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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Live Animal Transport
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many vehicles containing more than one consignment of live animals for export were inspected by his officials at the port of Dover, prior to loading on to the MV Sea Road to sail from Dover to Boulogne in the period 1 January to 9 February; and what assessment he has made of whether welfare requirements as to feeding and watering for the purposes of the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1994 were observed for each consignment. [19891]
Mrs. Browning: During the period 1 January to 9 February 1996, 112 vehicles, carrying more than one consignment, were seen by officials prior to loading on to the MV Sea Road at the port. It is not part of the Ministry's responsibilities to assess whether the statutory welfare requirements are in the event met in respect of each consignment, although checks are carried out.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the country of destination declared on (a) the journey plan and (b) the health certificate for the purposes of the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1994 of the vehicle which left Dover on 8 February 1995 loaded with two consignments of calves. [19890]
Mrs. Browning: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 11 March 1996, Official Report, column 465.
Mr. Heppell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the MV Caroline conforms with the requirements of the Animals (Sea Transport) Order 1930, as amended, when used for the carriage of livestock from a United Kingdom port. [19889]
Mrs. Browning: No information available to the Ministry suggests that the MV Caroline failed to comply with the appropriate conditions specified in the Animals (Sea Transport) Order of 1930.
Badgers
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with the Government of the Irish Republic in respect of the interaction between badgers and tuberculosis in cattle; and if he will make a statement. [19826]
Mrs. Browning: On 7 February, I visited Dublin for discussions with Mr. Deenihan, Minister of State at the Irish Department of Agriculture, to discuss Irish policy in relation to badgers and bovine tuberculosis and in particular to learn of the project which had been undertaken in East Offaly. I found those discussions extremely helpful and will be reflecting on them in the
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context of the consultations I am currently undertaking on our policy for the control of tuberculosis in cattle.
Sheep Scab
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the re-introduction of a statutory compulsory treatment period to control sheep scab; and if he will make a statement; [20048]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the notifiable status of sheep scab; and what plans he has to change that status;[20051]
(3) if he will make a statement on the control of sheep scab; [20047]
(4) if he will make a statement on the control of sheep scab in areas of concentrated common and unfenced grazing land. [20050]
Mrs. Browning [holding answer 12 March 1996]: A public consultation paper was issued by the agriculture departments on 21 December 1995 setting out possible measures to help control sheep scab in Great Britain without detracting from farmers' responsibilities in this area. A copy was placed in the Library of the House.
The paper reflects the Government's latest assessment of the issues. It proposes, among other things, the creation of a criminal offence not to have treated infested sheep with an authorised treatment within a reasonable time of its having become detectable or upon service of a notice by an inspector authorised under the Animal Health Act 1981. The re-introduction of a compulsory treatment period across Great Britain is not, however, proposed.
The paper reiterates the Government's commitment to remove all references to sheep scab in the Animal Health Act 1981, including the requirement to notify the disease. A separate consultation paper will be issued on this specific issue in the spring.
The paper also includes a proposal for a measure to help deal with the particular problem caused by sheep scab in areas of common and unfenced grazing land.
The deadline for comments closed on 1 March 1996. A further round of consultation show follow once the comments received have been evaluated.
20. Mr. Hardy:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of the nuclear electricity industry following privatisation. [18710]
Mr. Eggar:
The external financing requirement of the nuclear electricity industry is shown in table 6A.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996-97".
22. Mr. Barry Field:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the information society initiative will be
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available through business link offices in the south of England. [18712]
Mr. Page:
All business links have information on the information society initiative and I hope that as many as possible will want to be actively involved. A number of business links in the south of England have already expressed an interest and we will be pursuing this with them.
23. Mr. Benton:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in which investment per head is currently less than in the United Kingdom. [18713]
Mr. Oppenheim:
In 1994 investment per head was lower than in the United Kingdom in Finland, Greece, Ireland, Mexico, Sweden and Turkey. Since 1979 business sector investment has been a larger proportion of GDP in the UK than in France, Germany, Italy and the US.
26. Mr. Amess:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the proposed EU directive on electrical sockets. [18716]
Mr. Eggar:
There is no proposal for an EU directive on electrical sockets. We understand that the European electrotechnical standards body, CENELEC, which is industry-led, will shortly put a new proposal for a harmonised European standard for plugs and sockets to national standards committees for consultation and voting. The Government continues to keep a watch on developments in CENELEC.
28. Mr. William O'Brien:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new initiatives his Department is introducing to bring industry into derelict coal mining areas; and if he will make a statement. [18718]
Mr. Page:
A substantial package of measures was put in place to help regenerate coal areas, set out in a parliamentary answer by the Minister for Industry and Energy on 19 July 1994. As he points out, the 1993 assisted areas map included assisted area status for a number of these areas. They continue to benefit from eligibility for regional selective assistance.
29. Mr. Tipping:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met the chairman of British Coal to discuss the future of British Coal Enterprise. [18719]
Mr. Page:
My ministerial colleagues and I meet the chairman of British Coal as necessary to discuss a range of issues. Officials in my Department remain in close touch with British Coal about the future of British Coal Enterprise.
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30. Mr. David Evans:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to encourage small businesses to use the information super-highway. [18720]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
My right hon. friend, the President of the Board of Trade launched the information society initiative on 13 February; a four-year programme in which up to £35 million of new money will be invested. It will help United Kingdom businesses to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by new information and communication technologies to boost their competitiveness.
This new framework of support and awareness programmes is a partnership between industry and Government, addressed at all who work in manufacturing, service and creative sectors--particularly small and medium sized companies.
31. Ms Glenda Jackson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the change in the level of manufacturing output in the last 12 months. [18721]
Mr. Eggar:
Over the last 12 months manufacturing output was at a record level, almost 2 per cent. higher than a year earlier.
Mrs. Liddell:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the growth in manufacturing output since 1990. [18709]
Mr. Eggar:
Since the end of 1990 manufacturing output has grown by 3.5 per cent.
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