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Scottish Economic Council
34. Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the Scottish Economic Council to discuss employment in Scotland. [26086]
Mr. Kynoch: On Friday 22 March 1996.
Beaufort's Dyke
33. Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for further surveys to be conducted at and around the Beaufort's Dyke area. [26085]
1 May 1996 : Column: 564
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: Further surveys of the Beaufort's Dyke area will be conducted from 26 April to 17 May; and from 19 to 29 July. The results of these surveys will be published.
35. Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the further survey of the Beaufort's Dyke area. [26087]
Mr. Robertson: Apart from the hon. Gentleman, representations have been received from the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman).
Bible John Case
Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Crown Office has received a report from Strathclyde police subsequent to the DNA testing of the exhumed body associated with the Bible John case. [27567]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate informs me that Strathclyde police have kept the regional procurator fiscal at Glasgow informed of progress in respect of forensic tests being carried out on their behalf. Strathclyde police are unable to forecast when the results of the tests will be available, but will report them to the regional procurator fiscal as soon as they are.
Examination Results
32. Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pupils passed standard grades last year in number and as a percentage of the population; what were the equivalent figures (i) five, (ii) 10 and (iii) 20 years ago; and if he will make a statement. [26084]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: The available information is given in the table:
1 May 1996 : Column: 563
| Exam year | Number of pupils in cohort | S4 candidates awarded one or more standard/ordinary grades (at 1-3/A-C) | S4 candidates awarded one or more standard/ordinary grades (at 1-6/A-E) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percentages(11) | Number | Percentages(11) | ||
| 1975 | 90,100 | 51,727 | 57.4 | -- | -- |
| 1985 | 84,300 | 55,231 | 65.5 | -- | -- |
| 1990 | 66,200 | 45,899 | 69.4 | 57,708 | 87.2 |
| 1995(12) | 64,000 | 52,594 | 82.2 | 61,132 | 95.5 |
Comparable data not available.
(11) Percentage of pupils who were in cohort at S1.
(12) Provisional.
1 May 1996 : Column: 563
These figures show a substantial growth in numbers gaining nationally recognised qualifications. Standard grade courses are designed to meet the needs of pupils of all abilities. Achievement is measured against clearly stated standards.
Education Institute of Scotland
Mr. Chisholm: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Education Institute of Scotland funding campaign postcards he received after 24 February. [27349]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: A total of 12,024.
1 May 1996 : Column: 564
Lockerbie
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on progress in respect of the prosecution of those responsible for blowing up PA103 over Lockerbie. [26163]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: It is now almost four and a half years since demands were made of the Libyan Government for surrender of the two Libyan accused for trial in Scotland or the United States of America. These demands have been endorsed by the United Nations Security Council, It is a matter of regret that the Libyan Government have thus far not complied with these demands, but the resolution of this matter lies in their hands.
1 May 1996 : Column: 565
Small and Medium Businesses
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of his Department's budget was spent on procurement from small and medium enterprises in 1995-96. [27523]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 November 1995 at column 589 to her similar question relating to 1994-95. Our financial and procurement systems in use in 1995-96 had no facility for categorising suppliers according to the size of their business. We are currently implementing a new system which we intend to use to help us to provide the information requested in future years.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Specified Bovine Offal
Mr. Heppell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions have been taken out by his Department (a) for abuses of the specified bovine offal regulations and (b) against animal feed manufacturers for not conforming to the animal feed ban in each year since 1989. [26480]
Mrs. Browning: At 8 March 1996, there were 2,827 local veterinary inspectors appointed to inspect and certify farm animals for export. Of these, 50 were appointed between 1 January 1995 and 8 March 1996. Their names will not be disclosed under paragraph 4g of part II of the code of practice on access to Government information.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent reports he has received from the State Veterinary Service concerning mishandling of specified bovine offals in slaughterhouses. [26419]
Mrs. Browning: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for High Peak (Mr. Hendry) on 30 April 1996.
Mr. Prentice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions have been taken out by his Department (a) for abuses of the specified bovine offal regulations and (b) against animal feed manufacturers for not conforming to the animal feed ban in each year since 1989. [26480]
Mrs. Browning: There is currently one case before the courts for non-compliance with the regulations on specified bovine offals. A number of other cases are under investigation.
There have been no prosecutions by this Department against animal feed manufacturers for not complying with the ruminant protein feed ban.
