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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 5 April 1995
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Water and Sewerage
Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 15 March, Official Report , column 630 , if he will give such information on water and sewerage charges paid by his Department, as can be provided without disproportionate costs. [15935]
Mr. Jack: As my reply on 15 March said, there is currently no centrally held record of payments made on water and sewerage charges paid by the Department. Under decentralised budgets, responsibility of these matters rests with well over 100 accommodation managers throughout the estate, who are dealing with a diverse range of property occupation. There would be disproportionate costs involved in attempting to collect this information now.
The Department is working on establishing a central database for water, and other types of charges, but this will not be fully effective until after 1994 95.
Live Animal Exports
Mr. Morley: To ask the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 14 March, Official Report , column 499 , regarding calves loaded at Brightlingsea on 3 March, what steps he has taken to assure himself that all calves were individually fed in the period stated while they were still in the vehicles. [17127]
Mrs. Browning: There was only one lorry carrying calves for that sailing. It was not loaded to its full capacity, and so the calves could be fed while on board the vehicle. The calves were individually bucket fed while the lorry was waiting at the port, and this was carried out satisfactorily, according to the report of the veterinary office who was present.
I should make clear, with apologies, that the answer I gave on 14 March about livestock exported from Brightlingsea on 3 March was unfortunately corrupted in transmission and should have read: "I understand that the journey of the 194 calves began at 05.30 hours from premises in Kent. The lorry carrying calves arrived at a lairage near Harwich shortly after 10.00 hours where it waited until convoyed to the port, arriving at about 14.00 hours. The calves were fed abroad the lorry between 18.00 hours and 19.50 hours. The vessel berthed at 23.10 hours an the calves were loaded from 23.30 hours fed immediately. All were aboard by 23.45 hours. Sheep were loaded between 23.45 and 01.20 hours."
The two final paragraphs which were mistakenly added to the above-mentioned reply ought to have been included instead in my reply of 14 March to the hon. Member about livestock exported from Shoreham port on 6 March--column 499 . This latter reply should have read:
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"A veterinary officer was at the port awaiting the arrival of six trucks containing calves. In the event, a demonstration prevented two livestock lorries already on their way to Shoreham from reaching the port. I understand that these lorries returned with the calves to the premises of origin in Oxfordshire. Officials were satisfied that all the animals could be returned to the home premises within the 15-hour limit by which time the animals would have had to be fed and rested. The other four livestock lorries were at local lairages ready to load calves already resting there. In the circumstances, loading of those animals for Shoreham did not even begin.Journey plans had been scrutinised by officials before the proposed export journeys started and were satisfactory."
Rabies
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dogs have developed rabies in quarantine during a 20-year period; how many of these had valid certificates of vaccination against rabies; and which countries they came from. [17200]
Mrs. Browning [holding answer 4 April 1995]: Two dogs have developed rabies in quarantine in the last 20 years--an Irish wolfhound imported from the USA in 1983 and a Welsh terrier cross imported from Zambia in 1990. The Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and other Mammals) Order 1974 requires all dogs to be vaccinated against rabies on entry into quarantine to prevent infection from being contracted within the premises if another animal should develop rabies. There is no requirement for animals to have been vaccinated prior to entry into quarantine and therefore no information is held on whether they hold valid certificates of vaccination.
Baby Milk
Mr. Stevenson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what policy considerations underlay his decision to amend the draft version of the United Kingdom regulations on advertising of baby milk in relation to the dissemination of information and controls on the advertising of brand name baby milk; and what representations he has received for and against his amendments. [17484]
Mrs. Browning: In deciding the final form of the regulations, Ministers gave heed to the Government's deregulation policy of implementing the minimum requirements of EC legislation, unless there are very good reasons for going beyond them.
Since the regulations were made and laid before the House, Ministers have received a large number of representations objecting, in particular, to the advertising controls on infant formulae. Not unexpectedly, only a few representations have been received from those content with the regulations.
