
1983-84 |- |98 |143 |- |412 |595 |- |108 |159
1984-85 |- |112 |157 |- |338 |465 |- |121 |170
1985-86 |- |107 |142 |- |205 |266 |- |112 |148
1986-87 |- |80 |102 |- |113 |141 |- |82 |104
1987-88 |- |118 |145 |- |218 |263 |- |125 |153
1988-89 |- |145 |168 |- |293 |335 |- |154 |179
1989-90 |- |103 |111 |- |152 |161 |- |106 |114
1990-91 |8.3 |87 |86 |2.8 |58 |56 |7.1 |85 |83
1991-92 |10.4 |110 |103 |4.3 |91 |83 |9.1 |109 |102
1992-93 |12.2 |128 |116 |4.9 |102 |90 |10.6 |127 |114
<1>The disadvantaged area was designated only in 1984.
<2>Accounting years end on average in February.
<3>1989-90-1991-92=100. Indices in real terms have been derived by deflating the nominal indices by the Retail Price Index.
Advisory Committees
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the organisations represented on each of his Department's advisory committees.
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Mr. Gummer : The following table lists the organisations which have formal representation on each advisory body given in the annual "Public Bodies" publication, the latest edition of which relates to 1991 and is available from the Library of the House.
However for the majority of the bodies' members are appointed on the basis of their personal expertise rather than because of the organisation by which they are employed.
Column 203
Advisory body |Organisations
|represented
|formally
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advisory Committee on Pesticides |-
Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees |(i) National Farmers Union (NFU)
|(ii) Transport and General Workers Union
| (T&GWU)
|(Rural Agricultural and Allied Workers Trade Group)
Agricultural Statistics Consultative Committee |(i) NFU
|(ii) Country Landowners Association (CLA)
|(iii) T&GWU
|(Agriculture and Allied Workers National Trade
| Group)
Banana Trade Advisory Committee |(i) Geest Industries Ltd. plc
|(ii) Fyffe Group Ltd.
|(iii) Jamaica Producers Marketing Co. Ltd.
|(iv) Windward Islands Banana Growers Association
| (WINBAN)
|(v) Jamaica Marketing Co. Ltd. (JAMCA)
Committee of Agricultural Valuation |-
Consultative Panel on Badgers and Tuberculosis |(i) NFU
|(ii) CLA
|(iii) RSPCA
|(iv) Universities Federation for Animal Welfare
|(v) Joint Nature Conservation Committee
|(vi) Royal Society for Nature Conservation
|(vii) Flora and Fauna Preservation Society
|(viii) T&GWU
|(ix) British Veterinary Association
|(x) Mammal Society
|(xi) National Federation of Badger Groups
Consumers' Committee for England and Wales under |-
the Agricultural Marketing Act 1958
Consumers' Committee for Great Britain under the |-
Agricultural Marketing Act 1958
Farm Animal Welfare Council |-
Food Advisory Committee |-
Hill Farming Advisory Committee for England, Wales |-
and Northern ireland
National Food Survey Committee |-
Priorities Board for Research and Development in |-
Agriculture and Food
Regional Panels for the Farming Industry |-
Salmon Advisory Committee |-
Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee |-
Steering Group on Chemical Aspects of Food |-
Surveillance |-
Sugar Beet Research and Education Committee |(i) NFU
|(ii) British Sugar plc
Veterinary Products Committee |-
Wild-caught Birds
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce limits on consignment size for the importation of wild -caught birds to fewer than 100 birds into the United Kingdom ; and if he will press for this limit to be applied in the new EC transport directive.
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Mr. Soames : We are pursuing proposals for limiting the size of consignments of wild birds with the International Air Transport Association, whose Live Animal Regulations are now mandatory under Community law. We are also pressing the European Commission to introduce proposals for further specific measures on wild birds under the directive on the protection of animals during transport.
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Fisheries Inspectors
Mr. Robathan : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what access British fisheries inspectors have to all ships registered in Britain ; and when they last inspected the British-registered fishing fleet based in La Coruna in northern Spain.
Mr. Curry : British sea fisheries officers have powers to inspect all United Kingdom and foreign-registered fishing vessels in British ports and at sea within British fishery limits.
United Kingdom-registered ships that are over 10 m in length and land less than 50 per cent. of their catch in the United Kingdom are required to make at least four pre-notified visits to British ports in each six month period (January-June and July-December). Subject to other priority work, British sea fisheries officers check such vessels on these visits. In addition, they are subject to inspections at sea by the United Kingdom fisheries protection service.
Milk Quotas
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions exist in the market in milk quotas across the United Kingdom.
Mr. Curry : Under the EC milk quota regulations the permanent transfer of quota is linked to land transactions. Detailed rules governing the transfer of quota are contained in the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations 1991. Under these regulations wholesale quota which accounts for about 97 per cent. of milk produced in the United Kingdom is managed on a regional basis in the United Kingdom. This means that it may be transferred only within each of the eight regions which are defined under the regulations. England and Wales and the Scilly Isles are defined as one region ; so too is Northern Ireland ; and there are six regions in Scotland. Direct sales quota is required by EC rules to be managed on a national basis, so transfers are not subject to similar regional restrictions. New EC regulations will govern milk quota administration from 1 April 1993. We will be revising the United Kingdom DPQR once the new EC detailed rules have been agreed.
Poultry Meat Inspection Charges
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether poultry meat inspection charges are levied at the same rate across the United Kingdom.
Mr. Soames : The Fresh Meat and Poultry Meat (Hygiene, Inspection and Examinations for Residues) (Charges) Regulations 1990 (SI 1990 No. 2494) require local authorities to charge for health inspection at poultry meat plants. Subject to compliance with the detailed provisions of the regulations, local authorities are entitled to recover the real costs incurred in carrying out the inspection. The Department carried out a detailed review of meat inspection charges in early 1992 which revealed that inspection charges varied considerably across the country. My right hon. Friend the Minister placed summary statistics collected during this review in the Library of the House in June 1992. ( Hansard cols. 16-17 , 8 June 1992.)
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