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Valley Factory, Rhydymwyn
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was his Department's financial contribution to the Drivers Jonas report and the joint report with Delyn borough council and the Welsh Development Agency on the valley factory at Rhydymwyn, Clwyd. [595]
Mr. Boswell: The Ministry's financial contribution to Dames and Moore and Drivers Jonas for the preparation of the environmental assessment was approximately £65,000. The current site remediation study with Delyn borough council and the Welsh Development Agency will be jointly funded by the Ministry and the WDA. It has been agreed that the Ministry and the WDA will each bear one half of the total cost of the assessment. The Ministry's share is likely to amount to around £50,000. It has further been agreed that the Ministry and the WDA will each recompense one half of Delyn borough council's reasonable staff costs incurred in this study. Estimated costs are not yet available.
Farmers' Wives
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will commission a study into the social and economic role played by farmers' wives; and if he will make a statement. [58]
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Mr. Boswell: The important role played by farmers' spouses in farming enterprises is widely and very fully acknowledged within the industry and elsewhere. We doubt that a study of the kind suggested would do other than reinforce that view and have no plans for one at present.
Grant Payments (Fraud)
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list, to date and by region, the number of farmers who have been prosecuted for alleged criminal fraud in respect of payments of grants for renovating hedgerows and banks; what has been the result of the prosecutions; what effect unsuccessful prosecutions have had on subsequent grant payments; and if he will make a statement. [60]
Mr. Boswell: Earlier this year, a group of 19 cases in the south-west involving false claims for grant on hedges under the farm and conservation grant scheme were listed for prosecution. Two of these cases were heard by the Crown court. They resulted in acquittals. In the second of these cases, it was held that there was insufficient evidence to prove criminal dishonesty. In the light of this, the remaining 17 cases were withdrawn. However, where, as in these cases, grant has been claimed in breach of the scheme's rules, we will seek to recover grant to which farmers are not entitled. We are taking action to do so. Other grant claims from the farmers concerned will be dealt with on their own merits in the usual way.
Live Animal Exports
Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many sheep and lambs have been exported to date this year to (a) the Netherlands and (b) Belgium; and how many sheep and lambs were exported to each of these two countries in (i) 1993 and (ii) 1994. [1604]
Mr. Boswell: For the purposes of trade statistics, Belgium and Luxembourg are treated as one single entity. Official overseas trade statistics for the number of live sheep and lambs exported from the United Kingdom to the Netherlands and Belgium-Luxembourg are as follows:
| 1993 | (5)1994 | 1995 January to July (5) (6) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 41 | 95 | 12 |
| Belgium-Luxembourg | 109 | 128 | 17 |
(5) Provisional.
(6) Exports of live sheep and lambs to the Netherlands and
Belgium-Luxembourg are highly seasonal. Therefore January to July figures, the best available, should not be considered indicative of the eventual annual totals for 1995.
Energy Efficiency
Mr. Battle: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made towards cutting energy consumption in Government buildings for which he has responsibility in each year since 1990. [1442]
Mr. Boswell: For the Department's performance for the years 1990-91 to 1993-94, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 17 May 1995, Official Report,
23 Nov 1995 : Column: 241
column 260. In 1994-95 MAFF's energy costs per square metre for the main estate rose by 3 per cent. above the 1990-91 base year figure, compared with an increase of 5 per cent. in 1993-94. Energy costs for laboratories increased by 29 per cent. and those for the depots decreased by 26 per cent. from the base year figures.
Under the returns for Government's energy campaign, the Department cannot discount the IT equipment that has been installed throughout MAFF since 1990-91; or the new research buildings--which are high energy users-- required to meet statutory requirements at our laboratories, replacing rudimentary predecessors; or the growth in business activities.
The Department continues to take steps aimed at reducing energy consumption through the investment of energy schemes and the promotion of awareness campaigns for staff.
Mr. Harris:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on Government action to be taken to deal with imports of potatoes infected with brown rot. [2389]
Mr. Boswell:
Measures have been adopted at Community level to deal with the reported outbreak of brown rot in the Netherlands. They place stringent requirements on the Dutch authorities to ensure the safe disposal of potatoes from infected farms. To supplement these measures, the Government have introduced a statutory requirement for prior notification of all intended imports of Dutch potatoes--including seed, ware and potatoes for processing--in order to ensure that this trade can be monitored effectively. The legislation has also been strengthened to give wider powers to inspectors to control the disposal of Dutch potatoes, and we will be maintaining a high level of surveillance on this trade through inspections of consignments and laboratory testing.
Sir Michael Grylls:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the deregulation measures agreed by his Department during 1995. [284]
Mr. Boswell
[holding answer 22 November 1995]: The Ministry has a positive and long-standing commitment to deregulation, which has been developed during 1995. The Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 greatly simplified the rules relating to agricultural tenancies and now enables landlords and tenants to agree terms which reflect their own particular needs. Two draft deregulation orders, under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, have been laid to lift reporting burdens under the Corn Returns Act 1882 and in relation to slaughterhouses legislation. Other deregulatory measures include reducing the requirements relating to marking of pigs and simplifying the arrangements for licensing of poultry slaughtermen. Steps have also been taken to exempt cold stores handling packaged meat from meat inspection regulations. By 1 January 1996, we expect to repeal or simplify a significant series of national measures relating to food composition and food additives.
23 Nov 1995 : Column: 242
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 23 November. [1490]
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 discuss with President Clinton on his forthcoming visit to Britain, the issue of supporting a trial, in the Hague, under Scottish rules of evidence, under a Scottish judge, of the Libyan suspects accused of the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie. [1633]
The Prime Minister: I have no plans to do so.
National Lottery
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Prime Minister what considerations led him to commit national lottery funds to the development of competitive sport. [1795]
The Prime Minister: National lottery funds are not committed or distributed by the Government. Parliament decided that 20 per cent. of the funds for good causes should go to sport. The sports councils decide how much of that should go to the development of competitive sport.
French Nuclear Tests
Mr. Cox: To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received (a) supporting and (b) opposing his views on the French Government's nuclear tests which are currently taking place. [1667]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 20 November, Official Report, column 25.
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