Meat Imports
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers the United Kingdom has to sustain its ban on the import of meat products from animals reared using growth hormones if this is ruled to be illegal under GATT. [17475]
Mrs. Browning [holding answer 4 April 1995]: The ban to which the hon. Member refers results from a European regulation. The UK voted against its adoption on the grounds that it was not justified scientifically. The legality of the ban has not so far been tested in the GATT. Were there to be a successful challenge we should, in
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conjunction with our EU partners, need to respond appropriately under the rules of the World Trade Organisation on the settlement of disputes.Holderness Coast
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultation he has held with English Nature, the Countryside Commission, the National Rivers Authority and Holderness borough council over proposals to draw up a coastal protection scheme for the Holderness coast. [17844]
Mrs. Browning: Under the provisions of the Coast Protection Act 1949, coast protection authorities, such as Holderness borough council, must obtain the Ministry's approval for capital works intended to protect the coast against erosion. The Ministry is in regular contact with such authorities and requires them to consult other relevant bodies, including the National Rivers Authority, English Nature and the Countryside Commission, on proposed works. My right hon. Friend the Minister met a delegation from the council, led by the hon. Member for Bridlington (Mr. Townend), to discuss Holderness coastal defence issues on 7 February.
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the proposed trial of a submerged tyre bank off Dimlington coast, Holdersness on sites of special scientific interest at Dimlington cliff and Spurn point; and if a licence will be granted for a trial; [17843]
(2) If Sir William Halcrow and Partners have published the results of its environmental study into the consequences of a trial of a submerged tyre bank off the Dimlington coast, Holderness. [17842]
Mr. Jack: An application has been received under part 11 of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 from Humberside county council for a licence to deposit rubber rocks made from tyres in a trial offshore reef to test the effectiveness of such structures in contributing to the protection of the Humberside coast. The council has been told that a full environmental assessment will be required in support of the application and we understand this is currently being prepared by Halcrow and Partners. Publication of the study is a matter for the council.
The Ministry will wish to study this assessment and consult other interested parties before deciding whether or not to issue a licence.
Common Fisheries Policy
Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make an assessment of the consequences, both for the British fishing industry and other interests, if the United Kingdom withdraw from the common fisheries policy; and if he will make a statement. [17970]
Mr. Jack: The Government's views on the idea that the UK might withdraw from the common fisheries policy have been made clear to the House on a number of occasions. These include already this year, for example, the fisheries debate on 18 January, oral answers on 23 March, and three private notice questions, on 10 January and 13 and 28 March.
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Aujeszky's Disease
Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of Aujeszky's disease were reported in each year since 1985. [17820]
Mrs. Browning: The number of confirmed outbreaks of Aujeszky's disease in England for the period in question is as follows:
|Number of
Year |outbreaks
------------------------------
1985 |12
1986 |5
1987 |6
1988 |5
1989 |5
1990-1995 |Nil
Food Poisoning
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the change in the occurrence of food poisoning which can be attributed to the slaughter and handling of meat at abattoirs since the introduction of the EC meat hygiene regulations in 1992. [17953]
Mrs. Browning: A number of organisms, such as escherichia coli 0157:H7, some salmonella serotypes and listeria monocytogenes have been implicated in food poisoning incidents associated with the consumption of meat and meat products. In most cases of this kind, it is not possible to trace the meat back to the abattoir of origin. Thorough cooking will destroy most, if not all, pathogenic micro-organisms, but steps must be taken at every stage of production to limit the risk of contamination of the unprocessed product because of the hazards associated with cross- infection and light cooking. The most appropriate point to address the problem of contamination with pathogenic organisms is in the slaughter hall, a critical control point in the chain of production where a number of conditions of animal and public health significance can be detected.
The Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992 have improved hygiene standards generally in slaughterhouses and other licensed fresh meat premises but it is not possible to assess whether the occurrence of food poisoning has changed as a result of their introduction.
