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Regional Challenge
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the cost of the launch of regional challenge and the cost of administering it; and if he will make a statement. [25701]
Mr. Eggar: The cost to Government Departments of the launch of regional challenge has been less than £10,000. The challenge will be administered within the normal running cost budgets of the various Departments and Government offices responsible for structural funds administration.
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if moneys from European Union sources will be used to fund regional challenge. [25702]
Mr. Eggar: Yes. Regional challenge is a competition for grants from the European regional development and social funds.
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Petrol
Sir Irvine Patnick: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the total sales of petrol in the United Kingdom are now accounted for by the sale of unleaded and super unleaded fuel. [26013]
Mr. Page: In the first quarter of 1995, premium unleaded petrol and super unleaded petrol accounted for 56.3 per cent. and 4.7 per cent. respectively of total sales of petrol in the United Kingdom. Thus, 61 per cent. of total petrol sales were unleaded.
Fire Safety
Mr. Pike: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the review team's report regarding fire safety legislation and enforcement matters arising from the deregulation proposals has now been considered; and when he expects to be able to make a statement on the outcome. [26245]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 24 May 1995, Official Report , column 643 .
Import and Export Controls
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the emergency powers contained in the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939 have been made permanent by subsequent amending legislation. [25511]
Mr. Heseltine: The judgment handed down by the Court of Appeal on 22 May confirmed on all counts the continuing validity of the powers to control imports and exports in the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939, and in the orders made under that Act. The Import and Export Control Act 1990 made the powers in the Act permanent.
Nuclear Power
Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if the special status of nuclear power stations that guarantees that they run continuously to provide base load electricity will be reviewed as a result of privatisation; [25284]
(2) by what authority nuclear power stations are empowered to provide their maximum output whenever available to base load electricity supply. [27277]
Mr. Eggar [holding answer 22 May 1995]: For safety reasons, Nuclear Electric's plants are permitted by the National Grid Company to offer a level of flexible operation less than that of other generating plant. In Scotland, arrangements dealing with SNL's access to the Scottish distribution system are covered by the Nuclear Energy Agreement between SNL and Scottish Power and Hydro-Electric. I understand that Nuclear Electric and the National Grid Company are in discussion about ways in which the flexibility of their plant can be increased without in any way compromising rigorous standards of safety.
Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions will be imposed on the new privatised nuclear company from diversifying into building gas-fired power stations. [25291]
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Mr. Eggar [holding answer 22 May 1995]: Decisions on new generating plant will be a commercial matter for the privatised companies, subject to meeting the appropriate regulatory requirements.
PRIME MINISTER
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Ministerif he will list his official engagements for Thursday25 May. [24806]
Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 25 May. [24807]
The Prime Minister: This morning, I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Lockerbie
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the correspondence between Nelson Mandela and himself on the issue of Lockerbie. [25952]
The Prime Minister: No. It is not my normal practice to do so.
Wild Mammals (Protection) Bill
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Prime Minister, what amount of correspondence he has received requesting that extra parliamentary time be given to the Wild Mammals (Protection) Bill. [26133]
The Prime Minister: I have received a substantial number of representations on the Wild Mammals (Protection) Bill.
Intergovernmental Conference
Mr. Marlow: To ask the Prime Minister by what date he expects to decide whether Her Majesty's Government's submission to the reflections group of the inter-governmental conference should be placed before Parliament either as a White or Green Paper. [25390]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 22 May 1995]: I have made it clear that Parliament will have a full opportunity to discuss the issues relating to the intergovernmental conference before that conference gets under way. Precisely when the conference will start is not yet clear. Meanwhile the Government are examining in detail what the British position should be. The purpose of the study group is explanatory. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will represent the Foreign Secretary. We do not intend to make a single written submission, although we naturally contributed to the Council submission which has been published as Command Paper 2866. Parliament will be kept informed of the study group's progress.
