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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

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known to be in the boundaries of Paignton zoo; how many of these have been interfered with; in respect of how many a licence to interfere has been issued; and for what reasons the licences were issued. [2277]

Mrs. Browning: I refer the hon. Member to the letter I sent him on 11 May 1995; there has been no change in the situation.

Apples

Sir Roger Moate: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the likely timetable for decisions in European Community negotiations about the definition of co-operatives or producer organisations with particular reference to the intervention regime for apples; what are his objectives in these negotiations; and if decisions will be taken by majority voting; [2436]

(2) what is the timetable for likely decisions in European Community negotiations about the intervention regime for apples; what are his objectives in these negotiations; and whether decisions will be taken by majority voting. [2437]

Mr. Boswell: I understand that the Spanish presidency hopes to reach agreement at the December Council of Agriculture Ministers. Any decisions will be taken by qualified majority voting.

Our objectives include seeking a clear signal that intervention will come to an end altogether. We will also seek to ensure that the recognition criteria for producer organisations do not discriminate against those which exist in the United Kingdom.

Farming (New Entrants)

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations his Department has received on the subject of offering financial assistance to new entrants into farming in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [2528]

Mr. Boswell: A number of suggestions have been made to the Department for supporting new entrants to farming. These include modifications to the taxation regime, lower interest rates, quota allocation arrangements and the introduction of assistance under EC regulation 2328/91. This measure enables member states to provide assistance in the form of installation premia or interest rate subsidies on loans for new farms; it has not been taken up in the United Kingdom. We believe that such measures are more appropriate in cases where member states' inheritance laws may lead to the breaking up of agricultural holdings and hence the need for additional infrastructure investment to maintain viability. In the UK, holdings tend to pass intact from one generation to the next. Our recent deregulatory steps on tenancy reform, in the Agriculture Tenancies Act 1995, are designed to encourage new entrants to farming, and have been widely welcomed across the industry.

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Crofting

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on low intensity croft farming; and if he will list the pilot schemes his Department has assessed. [2572]

Mr. Boswell: Crofting is not a system of farming which is practised in England. The Department has not therefore made any assessment of its impact.

Poultry (Gas Stunning)

Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to be able to lift the prohibition on the gas stunning of poultry. [2114]

Mrs. Browning [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The killing of poultry by exposure to specified gas mixtures has been permitted since 1 April 1995 under the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995.

Ostrich Farms

Mr. Tyler: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to monitor and control ostrich farms. [2161]

Mrs. Browning [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The State Veterinary Service inspects ostrich farms in Great Britain to check that the welfare standards are satisfactory. A total of 23 welfare inspections have been made since 1 April 1994. In making the inspections, the state veterinary service takes account of the guidelines on the welfare of ostriches prepared by the Farm Animal Welfare Council.

Alport Dale

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if English Nature has stated any formal objection to Forest Enterprise's proposals for Alport dale. [2377]

Mr. Boswell [holding answer 27 November 1995]: Yes. Forest Enterprise is now reviewing its proposals and is, jointly with English Nature, developing a management plan for the land within the sites of special scientific interest.

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what options are being considered as alternatives to putting underground the electricity line supplying Alport Hamlet; and what is the estimated cost of each of these options. [2375]

Mr. Boswell [holding answer 27 November 1995]: It is for Yorkshire Electricity to decide what options to consider.

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many letters of objection have been received by (a) the Peak Park joint planning board and (b) the Forestry Authority opposing Forest Enterprise's proposals for Alport dale; and on what dates his Department received these figures. [2376]

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Mr. Boswell [holding answer 27 November 1995]: I have no current information on the number of letters of objection received by the Peak Park joint planning board. The Forestry Authority arm of the Forestry Commission has received two letters opposing the proposals.

Deregulation

Mr. Steen: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the annual saving to business which will accrue from the deregulation of the (a) Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1868, (b) Slaughterhouses Act 1974 and Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act 1980 and (c) Corn Returns Act 1882 Orders 1995. [2025]

Mr. Boswell [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The annual saving to business accruing from deregulation of the Acts at (b) above has been estimated to be in the region of £100,000. This relates to the reduction of licensing-registration requirements in respect of slaughterhouses. Other benefits and non-recurring cost savings for business are detailed in the explanatory document which accompanies the draft deregulation order. The annual cost saving to business accruing from deregulation of the Corn Returns Act 1882 (c) has been estimated at £100,000. As regards the Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1968, I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, who is responsible for this legislation.

Mr. Steen: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the costs involved in preparing the cost-benefit assessment contained in the explanatory memorandum for the deregulation of the

(a) Slaughterhouses Act 1974 and Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act 1980, (b) Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1868 and (c) Corn Returns Act 1882 Orders 1995. [2026]

Mr. Boswell [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The costs associated with the identification of the cost savings to business and other benefits arising from the proposed amendments to the Slaughterhouses Act 1974 and the Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act 1980, and the Corn Returns Act 1882 have not been estimated. As regards the Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1868, I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, who is responsible for this legislation.

Small and Medium Enterprises

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of his Department's expenditure in 1994-95 was spent on procuring goods or services from small and medium-sized enterprises. [1960]

Mr. Boswell [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The information requested is not available for 1994-95. In the current year, MAFF cannot separately identify medium-sized suppliers, but small businesses are being identified and the relevant information regarding the Ministry's spend with such enterprises during 1995-96 will be sent to the hon. Member in due course.

MAFF's executive agencies do not maintain records regarding the size of their supplier companies.

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Local Government

Mr. Vaz: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the Acts of Parliament and Consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by his Department since January 1994. [30]

Mr. Boswell [pursuant to his reply, 21 November 1995 c. 79]: My earlier reply should have made clear that the Land Drainage Act 1994 was introduced by the Earl of Lindsay, and was supported by the Government.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Photography

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what proposals the Commission has for allowing photography in the Commons. [676]

Mr. Michael J. Martin [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The Administration Committee reviewed the regulations governing filming and photography in the Palace of Westminster earlier this year and no amendments were considered necessary.

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