Live Animal Exports
Mr. Heppell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animals were exported from the United Kingdom in 1995 (a) with a further fattening export certificate and (b) with a for slaughter certificate. [26442]
1 May 1996 : Column: 566
Mrs. Browning: The first table shows the numbers of farm animals, by species, certified for export from Great Britain to other member states in 1995 with further fattening and slaughter export certificates respectively. The figures are collated from the ANIMO system. They remain provisional and subject to amendment.
| Further fattening | Slaughter | |
|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 347,450 | 0 |
| Sheep | 976,010 | 89,430 |
| Goats | 0 | 6 |
| Pigs | 790 | 900 |
| Poultry | (13)6,383,640 | 217,000 |
(13) Comprises poultry certified as breeding and production; and as day-old chicks.
| Breeding/further fattening | Slaughter | |
|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 7,880 | 1,150 |
| Sheep | 370 | 0 |
| Goats | 0 | 0 |
| Pigs | 2,240 | 230 |
| Poultry | (14)5,617,000 | 10,860 |
(14) Comprises poultry certified as breeding and production; and as day-old chicks.
Scrapie
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information his Department has evaluated on the persistence of scrapie on lands used for the grazing of sheep. [24421]
Mrs. Browning: No studies have been carried out on the persistence of scrapie on lands used for the grazing of sheep. On-going epidemiological studies into scrapie may, however, throw some light on the mechanism of infection. A paper by Wisniewski and others entitled "Mites as vectors for scrapie" which was published in The Lancet on 20 April is currently being evaluated.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral statement of 20 March, Official Report, columns 387-96, on what day he was advised of the new evidence regarding a possible link between BSE and Creutzfeldt Jakob disease. [24704]
Mrs. Browning: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Martin) on 29 April 1996, Official Report, column 409.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date he was first informed of the link between BSE and the new strain of CJD. [24833]
1 May 1996 : Column: 567
Mrs. Browning [holding answer 16 April 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Martin) on 29 April 1996, Official Report, column 409.
Mr. Colvin: To ask the Minster of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what liaison there has been between his Ministry and the US National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland on research into BSE and CJD. [24905]
Mrs. Browning: UK officials have frequent contact with US officials by letter, phone and by personal contact at international meetings. This has extended to the provision of research materials and information when requested.
Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make an exemption from the rule on the destruction of the carcases of cattle over the age of 30 months for highland cattle and other slow-maturing native breeds from herds where there is no history of BSE. [25177]
1 May 1996 : Column: 568
Mrs. Browning [holding answer 16 April 1996]: Officials are working on a scheme under which animals which can safely be identified as low risk may be sold for human consumption. I hope to issue a consultation paper very shortly.
Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all projects related to spongiform encephalopathies that receive funding from Government, or are under consideration for funding; and if he will give the start date and proposed end date for each project.[23198]
Mrs. Browning [holding answer 28 March 1996]: The attached table shows both the projects that currently receive funding by MAFF, that are related to spongiform encephalopathies. Research funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Medical Research Council and the Department of Health may also be relevant.
1 May 1996 : Column: 567
| Project code | Project title | Start date | End date 1996-97 | Total costs | Project status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE1409 | Development of an antemortem test for BSE and natural scrapie inflection through the detection of abnormal deposits of PrP | 1 April 1994 | 31 March 1998 | 341,312 | 4 |
| SE1411 | Further analysis of nucleic acid differences between control and scrapie/BSE infected animals | 1 April 1994 | 31 March 1998 | 125,532 | 4 |
| SE1705 | Electrophoretic analysis of body fluids to identify diagnostic markers in BSE and scrapie | 1 April 1992 | 31 March 1996 | 28,300 | 4 |
| SE1707 | Sensitivity studies of fibril detection techniques used in Electron Microscopy for the diagnosis of scrapie | 1 April 1991 | 31 March 1997 | 42,176 | 4 |
| SE1723 | Production of polyclonal antiaera to highly purified bovine PrP scrapie | 1 April 1995 | 31 March 1996 | -- | 4 |
| SE1724 | Biochemical changes in the spongiform encephalopathies | 1 April 1995 | 31 March 1996 | -- | 4 |
| SE1727 | Identification of putative NA components of the etiologic agent of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies | 1 June 1995 | 31 May 1996 | 34,658 | 4 |
| SE1728 | Production and properties of PrP: EC IVch framework collaboration | 1 April 1996 | 31 March 1999 | 92,493 | 4 |
| SE1730 | Electrophoretic analysis of body fluids to identify disease-specific proteins in ruminant spongiform encephalopathy | 1 April 1996 | 31 March 1999 | 151,530 | 0 |
| SE1731 | Production of polyclonal antisera to highly purified bovine PrP scrapie (was SE1723) | 1 April 1996 | 31 March 1997 | 167,022 | 5 |
| SE1732 | Collaboration agreement with Electrophoretics International to develop ZDE techniques for the diagnosis of BSE | 22 December 1995 | 31 December 1996 | 0 | 4 |
| SE1917 | Scrapie infection of sheep neural and extraneural cell lines | 1 January 1994 | 31 December 1996 | 33,920 | 4 |
| SE1922 | Studies of the sensitivity and specificity of methods of PrP scrapie detection in animal TSEs | 1 April 1995 | 31 March 1998 | 153,591 | 4 |
| Total | 1,170,924 |
Thirteen records listed.
