| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Common Fisheries Policy Review Group
Mr. David Porter: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the report of the common fisheries policy review group will be published. [39668]
Mr. Baldry: The report will be published on 24 July and copies will be placed in the Library.
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 263
Environment Agency (Flood Warnings)
Sir Ralph Howell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the role of the Environment Agency in the dissemination of flood warnings to the public in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [39667]
Mr. Boswell: Following a review by a Ministry-chaired working group involving representatives of interested organisations, it was agreed last year that with effect from 1 September 1996, the Environment Agency, as the successor body to the National Rivers Authority, would assume the lead role in disseminating flood warnings to emergency services, local authorities, other statutory bodies and to people and businesses. This was formalised by means of a ministerial direction to the NRA last March which has been inherited by the Environment Agency.
The NRA, and subsequently the agency, has been preparing local flood warning dissemination plans in consultation with the police and local authorities with the aim of providing timely, accurate flood warnings for locations at risk throughout England and Wales where a flood forecasting system exists. These plans will be held at the agency's area offices concerned. With the aid of grant from the Ministry and Welsh Office the agency is installing automatic voice messaging systems to improve the provision of flood warning information to the public. It will be publicising the new arrangements by various means, including the issuing of leaflets to people and organisations in flood risk areas.
Livestock Exports
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the report by J. Panting into livestock export procedures as pursued by Jonathan Stirling is to be completed and published. [32326]
Mrs. Browning [holding answer 17 June 1996]: My investigation officers have carried out a thorough investigation of the allegations made in the Channel 4 "Dispatches" programme which was broadcast earlier this year. The investigation included consideration of the material provided by the programme makers to the Department following the broadcast.
A report was submitted by the investigation branch to the Department's prosecution lawyers at the beginning of June. The lawyers have now considered the report and concluded that there is no evidence which would give rise to criminal charges against anyone featured in the "Dispatches" programme nor was there any evidence to substantiate the allegations of serious misconduct by the LVI featured in the programme.
Reports of investigations carried out by investigation officers of the Department are not published.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the statistical forms issued to businesses by his Department and the number sent out of each. [37464]
Mr. Boswell
[holding answer 16 July 1996]: During 1995 there were 96 statistical surveys to businesses conducted by MAFF and its agencies. Most of these were
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 264
fairly small and 38 had fewer than 100 addresses. A table setting out the surveys conducted and the number of businesses approached in 1995 will be placed in the Library of the House.
The Ministry has set targets to cut compliance cost of regular surveys to farmers in line with the recommendations of the deregulation task force. This will result in a reduction in compliance cost to farmers of some 35 per cent. in real terms in the four years up to 1998-99.
Notable achievements during 1995 included the introduction of sampling to the June census of agriculture and horticulture so that smaller farms need not be surveyed annually. Some 35,000 fewer forms were sent out in 1995. In addition, the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 was used to exempt small traders from having to make weekly returns under the Corn Returns Act of 1882, leading to a 40 per cent. reduction in compliance costs.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the licences currently issued by his Department, indicating their function and the annual administrative costs for each. [37810]
Mr. Boswell
[holding answer 19 July 1996]: The Ministry is responsible for issuing the following business licences:
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 265
Mr. Beith:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what enforcement actions fishery protection vessels have taken against Danish vessels engaged in industrial fishing on the north-east bank; [38253]
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 266
(3) what mesh size limits apply to vessels engaged in industrial fishing for sandeels on the north-east bank;[38255]
Mr. Baldry
[holding answer 22 July 1996]: Sandeeling is subject to common fishery policy regulations. However, the United Kingdom in pressing for the introduction of precautionary total allowable catches as well as further research to increase our understanding of the impact of industrial fishing on other species.
Registration of owners or keepers of pigs with local MAFF animal health office;
Registration of owners or keepers of cattle with local animal health office;
Registration of poultry breeding flocks and hatcheries;
Approval of premises handling specified bovine offal;
Approval and registration of premises handling animal by-products;
Registration of animal protein processors;
Licences for processing of waste food;
Licences for holding of waste food;
Licence to hold animal markets held on unpaved premises;
Importation and transfer of pathogens and carriers of pathogens under Import of Animal Pathogens Order 1980;
Importation of pathogens and carriers of pathogens under Specified Animal Pathogens Order 1993;
Importation and quarantine of rabies-susceptible animals;
Registration by owners or keepers of sheep or goats with local Animal Health Offices;
Registration of premises recovering meat from bovine bones by mechanical processes;
Registration of laboratories under the Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries Order 1993;
Registration of laboratories under the Processed Animal Protein Order 1989;
Movement of processed animal protein which has been tested for salmonella
Exemption licence from requirement to test material for salmonella;
Movement of bulls to a semen collection centre to donate semen;
Storage of bovine semen;
Processing of bovine semen;
Farm storage of bovine semen;
Supply of bovine semen (including semen shops);
Sheep and goats: embryo collection teams and semen collection centre;
Operation of a farm storage servicing business;
Bovine embryo collection/production/transfer teams and storage facilities;
Movement of boars to semen collection centres to donate semen;
Operation of a porcine semen collection centre;
Importation of genetic material from sheep, goats, pigs and cattle;
Importation of captive birds, poultry and hatching eggs;
Importation of cattle, sheep, goats, other ruminating animals and swine;
Importation of hay and straw;
Food irradiation and licensing of premises;
Export of breeding animals;
Export of horses and ponies;
Classifiers of beef carcasses;
Licences to control the deposit of material at sea;
Registration of milk production holdings;
Approval of establishments processing dairy products;
Approval of egg product establishments;
Commercial fishing in external and specified waters;
Commercial fishing in community waters;
Trans-shipment of pelagic sea fish;
Transit licence for queen bees between third countries via the UK;
Importation of live and dead bees for research purposes;
Importation of queen bees from third countries;
Burning of heather, grass gorse or vaccinium at certain times of year;
Keeping of mink for fur-farming;
Licensing of slaughtermen;
Approval of fresh meat premises (including slaughterhouses and premises exporting wild game);
Approval of meat products and other products of animal origin premises and premises manufacturing minced meat and meat preparations for trade with member states;
Importation of animal and poultry products;
Registration of egg packing stations;
Registration of egg producers to market eggs with a Special Marketing Term;
Registration of hatcheries and breeding establishments;
Importation, moving or keeping of prohibited plant material, soil, pests etc;
Disposal of waste from imported vegetables;
Plant protection products: approval under EC rules for sale, supply and use;
Plant protection products: approval for R&D under EC rules;
Pesticide products: approval under UK rules for sale, supply, advertisement, storage and use;
Pesticide products: experimental permits for supply, storage and use granted under UK rules;
Authorisation of pesticide adjuvants under UK rules;
Purchase of strychnine to kill moles;
Registration of seed merchants, processors and packers;
Licensed seed testing stations;
Licensed seed samplers;
Licensed crop inspectors;
Registration of fish and shellfish farms;
Importation of salmonid viscera from third countries;
Importation of live fish and shellfish (and their eggs and gametes) from third countries;
Deposit of lobsters in designated areas;
Animal test certificates;
Manufacturer's licence for veterinary medicines;
Wholesale dealer's licence for veterinary medicines;
Product licences for zootechnical feed additives;
Marketing authorisations for veterinary medicinal products.
Information on the administration costs associated with each licence could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
(2) what assessment he has made of the impact of industrial fishing for sandeels by Danish vessels on the north-east bank on fish stocks and on the ability of vessels from local ports to pursue the haddock and whiting fishery; [38254]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |