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Pit Closures
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how the funds allocated to TECs in 1993-94 specifically for areas affected by pit closures were spent ; how much remained unspent ; and if the remaining funds can be spent in 1994-95.
Miss Widdecombe : Funds allocated to training and enterprise councils in 1993-94 for areas affected by pit closure were spent on additional training and enterprise measures in line with TEC plans. The full amount allocated to TECs in 1993-94 for coal special measures was not spent because of the uncertainty surrounding pit closure dates. Unspent funds from 1993-94 have been re-allocated for TEC coal special measures in 1994-95. Planned expenditure on coal special measures in 1994-95 is around £40 million.
Part-time Work
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many part-time workers there were in each year since data was collected ; and if he will also show these data reworked on a basis of full-time equivalents.
Miss Widdecombe : Information on part-time workers has been collected since 1984 and is shown in the following table. The Department does not make estimates of full-time equivalents.
Work Force in Employment: Great
Britain
Seasonally adjusted
|Part-time
|(thousands)
------------------------------------
1984 |5,282
1985 |5,404
1986 |5,566
1987 |5,853
1988 |6,047
1989 |6,394
1990 |6,642
1991 |6,555
1992 |6,599
1993 |6,656
Labour Statistics
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the destination of those leaving the unemployment register, detailing specifically the numbers and proportions going into full-time work, part- time work, training, further education, on to another benefit or into inactivity, for as many years as the figures are available.
Miss Widdecombe : Information on the destinations of those leaving the claimant count is not routinely available.
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The Labour Force Survey in Spring 1993 showed that about two thirds of those who had left ILO unemployment in the previous 12 months had found employment during that period.Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show for each year since 1979 the numbers coming on to and leaving the unemployment register.
Miss Widdecombe : Information on the numbers of people joining and leaving the claimant unemployment count is available on a monthly basis from June 1983 onwards. Figures can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.
Schools (Injuries)
Mr. Jamieson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of serious injuries and fatalities by school in local education authority maintained schools in England and Wales investigated by the Health and Safety Executive in the last two years.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 4 May 1994] : The information available is as follows :
Year |<1>Fatal|<2>Major -------------------------------------- 1991-92 |2 |81 <3>1992-93 |2 |71 Notes to table: <1> Fatal and major injuries to employees, self-employed people also members of the public -chiefly pupils- injured as a result of someone else's work activity. <2> As defined under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985. <3> Provisional.
The names and locations of the schools where the fatalities occurred are listed in the table. Similar details for the investigated major injuries could be obtained and presented only at disproportionate cost.
1991-92
Ferryhill Comprehensive, Cambridgeshire
Millford Special School, Plymouth
1992-93
Coleman Primary School, Leicester
Brettenham Junior School, London
Mr. Jamieson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of serious injuries and fatalities in private or independent schools investigated by the Health and Safety Executive in the last two years ; and if he will list the schools concerned.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 4 May 1994] : The information available is as follows :
Year |<1>Fatal|<2>Major -------------------------------------- 1991-92 |2 |17 <3>1992-93 |- |14 Notes to table: <1> Fatal and major injuries to employees, self-employed people also members of the public -chiefly pupils- injured as a result of someone else's work activity. <2> As defined under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985. <3> Provisional.
The names and locations of the schools where the fatalities occurred are given in the table. Similar details for the investigated major injuries could be obtained and presented only at
disproportionate cost.
Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk
Macintrye Independent School, Wingrove, Buckinghamshire
TUPE Regulations
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what are the implications of the judgment of the European Court of Justice in the Schmidt case on Her Majesty's Government's implementation of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the 1993 guidance on TUPE ;
(2) what are the implications of the attitude of Her Majesty's Government to the European Court of Justice's decision in the Schmidt case for Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of the Rask case.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : United Kingdom courts and tribunals will take account, in appropriate cases, of the judgment in the Schmidt case, case C- 392/92, and the existing case law of the Court, including the Rask judgment, in determining whether there has been a transfer of an undertaking. The Government are considering the implications of the judgment in relation to the guidance issued by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 11 March 1993, but the key requirement to look at each case on its own facts remains.
Labour Statistics
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will present in tabular form the size of the working population for each of the last 30 years ; and if he will divide this data into male and female workers and further subdivide the total as to whether these people work full or part-time.
Miss Widdecombe : I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Habitat Conservation
6. Mr. Devlin : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further plans she has to encourage the conservation of natural habitats.
Mr. Jack : We plan to increase the range of environmental schemes available to farmers and have also issued proposals to adjust ewe and beef premium payments to discourage overgrazing.
Deregulation
10. Dr. Wright : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals for deregulation she intends to introduce.
Mr. Soames : We are finalising our review of regulations based on public consultations. Our proposals--involving firm plans for simplification and revocation of regulations--are being published as they emerge.