Fish Species
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the fish species in United Kingdom waters and in the North Atlantic that (a) have been fished out and (b) are in danger of being fished out. [17854]
Mr. Jack: I am not aware that there are any fish species in waters around the United Kingdom or in the north Atlantic which are biologically extinguished or likely to be so. However, on the basis of 1994 scientific assessments, 37 per cent. of commercial fish stocks around the United Kingdom are at or below minimum
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biologically acceptable levels, that is, recruitment of young fish is insufficient to maintain the size of the stock at current levels. These stocks are:North Sea--cod, saithe, plaice, mackerel;
Eastern Channel--cod, whiting, plaice;
Western Channel--sole;
Bristol Channel--cod, sole, plaice;
Western waters--hake, mackerel;
Irish Sea--cod, whiting, sole;
West of Scotland--cod, haddock, saithe, whiting, Clyde herring In the north Atlantic, the following stocks are insufficiently prevalent to permit a viable commercial fishery:
East and West Greenland--offshore cod;
Faroes--bank cod;
A fishing moratorium applies within the regulatory area of the North-west Atlantic Fisheries Organisation to the following: American plaice, yellowtail flounder, witch, capelin; cod, in NAFO division 3NO.
Blue Tongue
Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of Blue Tongue were reported in each year since 1980. [17817]
Mrs. Browning: No case of Blue Tongue has ever been reported in England.
Meat Hygiene Service
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fishers and Food what alternatives were considered to the Meat Hygiene Service during its development. [18408]
Mrs. Browning: A review of the options for meat hygiene enforcement by a MAFF-Department of Health study team in 1991 considered:
enhancement of local authority enforcement,
central enforcement by the State Veterinary Service,
transferring enforcement to a separate body, and
contracting out.
The possibilities of privatisation or of contracting out were further considered as part of the process of establishing the Meat Hygiene Service as an agency of this Department.
Green Policy
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fishers and Food if he will name the green Minister for his Department and list (a) the green initiatives taken by that Minister in respect of the Department's functions, (b) the representations made by the Minister in respect of functions carried out by other Departments and (c) the input made by the Minister in consultations on the Environment Bill. [18650]
Mr. Jack: My right hon. Friend the Minister is the nominated green Minister for MAFF. This reflects the importance we attach to the consideration of environmental implications across the whole range of MAFF policies. Progress on MAFF's environmental performance is reported annually in departmental reports--Cm 2803--and in the United Kingdom's annual report "This Common Inheritance"--CM 2822. Copies of both are in the Library of the House.
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Arable Area Payments
Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many hectares of land were set aside under the arable area payments scheme in each region of England in (a) 1993 94 and (b) 1994 95; and what is the estimate of the number of hectares of land that will be set aside in each region in 1995 96. [18659]
Mr. Waldegrave: The area of land set-aside under the arable area payments scheme in each region in England in 1993 94 is shown in the table below. Equivalent figures for 1994 95 are not yet available and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as they are. It is still too early to estimate the number of hectares that have been set aside in 1995 96 as farmers do not have to submit their integrated administration and control system claims until 15 May.
Areas set-aside in 1993-94 (
hectares)
|Number
------------------------------
Wessex |32,323
Anglia |131,930
Northern |16,674
North Mercia |21,385
South West |10,092
North East |75,643
East Midlands |96,168
South East |73,183
South Mercia |35,467
Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the total cost of payments for (a) set-aside and (b) in total under the arable area payments scheme in each region of England in (a) 1993 94 and (b) 1994 95; and what is estimate of the total cost of payments in each region of England in 1995 96. [18635]
Mr. Waldegrave: The total of payments claimed for set-aside and arable area payments for regions of England for 1993 94 is shown below. The total amount paid will have been slightly lower because of reductions made for various reasons. However, since such reductions have to be calculated on the basis of the total claim, which may include land in more than one region, it is not possible to give the total amounts paid on a regional basis. The equivalent figures for 1994 95 are not yet available and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as they are. It is not yet possible to estimate the cost of payments in each region for 1995 96 as integrated administration and control system claims do not have to be submitted by farmers until 15 May.
