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Early Retirement (Farmers)

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received over the past three years on the subject of initiating an early retirement scheme for farmers; what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the likely benefits of this to the tenanted sector; and if he will make a statement. [2526]

Mr. Boswell: In the past three years, the Department has answered four parliamentary questions and 28 Ministers' correspondence on the subject of an early retirement scheme for farmers. Council regulation 2079/92 permits member states to provide early retirement pensions to farmers aged between 55 and normal retirement age who release their land for amalgamation with other holdings or for non-agricultural use. This option has not been taken upon the United Kingdom because we take the view that its terms are not appropriate to the conditions of agriculture here. For that reason, we have not commissioned any research on early retirement for farmers nor evaluated the likely impact on the tenanted sector.

Executive Agencies (Meetings)

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what record he keeps of the number and dates of meetings he has with the heads of agencies which report to him. [3081]

Mr. Douglas Hogg: My office holds a record of all my meetings. Those with the heads of agencies which report to me form a part of that record. They are not singled out in any special way.

Arable Areas (Checks)

Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will commission a survey of arable areas throughout the European Union by the Western European Union satellite centre to facilitate a scientific comparison between the arrangements made by member states to secure compliance with common agricultural policy regulations including set-aside areas. [3259]

4 Dec 1995 : Column: 55

Mr. Baldry: No. Most EU member states carry out remote sensing checks on arable areas including set-aside land, using satellite imagery or aerial photography as part of an EC Commission co-financed programme. Discrepancies found are followed up by individual member states and results monitored by the EC Commission. These measures, together with those applied by all member states under the integrated administration control system, are designed to ensure compliance with CAP regulations.

Sheep and Beef Support Schemes

Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money was spent on (a) hill livestock compensatory allowances, (b) suckler cow premiums, (c) sheep annual premiums and (d) beef special premiums in each country of the United Kingdom in 1994-95. [3221]

Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 30 November 1995]: In 1994-95 £31.3 million ¹ was spent on hill livestock compensatory allowances, £64.7 million was spent on suckler cow premium, including extensification premium; £163.7 million was spent on sheep annual premium, including Less-favoured area supplement, and £81.1 million was spent on beef special premium, including extensification premium, in England. Expenditure on these schemes in the other parts of the United Kingdom is a matter for the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

¹ This includes expenditure carried forward from the previous financial year.

Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money will be spent on (a) the hill livestock compensatory allowances, (b) suckler cow premiums, (c) sheep annual premiums and (d) beef special premiums in each country of the United Kingdom in 1995-96. [3222]

Mr. Hogg [holding answer 30 November 1995]: In 1995-96, we estimate that £27.6 million will be spent on hill livestock compensatory allowances; £83 million will be spent on suckler cow premium, including extensification premium; £182 million will be spent on sheep annual premium, including LFA supplement, and £129.2 million will be spent on beef special premium, including extensification premium, in England. Expenditure under these schemes in the other parts of the United Kingdom is a matter for the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

European Funding (North Yorkshire)

Mr. Ainger: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much matching funding his Department has provided for European agricultural guarantee and guidance projects in (a) 1994-95 and (b) 1995-96 within the north Yorkshire area; and if he will provide a breakdown based on (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) local authority. [3744]

Mr. Baldry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 19 October, Official Report, column 323. A breakdown of this information by parliamentary constituency and local authority can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

4 Dec 1995 : Column: 56

Investor in People Status

Mr. Byers: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department is taking to achieve investor in people status; when they started the process; when they expect to achieve investor in people status; and if he will make a statement. [2971]

Mr. Boswell [holding answer 30 November 1995]: The Department is committed in principle to pursuing the investor in people standard. The Ministry's information technology directorate achieved the standard at the end of 1993; the regional organisation recently carried out a diagnostic survey and is now evaluating the results; and the rest of the core Department is preparing to follow suit by assembling the various elements that are required in order to attain investor in people status.

Overgrazing

Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers had their payments withdrawn as a result of overgrazing in each country of the United Kingdom in (a) 1994-95 and (b) 1995-96 to the latest available date. [3223]

Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 30 November 1995]: In England, four farmers had their hill livestock compensatory allowances withheld in whole or in part in 1994-95 as a result of overgrazing. To date, three farmers have had their hill livestock compensatory allowances withheld in whole or in part as a result of overgrazing in 1995-96. Responsibility for the implementation of overgrazing provisions of the livestock subsidy schemes in other parts of the United Kingdom falls to the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

Moorland Scheme

Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many lectures have been entered into the moorland scheme in each region of the United Kingdom to which the scheme applies. [3225]

Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 30 November 1995]: In England, 4048.63 hectares of heather moorland grazing have been entered into the moorland scheme. Responsibility for schemes to enhance the nature conservation value of moorland in other parts of the United Kingdom falls to the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have entered their land into the moorland scheme in each region of the United Kingdom to which the scheme applies. [3226]

Mr. Hogg [holding answer 30 November 1995]: In England, 13 farmers have to date signed agreements entering land into the moorland scheme. Responsibility for schemes to enhance the nature conservation value of moorland in other parts of the United Kingdom falls to the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

4 Dec 1995 : Column: 57

TRANSPORT

MV Derbyshire

Mr. Loyden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the results of his assessment of the further work required to be undertaken to identify the cause of the sinking of the MV Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement. [4119]

Sir George Young: I have today published Lord Donaldson's assessment. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House and are available in the Vote Office.

The formal investigation in 1987 into the loss of the Derbyshire decided that "... the Derbyshire was probably overwhelmed by the forces of nature in Typhoon Orchid"

and added that "the evidence available does not support any firmer conclusion".

Following the discovery in June 1994 of the wreckage of the Derbyshire during a search sponsored by the International Transport Workers Federation, my predecessor appointed the right hon. Lord Donaldson of Lymington to undertake an assessment of what further work might be undertaken to seek to determine the actual cause of the loss of the Derbyshire, together with assessments of the costs involved, the likelihood of establishing the cause and the likely benefits to ship safety.

Lord Donaldson has recommended that a second, and final, re-examination of the wreck should be carried out, at a cost which he estimates at around £2 million. He believes there is a compelling case for seeking to establish the cause of the loss, with resulting benefits to ship safety.

I have decided to accept his recommendation. The timing of his re-examination will depend on making the necessary arrangements--drawing up a specification, inviting tenders and selecting a contractor--and will take place as soon as practicable in either spring 1996 or spring 1997. I have raised within the European Commission the possibility of sharing the costs with it, as the potential benefits are not confirmed to British ships and seafarers. The Commission has confirmed its readiness to assist financially.

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