17. Mr. Ian Bruce : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the future of milk quotas.
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Mr. Jack : The EC legislation provides for the milk quota system to continue until the year 2000. We will be pressing for the EU Council of Ministers to debate the future of milk quotas well in advance of that date. Our preference remains for artificial quota constraints to be replaced by a market-led system which would enable producers to plan their output according to the market and their business needs.
18. Mr. Paice : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on progress towards deciding the location of the European plant breeder rights office.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The United Kingdom has submitted a formal bid to locate the new office at Cambridge and we understand that six other member states have now submitted bids.
A decision on the location of the office is expected to be taken at the June European Council.
Meat and Livestock Commission
19. Mr. Knapman : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action she has taken to improve the marketing role of the Meat and Livestock Commission.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : A review of the Meat and Livestock Commission was published on 1 March and included recommendations on the MLC's marketing work.
I have asked for comments on the recommendations by 1 June. I will then consider what action to take.
Sheep
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she is next due to attend the European Union Council of Ministers to discuss the future of the sheep sector.
Mr. Jack : The next meeting of the European Union Council of Agriculture Ministers is scheduled for 30 to 31 May. At that meeting my right hon. Friend expects to discuss the sheepmeat sector in the context of the debate on the Commission's proposals for prices and related measures in the 1994-95 marketing year.
Speedwell
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice her Department offers farmers and growers on the eradication of Veronica species, commonly known as Speedwell ; and if she will make a statement.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : This matter has been delegated to ADAS. I have asked the chief executive to reply to the hon. Gentleman direct.
Letter from Dr. J. M. Walsh to Mr. Gordon McMaster, dated 5 May 1994 :
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question concerning what advice the Department offers farmers and growers on the eradication of Veronica species, commonly known as Speedwell.
The genus Veronica includes a number of species of wild plant, two of which are common weeds of agricultural land. These two are :
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Veronica persica Common Field SpeedwellVeronica hederifolia Ivy-leaved Speedwell
Speedwell is not an injurious weed as defined by the Weed Act 1959 and hence the Department is under no statutory/legal obligations with regard to its control.
ADAS, on behalf of MAFF implements a number of environmental schemes such as ESAs, and within the terms and conditions of the schemes provides husbandry advice to farmers. Such advice free at the point of delivery, i.e. to the farmer, may cover appropriate practical measures for the control of weed infestations.
ADAS independently of MAFF does of course offer a whole range of chargeable consultancy services to farmers and growers, and advice on the control or eradication of weeds would be provided where appropriate. There are no particular technical problems related to the control of Speedwell by herbicides.
Vessel Registrations
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the effect of EEC fishing permits will be on foreign vessels registered under the British flag ; and whether they will qualify as British or home country vessels.
Mr. Jack : A Commission proposal for a framework regulation on fishing permits is currently being considered by member states. For the purpose of EU fisheries legislation, vessels flying a member state's flag are treated as vessels of that nation.
Security
Mr. Donohoe : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the use of private detective agencies and security companies by her Department.
Mr. Jack : No use is made of private detective agencies. Private firms are employed to provide security guarding, details of which were given in my reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) on 25 April 1994, Official Report , columns 72-73 .
Fishing Limitations
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals she has made to the Fisheries Commissioner for a European days at sea limitation ; and if she will make a statement.
State Veterinary Service
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates and at what ports the state veterinary service has undertaken blanket surveillance for 24 hour periods in each of the last five years.
Mr. Soames : Blanket surveillance for 24-hour periods was introduced in May 1993 and undertaken by the SVS at the ports of Hull, Harwich, Dover, Southampton, Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth on the following dates :
1993
May 25-26
August 12-13
November 10-11
December 2-3
1994
January 4-5
February 9-10
February 21-22
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March 18-19March 28-29
April 12-13
April 28-29
On introduction of the single market from 1 January 1993 routine inspections at these ports were replaced by random surveillance which continues.
Supermarkets (Pricing)
Mr. Denham : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the pricing of agricultural goods by supermarkets.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : Food retailing is a fiercely competitive business : this is helping to keep retail food prices down.
Beekeepers
Mr. Sweeney : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps she is taking to improve the training of British beekeepers.
Mr. Jack : On 10 March I announced new arrangements to help beekeepers maintain a healthy bee population in England.
Food Safety Directorate
Mr. Brandreth : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has received concerning the work of the Food Safety Directorate ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Soames : We receive many representations about the work of the Food Safety Directorate.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Mr. Battle : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current Government position with regard to BSE in the food chain.
Mr. Soames : Measures taken in the United Kingdom since BSE was identified protect public health irrespective of the progress of the epidemic, and have been endorsed by a wide range of independent experts in this country and international organisations. The chief medical officer has publicly stated that British beef can be safely eaten by everyone.