Cost of set-aside and arable payments in 1993-94
|Set-aside |Total AAPS
|£ |£
Wessex |8,625,448 |41,258,638
Anglia |35,205,471 |175,758,954
Northern |4,450,178 |22,587,760
North Mercia |5,706,655 |275,179,904
South West |2,693,018 |12,115,126
North East |20,185,548 |101,011,554
East Midlands |25,662,373 |136,205,244
South East |19,528,730 |104,344,814
South Mercia |9,464,455 |49,928,317
Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many claims were made for in England (1) for set-aside and (2) in total under the arable area payments scheme in (i) 1993 94 and (ii) 1994 95 of (a) between £0 and £5,000, (b) between £5,001 and £10, 000, (c) between £10,001 and £15,000, (d) between £15,001 and £20,000, (e) between £20,001 and £25,000, (f) between £25,001 and £50,000, (g) between £50,001 and £75,000, (h) between £75,001 and £100,000, (i) between £100,001 and £150,000, (j) between £50,001 and £200,000, (k) between £200,001 and £1,000,000 and (l) over £1,000,000; and what is his latest estimate of the number of claims that will be made in 1995 96 in each value band. [18634]
Mr. Waldegrave: The number of claims made in England for set-aside and in total under the arable area payments scheme in England in 1993 94 were £26,283 and 45,774 respectively and in 1994 95 were 29,261 and 46,920.
The distribution of payments for 1993 94 is only available in the form set out below. Similar figures for 1994 95 are not yet available as the final oilseed payments for the year are still being made. It is too early to estimate the value of claims for 1995 96 as IACS claims do not have to be submitted by farmers until May 15.
Total payments in England banded by size of
payment|c
|Number of
Size band |payments
----------------------------------------------
Up to £4,999 |21,345
From £5,000 to £9,999 |6,577
From £10,000 to £24,999 |9,712
From £25,000 to £49,999 |5,164
From £50,000 to £99,999 |2,325
From £100,000 to £249,999 |599
From £250,000 to £499,999 |45
From £500,000 upward |<1>7
Total |45,774
<1> It is not possible to identify separately
the number of payments above £1,000,000 for
reasons of confidentiality.
Disabled People
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will outline the measures taken, facilities offered and adjustments made in his Department and agencies for which he is responsible to facilitate access for disabled people; what plans he has to improve access; and if he will make a statement. [18593]
Mrs. Browning: The Ministry, including its agencies, takes its responsibilities in the area of equal opportunities seriously and aims to respond as far as reasonably possible to the needs of disabled members of the public and staff.
In the area of access, the Ministry has for several years been reviewing its estate and improving the accessibility of the buildings it occupies. A survey of all staff in 1993 showed where they thought additional measures were necessary. Funds have now been set aside for a further three-year programme, starting with a full survey of the estate to indicate where further improvements can be made.
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Badger Setts (Paignton Zoo)
Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many badger setts there are known to be in the boundaries of Paignton zoo; how many of these have been interfered with; how many have received a licence to be interfered with; for what reasons the licences were issued; and if he will make a statement. [18636]
Mrs. Browning: I will write to the hon. Member once ADAS, the Ministry's wildlife adviser, has completed a site visit.
Central Veterinary Laboratory
Lady Olga Maitland: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what targets have been set for the Central Veterinary Laboratory in 1995 96. [19214]
Mr. Waldegrave: I have set the Central Veterinary Laboratory the following strategic performance targets for 1995 96:
Financial Performance--full cost recovery for all Central Veterinary Laboratory services
Efficiency: an overall efficiency gain of 2.5 per cent.
Service Delivery: 85 per cent. of ROAME R and D milestones achieved
Service quality: achievement of a satisfactory report
from a Visiting Group
Achievement of laboratory accreditation for Radiochemistry Unit Details of performance in 1994-295 will be set out in the agency's annual report and accounts to be published during July 1995.
Veterinary Medicines Directorate
Mr. Key: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has completed the review of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate; and if he will make a statement. [19210]
Mr. Waldegrave: The review of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has now been completed. This has concluded that the VMD should continue to operate as an executive agency.
An independent evaluation of the VMD was carried out by external management consultants. As well as assessing the VMD's performance this also considered the effects of agency status on both the VMD and core Department. Overall, the study concluded that the VMD had made significant progress since its launch as an agency in 1990. There were, of course, some areas for improvement and lessons to be learnt for both the agency and the Department. I have placed a summary of the evaluation's main recommendations, and the management response, together with a copy of the VMD's revised framework document in the Libraries of both Houses.