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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Large Narcissus Fly
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what research her Department has carried out into methods of controlling the large narcissus fly; [24740]
(2) what research her Department has carried out into the effect of the large narcissus fly on daffodil crops; [24741]
(3) how much money has been spent on research into methods of controlling the large narcissus fly in each year for the last five years; [24742]
(4) what plans her Department has to fund research into alternative methods of controlling the large narcissus fly. [24743]
Mr. Jack: The large narcissus fly is widely recognised as representing a serious problem for commercial bulb production. Consequently, our research has focused on methods of control. This has included studies of the efficacy of insecticides; the susceptibility of narcissus varieties to the fly; and the effects of a range of growing practices. The Department's spend on this strategic research, on behalf of the industry, since 1991 was as follows:
1991 92 : £32,000
1992 93 : £34,000
1993 94 : £35,000
1994 95 : £36,000
In April 1995, the Department established a new, four-year project estimated to cost £40,000 in 1995 96, investigating the relationship between the large narcissus fly and the chemicals emitted by narcissus plants. The identification of such chemicals may offer some opportunity for attracting flies to decoy plants and then destroying them, repelling flies from narcissus crops or for breeding varieties resistant to attack by the fly.
New Zealand Flatworm
Mrs. Wise: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the areas in which the New Zealand flatworm has now been observed; and what guidelines he has issued to growers and gardeners in those areas; [25203]
(2) what steps he is taking to deal with the spread of the New Zealand flatworm and its threat to the United Kingdom worm population; [25205]
(3) what discussions he has held with his New Zealand counterpart as to how the New Zealand flatworm is dealt with in its native habitat with particular reference to its predators. [25204]
Mrs. Browning: The Government have sponsored research which shows that the New Zealand flatworm has been found in certain areas of the United Kingdom. These findings have been sporadic and have largely been confined to private gardens, allotments and some garden centres and the flatworm is not considered likely to pose a major threat to the agricultural and horticultural industries in the United Kingdom. A code of practice is planned to supplement information and advice already provided by the Agricultural Departments to industry and the public. This advice emphasises the need to avoid spreading the New Zealand flatworm. Since 1992, it has been an offence in Great Britain under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to release flatworms, or allow them to escape, into the wild. It is understood from contacts in
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New Zealand that in its natural environment a number of factors combine to maintain a balance between the flatworm and the native earthworm population.Tuberculin Testing
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the qualifications he will require to allow lay personnel to carry out tuberculin testing under veterinary direction. [24954]
Mrs. Browning: My Department is consulting with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on this matter. If and when an order is made to allow lay personnel to carry out tuberculin testing, the necessary qualifications will be published.
Live Animal Exports
Mr. Etherington: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from Compassion in World Farming on the lawfulness of restrictions on (a) the export of calves for rearing in veal crates and (b) the export of all live farm animals; and if he will make a statement on them. [24984]
Mrs. Browning: Compassion in World Farming wrote to my right hon. Friend on 4 April advising him to consider the lawfulness of restrictions of this type. My right hon. Friend wanted, before replying, to have the advice he had sought from lawyers on the legal opinion, commissioned from Gerald Barling QC by the RSPCA, which argued that a ban on the export of calves would be legal. My right hon. Friend's conclusions in the light of that legal advice were set out in his reply of 22 May to the hon. Member for Nuneaton, (Mr. Olner), column 456 , and conveyed to CIWF in a letter which he sent on the same date. The letter also explained that he saw no reason to change his view that a ban on the export of all live farm animals would be incompatible with European law, as well as with the Government's policy.
Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for how long the MV Northern Cruiser carrying livestock trucks from Dover to Boulogne on Friday 12 May was delayed outside Boulogne; what was the cause of delay, when he was informed of the delay by the boat's operators; whether, as a result of the delay, any of the animals went without being offered food and water for more than 15 hours; if any prosecutions are to be brought; and if he will make a statement. [25581]
Mrs. Browning: We have not at present received any information which suggests that an offence occurred under the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1994, in relation to the voyage of the Northern Cruiser on 12 May 1995.
Retirements and Redundancies
Ms Hodge: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual cost to his Department of staff leaving under redundancy/early retirement schemes to incorporate (a) added years lump sum payments, (b) redundancy payments, (c) pension payments, including enhancements and (d) any other special arrangements for (i) 1993 94 (ii) 1994 95,(iii) projected for 1995 96 and (iv) projected for1996 97. [25665]
Mr. Waldegrave: The cost to the Department, including its agencies, of early retirements and
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redundancies are borne from the Department's running costs provision.A detailed breakdown of the various costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The total costs borne on the Department's running costs in 1993 94 and 1994 95 were £7 million and £9 million respectively. For 1995 96, the total amount is estimated at £7 million. Projections for 1996 97 will be determined during the coming public expenditure survey.