Milk Marketing
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when she expects to make a decision on the proposals for the future marketing of milk by Milk Marque.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Hendry).
Common Agricultural Policy
Mr. Jenkin : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reforms of the CAP are being promoted by Her Majesty's Government ; and what reduction in the cost of the CAP such reforms would bring about.
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Mrs. Gillian Shephard : I will continue to press for the reform process begun in 1992 to be extended to the unreformed sectors such as sugar, wine, olive oil and fruit and vegetables.
I will also press for further reductions in support prices to the benefit of both taxpayers and consumers.
Fast Food
Mr. French : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment she has made of the benefits the development of fast food can bring to the British horticultural industry.
Mr. Jack : My hon. Friend is assessing this and other aspects of the fast food market as part of his discussions with the catering industry aimed at improving opportunities for the sales of British produced raw materials, including horticultural products. I am undertaking a similar project on the horticultural industry.
Sheep Disease
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what were the dates of entry to the United Kingdom and the route of each consignment of sheep where caseous lymphadenitis was present, the size of each consignment and the numbers of animals infected ; (2) which consignments of sheep entering the United Kingdom from Poland and Spain since 1 January did not comply fully with the requirement to give 24 hours advance notice to the local animal health office ; at what point the Ministry became aware of each consignment's arrival in the United Kingdom ; and by whom and by what means this information was conveyed ;
(3) what assessment she has made of whether the procedures set out in directive 90/425/EEC, as amended by directive 92/60/EEC, were fully complied with in relation to each consignment of sheep imported from Poland and Spain subsequently found to be infected with caseous lymphadenitis.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard [holding answer 28 April 1994] : Information on the dates of arrival, the country of origin and the routes taken by each consignment of sheep imported into the United Kingdom from Spain and Poland since 1 January 1994 is given in my reply of 13 April to the hon. Member for Dulwich (Ms Jowell), Official Report, column 180. Information on the size of each consignment, the numbers of carcasses from each consignment condemned at meat inspection due to internal evidence of caseous lymphadenitis, and whether advance notice was received in respect of each consignment is given in the table.
Directive 90/425/EEC requires, inter alia, that the veterinary authorities in each member state ensure that only those animals which satisfy the animal health and welfare requirements for
intra-Community trade are permitted to be exported to other member states and that all consignments are accompanied by the appropriate health certification or other documentation laid down in EC rules. The directive also requires that member state veterinary authorities send each other messages, via the ANIMO computer system, when an official export health certificate has been issued, so as to provide advance notification to an importing member state that a consignment of live animals is on its way. Directive 90/425/EEC does not apply to imports from Poland.
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As far as the recent imports of sheep from Spain are concerned, after the initial consignment, the Ministry's chief veterinary officer wrote to his opposite number in Spain about a number of deficiencies in the documentation. Subsequent consignments have been accompanied by satisfactory health certification. In addition, the Spanish authorities have given us prior notification that consignments were being despatched, as required under the provisions of directive 90/425/EEC.Column 637
Imports of sheep from Spain and Poland since 1 January 1994
(1) |(2) |(3) |(4) |(5) |(6)
Carcases condemned due
to internal evidence of
caseous lymphadenitis:
Date of arrival at |Country of origin |Size of |(a) Full |(b) Partial |Details of notification received
slaughterhouse |consignment
17 February 1994 |Poland |289 |Nil |Nil |<24 hours advance notification from slaughterhouse
8 March 1994 |Poland |291 |25 |Nil |>24 hours advance notification from slaughterhouse
9 March 1994 |Poland (via Belgium) |328 |12 | 7 |>24 hours advance notification from slaughterhouse
17 March 1994 |Poland (via Belgium) |350 | 9 | 7 |>24 hours advance notification from slaughterhouse
28 January 1994 |Spain |243 |Nil |Nil |>24 hours advance notification from slaughterhouse
15 February 1994 |Spain |188 |Nil |Nil |<24 hours advance notification from slaughterhouse
8 March 1994 |Spain |290 | 8 |19 |<24 hours advance notification from slaughterhouse
23 March 1994 |Spain |268 | 8 |Nil |>24 hours advance notification from slaughterhouse
Dr. Strang : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with what other sheep, or areas frequented by other animals which are not capable of being disinfected after contact, sheep from consignments infected by caseous lymphadenitis came into contact.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard [holding answer 28 April 1994] : All consignments of sheep imported from Poland and Spain since 1 January 1994 were imported for slaughter and did not come into contact with other sheep until their arrival at the slaughterhouse in Birmingham. All lairage facilities in Great Britain in which any of the consignments were held en route to the slaughterhouse were required to be cleansed and disinfected after departure of the imported sheep.
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