1 May 1996 : Column: 567
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what sums his Department has allocated to research into the preparation of a live test for BSE; and if he will make a statement on the conclusions of that research. [23361]
Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the projects that receive funding from Government, or are under consideration for funding, that are related to establishing a live identification test for spongiform
1 May 1996 : Column: 568
encephalopathies; and if he will give the start date and proposed end date for each project. [23197]
Mrs. Browning [holding answer 28 March 1996]: The attached table shows both the projects that currently receive funding and the projects that are currently being considered for funding by MAFF, that are related to establishing a live test for spongiform encephalopathies. The list also shows the cost of the research. Some research funded by the BBSRC may also be relevant; details can be provided by the Office of Science and Technology.
| Project code | Project title | Start date | End date 1996-97 | Total costs | Project status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE1409 | Development of an antemortem test for BSE and natural scrapie inflection through the detection of abnormal deposits of PrP | 1 April 1994 | 31 March 1998 | 341,312 | 4 |
| SE1411 | Further analysis of nucleic acid differences between control and scrapie/BSE infected animals | 1 April 1994 | 31 March 1998 | 125,532 | 4 |
| SE1705 | Electrophoretic analysis of body fluids to identify diagnostic markers in BSE and scrapie | 1 April 1992 | 31 March 1996 | 28,300 | 4 |
| SE1707 | Sensitivity studies of fibril detection techniques used in Electron Microscopy for the diagnosis of scrapie | 1 April 1991 | 31 March 1997 | 42,176 | 4 |
| SE1723 | Production of polyclonal antiaers to highly purified bovine PrP scrapie | 1 April 1995 | 31 March 1996 | -- | 4 |
| SE1724 | Biochemical changes in the spongiform encephalopathies | 1 April 1995 | 31 March 1996 | -- | 4 |
| SE1727 | Identification of putative NA components of the etiologic agent of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies | 1 June 1995 | 31 May 1996 | 34,658 | 4 |
| SE1728 | Production and properties of PrP: EC IVth framework collaboration | 1 April 1996 | 31 March 1999 | 92,493 | 4 |
| SE1730 | Electrophoretic analysis of body fluids to identify disease-specific proteins in ruminant spongiform encephalopathy | 1 April 1996 | 31 March 1999 | 151,520 | 0 |
| SE1731 | Production of polyclonal antisera to highly purified bovine PrP scrapie (was SE1723) | 1 April 1996 | 31 March 1997 | 167,022 | 5 |
| SE1732 | Collaboration agreement with Electrophoretics International to develop ZDE techniques for the diagnosis of BSE | 22 December 1995 | 31 December 1996 | 0 | 4 |
| SE1917 | Scrapie infection of sheep neural and extraneural cell lines | 1 January 1994 | 31 December 1996 | 33,920 | 4 |
| SE1922 | Studies of the sensitivity and specificity of methods of PrP scrapie detection in animal TSEs | 1 April 1995 | 31 March 1998 | 153,591 | 4 |
| Total | 1,170,924 |
Thirteen records listed.
1 May 1996 : Column: 569
1 May 1996 : Column: 569
Mr. Thurnham: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of (a) the incidence and (b) the causes of BSE otherwise than in the United Kingdom. [23535]
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of cases of BSE reported in each of the states of the European Union to the most recent available date. [24415]
Mrs. Browning: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) and for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 29 April 1996, Official Report, column 408.
We have no reason to believe that BSE in other countries is caused by any other reason that the feeding of infected animal feedingstuffs.
Mr. Marlow:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which EU countries in which specified bovine offals are not removed from the carcase there have been cases of BSE within the last 12 months. [25860]
Mrs. Browning
[holding answer 19 April 1996]: Cases of BSE have been recorded in France, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom in the last 12 months.
According to our information, the only member states which apply SBO controls are Portugal, France, Belgium and the United Kingdom. Further information on the SBO controls in place in these member states was given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 29 April 1996, Official Report, columns 413-14.
1 May 1996 : Column: 570
Ms Quin:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of BSE there have been in (a) France and (b) Switzerland; and in how many of those cases the cause has been attributed to animal feed imported from the United Kingdom. [26022]
Mrs. Browning
[holding answer 23 April 1996]: As at 29 April, 20 cases of BSE have been recorded in France and 210 cases in Switzerland.
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