Vessel Engine Capacity
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of whether the engine capacity registered by (a) British, (b) Spanish and (c) Dutch vessels under the multi-annual guidance targets is accurate; what steps are taken to check this in each country; and if he has asked the Commissioner to verify registered capacities under the programme. [25385]
Mr. Jack: It is the European Commission's responsibility to ensure that member states comply with Community obligations, and for member states authorities to ensure proper administration in relation to their own vessels. In the United Kingdom, it is the responsibility of the chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency to ensure that the details entered on a vessel's certificate of registry accurately reflect that vessel's characteristics. The characteristics of the engine of each vessel on the UK register are obtained by a surveyor approved by the Marine Safety Agency before registration of the vessel takes place.
Where specific instances of discrepancies arise or are brought to my attention, they are taken up with the Commission or, in the case of a UK- registered vessel, with the Marine Safety Agency.
Eastern European Fishing Fleets
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the size of the fishing fleets of Bulgaria, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia; and what historic fishing rights each of these nations can claim in British or European waters before the Fishing Limits Act 1976. [25382]
Mr. Jack: The latest year for which information on the size of nations' fishing fleets is available is 1992, showing the following:
Country |Number of vessels|Size ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bulgaria |38 |<1>86,600 GRT Poland |521 |249,079 GRT Latvia |141 |343,236 GRT Lithuania |162 |236,268 GRT Estonia |249 |180,921 GRT Source: FAO fleet statistics. <1> GRT = gross registered tonnage.
Before the Fishery Limits Act 1976, British waters extended only to 12 miles. None of the above countries fished within our 12 mile limits, nor have they claimed historic fishing rights within the British fishing limits established in 1976. The EU currently has reciprocal fishing agreements with Poland and the three Baltic states, but these are confined to the Baltic sea. We have no record of Bulgarian vessels having fished in waters around the United Kingdom.
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Coarse Fish Close Season
Sir Cranley Onslow: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research into the likely effects of the ending of the coarse fish close season his Department has considered. [25595]
Mr. Jack: We have not commissioned any special research into the likely effects of ending the coarse fish close season. However, in coming to a conclusion on a recent proposal from the National Rivers Authority to dispense with the coarse fish close season on lakes, ponds and reservoirs, we took account of opinions expressed by a wide range of expert bodies. We also noted that in those parts of England and Wales in which the close season had already been dispensed with, there was no evidence that this had an adverse effect on either fisheries or fish.
Bovine Immunodeficiency
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what survey he has made of research into BIV being undertaken in other countries. [25857]
Mrs. Browning: In September 1994, senior veterinarians from the Veterinary Investigation Service, and the virology department of the Central Veterinary Laboratory carried out a study tour of North America, where research into bovine immunodeficiency-like virus has been undertaken for a number of years. Discussions were held with the veterinary regulatory authorities in Washington and Ottawa and with veterinarians and research workers at the National Animal Disease Centre, Ames, Iowa; the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland; the Louisiana State university; the Animal Disease Research Institute, Ottawa; Ontario Veterinary college, Guelph; and the veterinary laboratory services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Guelph, Ontario.
The veterinary regulatory authorities in the USA and Canada confirmed that they had no concerns whatsoever over food safety with respect to BIV and were unaware of any concern by the public health authorities with regard to BIV. They also confirmed that there was no scientific evidence that the lentivirus in question caused immunodeficiency in cattle.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of whether it has been proved that the BIV organism is destroyed by normal dairy pasteurization. [25855]
Mrs. Browning: Judging from the similarities with other lentiviruses, we would expect that bovine immunodeficiency-like virus would get into milk but that pasteurisation would kill it. We are carrying out experimental work at the Department's Central Veterinary Laboratory to investigate this hypothesis.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what research is being conducted into BIV and cross infection to humans. [25852]
Mrs. Browning: None. Bovine immunodeficiency-like virus infection of cattle has been known for a long time. There is no evidence that it affects humans, whether through contact with animals, through drinking milk or
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eating meat or indeed when injected into the body, as happened, accidentally, to two US researchers who suffered no ill effects. Experimental efforts in the USA to grow the virus in human cells have failed. It is characteristic of these types of viruses to be highly species specific.Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what number and percentage of United Kingdom herds are infected by BIV. [25856]
Mrs. Browning: A limited laboratory investigation was carried out by the Central Veterinary Laboratory in 1990. Several hundred cattle sera, from a considerable number of cattle herds spread throughout Great Britain, were tested as part of a programme to develop a diagnostic test for bovine immunodeficiency-like virus. Approximately 10 per cent. of the samples tested were serologically positive for BIV using the tests being developed at that time. This level of infection is consistent with what has been found in other countries but the investigation was not structured nor were the results validated and for that reason it is not possible to estimate with any precision what is the actual level of incidence of BIV infection in the United Kingdom.
