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Organic Turkeys
Mr. Tyler: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to encourage the production and consumption of turkeys reared to organic standards and by welfare-friendly methods. [4142]
Mrs. Browning: The welfare of all livestock on agricultural land is protected by the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968, which makes it an offence to cause unnecessary pain or unnecessary distress to livestock, and subordinate legislation. The welfare of turkeys is further protected by a welfare code which sets out more detailed requirements.
We are encouraging the production of all types of organic food. We support the work of the independent UK
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register of organic food standards which control production standards for all sectors, including poultry.
Mr. Tony Banks:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been spent on furnishing and decorating ministerial offices in his Department in each of the last three years. [5567]
Mr. Boswell:
Expenditure on furnishings and decorating ministerial offices in each of the last three years is included in the running cost expenditure of the Department, which is published in the annual report.
Mr. Betts:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide revenue forecasts for the current year and the next five years of expenditure on schemes provided under the PFI. [5722]
Mr. Boswell:
While several projects are currently being assessed for their potential, no schemes have so far been agreed under the private finance initiative, and no revenue forecasts have been made.
Mr. Betts:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of bills to his Department were paid in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice in the last year for which figures are available. [5710]
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Mr. Boswell:
From 1991 to 1994, prompt payment performance was measured by a manual sampling process. For 1993-94, this sampling established MAFF's overall payment performance including payments to farm businesses as 85 per cent.
During 1994, MAFF was in the process of installing a computerised payments system and, as a result, consistent, statistically valid data on prompt payment performance could not be collected. Data emerging from the new system indicate 85.41 per cent. of all payments made by MAFF in the first quarter of 1995-96 were made by the due date.
Mr. Dobson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all qualitative and quantitative research projects and surveys carried out for his Department into aspects of public attitudes and opinions (a) in general and (b) in relation to specific policy proposals in each of the past three years to December 1995, indicating for each project or survey (i) the date on which the research was commissioned, (ii) the amount which his Department spent, (iii) who carried out the research, (iv) the number of people surveyed or taking part, (v) the location and time scale and (vi) which individuals and organisations have been given access to the findings. [5988]
Mr. Boswell:
A total of 15 projects and surveys, looking into aspects of public attitudes and opinions, have been commissioned by MAFF in the past three years to December 1995. Details of these surveys are shown. It is not possible for commercial reasons to give the cost of each survey individually; however, in total these surveys cost £359,000.
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| Subject | Date | Organisation | Numbers taking part | Location | Timescale of fieldwork |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (i) | (iii) | (iv) | (v) | (v) | |
| 1. Fridge use and maintenance leaflet-communication research | July 1993 | Reflexions | 96 | Great Britain | 1 month |
| 2. Foodsense awareness | July 1993 | RSGB | 2,000 | Great Britain | 1 month |
| 3. Foodsense strategy research | September 1993 | Andrew Irving and Associates | 96 | England (North, South Midlands) | 2 months |
| 4. Improved methods of food preference mapping | October 1993 | Mobile Sensory Testing Services Ltd. | 864 | United Kingdom | 3 years |
| 5. MAFF exhibition research | June 1994 | Martin Hamblin | 1,101 | Bath, Northampton and Newcastle | 8 months |
| 6. Exhibition research | August 1994 | Diagnostics | 434 | London | 1 month |
| 7. Valuation of non-use environmental benefits. The value of natural areas. | October 1995 | University of Portsmouth | 2,000 | England | 1 year |
| 8. Customer satisfaction survey of regional service centres | February 1995 | BJM Research and Consultancy Ltd. | 1,800 | England | 6 weeks |
| 9. Balance in the countryside-evaluation of brochure and information pack. | November 1994 | Reflexions | 30 | Great Britain | 6 weeks |
| 10. Environmentally sensitive areas research | February 1995 | RSGB | 1,500 | England | 1 month |
| 11. Survey on the consumer understanding of numerical nutrition labelling | January 1995 | Research Services Ltd. | 1,000 | United Kingdom | 4 months |
| 12. Foodsense advert awareness | August 1995 | RSGB | 4,000 | Great Britain | 4 months |
| 13. Foodsense booklet review | August 1995 | Benson, Slesenger Research | 48 | England | 6 weeks |
| 14. Socio-economic and environmental evaluation of the farm woodland premium scheme | June 1995 | Entec UK Ltd. | 542 | England and Wales | 2 months |
| 15. Evaluation of ESA landscapes-- research in the south downs and Somerset levels and moors | September 1992 | University of Newcastle | 3,077 | England | 2 months |
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Of the 15 projects and surveys commissioned, four were in relation to specific policy proposals and 11 of a general nature. For completed projects and surveys, the findings are available on request, subject to any commercial constraints.
Mr. Morley:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 7 December, Official Report, column 372, if he will list the individuals and organisations to whom he has circulated the interim report on drift net fishing from the sea mammals research unit; and when he will place a copy in the Library. [5869]
Mr. Baldry:
The Ministry has not yet circulated the interim report to other individuals or organisations and will not do so until after it has been placed in the Library. This will be done before the recess once the Ministry has prepared its analysis of the report.
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Mr. Hain:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, (1) if he will make it his policy to oppose any further regulations from the European Union which would restrict United Kingdom consumers' access to vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements; and if he will make a statement; [6205]
(2) what is his policy in respect of ensuring the availability of vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements; and if he will make a statement. [6122]
Mrs. Browning:
The Government's policy is to ensure that consumers have as much choice as possible in their access to vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements, provided that the public health is not compromised. There are no formal proposals from the European Union at present to change the rules on the sale of dietary supplements. If any such proposals were made, the United Kingdom position would reflect this policy. We would be opposed to any unnecessary regulation.