EMPLOYMENT
Service Sector Pay
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what comparisons he has made on the basis of purchasing power parity between the living standard of
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the average service industry worker in the United Kingdom and that of his EU counterparts. [15930]Mr. Oppenheim: For service sectors where information is available, gross pay in the UK is higher than in Western Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands--once the cost of living has been taken into account.
Manual Worker's Pay
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the increase in real take-home pay for manual workers between (a) 1973 74 and 1978 79 and (b) 1978 79 and 1993 94. [18425]
Mr. Oppenehim: Real take-home pay for a single man at the lowest 10 per cent. of the earnings distribution fell by 1 per cent. between 1973 74 and 1978 79 and increased by 23 per cent. between 1978 79 and 1993 94.
Job Losses
Mr. McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs were lost in each region, broken down by gender, over the last 12 months for the occupational categories (a) managerial and administrative, (b) professional, (c) associate professional and technical, (d) clerical and secretarial, (e) craft and related, (f) personal and protective service, (g) sales (h) plant and machine operatives and (i) other. [18421]
Mr. Oppenheim [holding answer 4 April 1995]: Information is available only for the net change in jobs. This can be obtained from the labour force survey Quantime service available in the Library.
Remploy
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for all standard employment regions the total number of Remploy units and the number of people employed in them for the last three favourable years. [16758]
Miss Widddecombe: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones, dated 5 April 1995:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the total number of Remploy units and the number of people employed in for the last three years.
The information in the following list gives Remploy's estimates, by Employment Service Region, of the numbers of severely disabled people employed in their factories as at end March for the last three years. It does not include those on the Interwork programme.
|Number of
|severely disabled|Number of
Region |Year |people |units
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
East Midlands |1992 |456 |7
|1993 |420 |8
|1994 |400 |8
North East |1992 |862 |8
|1993 |796 |8
|1994 |770 |8
North West |1992 |1,552 |18
|1993 |1,465 |18
|1994 |1,473 |19
Scotland |1992 |915 |10
|1993 |854 |10
|1994 |850 |10
South East |1992 |789 |10
|1993 |748 |10
|1994 |752 |10
South West |1992 |583 |9
|1993 |551 |9
|1994 |569 |9
Wales |1992 |1,288 |14
|1993 |1,200 |14
|1994 |1,176 |15
West Midlands |1992 |607 |5
|1993 |579 |6
|1994 |568 |6
Yorkshire and |1992 |940 |14
Humberside |1993 |907 |14
|1994 |903 |14
I hope this is helpful.
Special Contracts and Priority Suppliers Scheme
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received regarding the workings of the special contracts arrangements and priority suppliers scheme; and if he will make a statement. [16759]
Miss Widdecombe: I have received representations from a range of people and organisations, including correspondence from hon. Members.
Occupational Health
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will indicate the measures that his Department undertakes to address occupational health; and if he will make a statement. [18255]
Mr. Oppenheim: Much of the Health and Safety Executive's everyday activity, such as modernising the framework of health and safety law, inspection of workplaces, provision of advice and formal enforcement action, addresses occupational health issues and the reduction of levels of occupational ill health. Details are contained in the Health and Safety Commission's plans of work and annual reports. The plan of work for 1995 96 will be published on 21 April and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Additionally, the HSE is giving priority in 1995 to implementing a programme of action based on the conclusions of its recent strategic review of the 10 main occupational health risks: toxic substances, biohazards, noise, vibration, ionising and non-ionising radiation, manual handling, upper limb disorders, sick building syndrome and stress. Action includes obtaining better information on the scale and pattern of ill health; commissioning further research, for example on
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prevention techniques; provision of practical guidance and publicity and inspection campaigns.In May 1995, the HSE will be launching a major new three to four-year campaign, "Good Health is Good Business", to help to improve employers' management of health risks. The first year will focus in particular on noise, respiratory sensitisers and musculoskeletal risks.
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