A full-scale survey would currently be inappropriate, particularly in the absence of a specific and sensitive test suitable for widespread application.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many hectares of land (a) are eligible for entry into each environmentally sensitive area in England and (b) have been entered into each tier of each environmentally sensitive areas in England. [25793]
Mr. Waldegrave: The information for environmentally sensitive areas in England is as follows:
|Area currently
|Eligible area in |under agreement in
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage I ESAs
(launched in 1987)
Broads |24,000 |Tier 1-8,596
|Tier 2-5,906
|Tier 3-354
|Tier 4-256
Total |15,112
Pennine Dales |39,100 |Tier 1-24,280
|Tier 2-1,198
Total |25,478
Somerset Levels and Moors |25,900 |Tier 1-10,630
|Tier 2-2,244
|Tier 3-881
Total |13,755
South Downs |51,700 |Tier 1-4,810
|Tier 2-408
|Tier 3-5,964
Total |11,182
West Penwith |6,900 |Tier 1-6,125
Stage II ESAs
(launched in 1988)
Breckland |51,600 |Tier 1-2,595
|Tier 2-99
|Tier 3-2,431
|Tier 4-281
Total |5,406
Clun |18,900 |Tier 1-12,125
|Tier 2-1,142
|Tier 3-178
Total |13,445
North Peak |50,500 |Tier 1-22,980
|Tier 2-11,244
Total |34,224
Suffolk River Valleys |32,600 |Tier 1-6,910
|Tier 2-1,607
|Tier 3-324
|Tier 4-98
Total |8,939
Test Valley |3,300 |Tier 1-934
|Tier 2-116
Total |1,050
Stage III ESAs
(launched in 1993)
Avon Valley |3,800 |Tier 1-572
|Tier 2-42
Total |614
Exmoor |67,700 |Tier 1-38,529
|Tier 2-931
Total |39,460
Lake District |219,300 |Tier 1-87,280
|Tier 2-4,066
Total |91,346
North Kent Marshes |11,600 |Tier 1-3,030
|Tier 2-599
Total |3,629
South Wessex Downs |38,300 |Tier 1-17,583
|Tier 2-1,218
Total |18,801
South West Peak |27,000 |Tier 1-11,279
|Tier 2-3,043
Total |14,322
Stage IV ESAs
(launched in 1994)
Blackdown Hills |32,200 |Tier 1-3,162
|Tier 2-49
Total |3,211
Cotswold Hills |66,100 |Tier 1-20,128
|Tier 2-939
Total |21,067
Dartmoor |89,000 |Tier 1-6,729
|Tier 2-324
Total |7,053
Essex Coast |23,000 |Tier 1-1,925
|Tier 2-115
|Tier 3-223
Total |2,263
Shropshire Hills |34,900 |Tier 1-7,035
|Tier 2-32
Total |7,067
Upper Thames Tributaries |18,000 |Tier 1-2,264
|Tier 2-312
|Tier 3-262
Total |2,838
Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farms (a) are eligible to have land entered into each environmentally sensitive area in England and (b) have had land entered into each environmentally sensitive area in England.
Mr. Waldegrave: Records are not kept of the number of farms in each designated environmentally sensitive area in England which are eligible to enter the scheme.
The number of agreements in each ESA in England is as follows:
|Number
------------------------------------------------
Stage I ESAs (launched in 1987)
Broads |740
Pennine Dales |716
Somerset Levels and Moors |888
South Downs |213
West Penwith |187
Stage II ESAs (launched in 1988)
Breckland |113
Clun |195
North Peak |76
Suffolk River Valleys |396
Test Valley |32
Stage III ESAs (launched in 1993)
Avon Valley |32
Exmoor |390
Lake District |812
North Kent Marshes |52
South Wessex Downs |130
South West Peak |320
Stage IV ESAs (launched in 1994)
Blackdown Hills |126
Cotswold Hills |276
Dartmoor |156
Essex Coast |62
Shropshire Hills |123
Upper Thames Tributaries |106
French Pig Sector (Illegal Aid)
Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in relation to his representations to the EU for the recovery of illegal aid to the French pig sector. [25742]
Mr. Jack: After sustained pressure from the United Kingdom, the European Commission finally initiated article 93(2) procedure against two schemes in the pigmeat sector in April 1994. The two schemes were a FF30 million scheme for relieving pig producers of the high cost of commercial loans already taken out and a reduced rate loan arrangement through Stabiporc using Government funds, and Government guarantees for loans given by commercial banks and other organisations.
The Commission's decisions announcing that it had found elements of both schemes to be illegal and requiring the repayment of the illegal aid were published on 8 and 10 November and 23 December 1994. The French Government are required to advise the Commission of steps they have taken to recovers the illegal aid.
I understand that the Commission is in dialogue with the French Government. We shall persist with our pressure on the Commission to ensure that the French Government recover the aid which was illegally paid.
Sheep Slaughter (France)
Mr. Dowd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received on the recent slaughter in Paris of sheep exported from Britain; what assessment he has made of compliance with the EU directive on the slaughter of animals; what representations he has made to the French Government in the light of the article; and if he will make a statement. [25800]
Mrs. Browning: The allegations in a daily newspaper about the slaughter of sheep in Paris have been discussed with officials of the French Ministry of Agriculture. I am advised that such slaughtering elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse is illegal under French law, although the European directive on the protection of animals at slaughter permits it, subject to certain conditions. I understand that the French Government are discussing this matter with the relevant organisations and therefore, neither my right hon. Friend nor I believe that it is necessary to make representations to them on this matter.
Farm and Conservation Grant Scheme
Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what expenditure has been saved as a result of the ending of the farm and conservation grant scheme; and if that saving has been redirected to other areas of MAFF expenditure. [25744]
Mr. Jack: No decision has yet been made to discontinue the farm and conservation grant scheme. An official working group reviewing the development of environmental land management schemes in England has proposed that the F and CGS should not continue as a separate scheme in England after February 1996, but that capital grants for conservation purposes should then be integrated into the countryside stewardship scheme. The working group's proposals were published for public consultation on 18 May. Current expenditure on conservation grants under the F and CGS in England amounts to £4 million in a full year.
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Majority Shareholdings
Mr. Byers: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those companies in which the holder of his office is a majority shareholder which (a) are currently in existence and (b) have been wound up in the past five years. [25703]
Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 22 May 1995]: None.
Water Level Management Plans
Sir Cranley Onslow: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps his Department took to consult
representatives angling organisations before publishing the procedural guide for operating authorities entitled water level management plans; [23103]
(2) for what reasons no angling organisations are included in the list of useful contacts and addresses in annex II of his Department's guide water level management plans. [23104]
Mr. Jack [holding answer 11 May 1995]: The main purpose of the procedural guide to which my right hon. Friend refers is to help flood defence authorities to draw up water level management plans in areas of conservation importance so as to balance the needs of flood defence, economic activity, and conservation. Such plans are prepared at local level and the guide emphasises the importance of consultations with all those affected, including recreational and sporting interests, during the preparation of a water level management plan for a particular area.
Although representative angling organisations were not consulted prior to publication of the Ministry's procedural guide, such organisations should be consulted by local flood defence authorities when individual plans are in preparation. Annex II of the guide is not intended as an exhaustive list of all those who should be consulted, but to meet my right hon. Friend's point representative angling organisations and other recreational and sporting interests will be added when the guide is next reprinted.
EDUCATION
Area Cost Adjustment
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list for each education authority (a) not in receipt and (b) in receipt of area cost adjustment for the last year that figures are available. [25953]
Mr. Robin Squire: The information requesed is set out in the attached lists.
LEAs WHICH RECEIVE AREA COST ADJUSTMENT
CITY OF LONDON
Inner London Boroughs
Camden
Greenwich
Hackney
Hammersmith and Fulham
Islington
Kensington and Chelsea
Lambeth
Lewisham
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