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Motor Cyclists (Licensing)

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to change the system of licensing motor cyclists; if he will make

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a statement on the A1 licence; what are the EU requirements in this area; and if he will make a statement. [244]

Mr. Moss: The second EC directive on the driving licence requires member states to have two motor cycle driving licence categories and associated tests. Category A will give entitlement to drive any motor cycle with a power output up to 25kW or a power to weight ratio not exceeding 0.16kW/kg. Passing the category A test will also confer entitlement to drive larger motor cycles after two years. A sub-category (A1) will give entitlement to drive a light motor cycle up to 125cc, with a power output of 11kW. The minimum age for driving motor cycles will remain 17.

In implementing the directive in Northern Ireland, it is proposed that the existing category A test--which allows a person to take a motor cycle test in a vehicle up to 250cc--will continue until 1 July 1997 on which date learner motor cyclists will be restricted to vehicles of up to 125cc in line with current arrangements in GB. It is also proposed to introduce the sub-category A1 test along with other provisions of the directive on 1 January 1997.

Primary Health Care

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to develop research and development for primary health care in Northern Ireland. [107]

Mr. Moss: The imminent appointment of the first director of research and development for the health and personnel social services as head of a new office of R and D, and plans radically to revise funding mechanisms in line with Great Britain developments emanating from the Culyer report are designed to ensure that R and D in primary care receives equitable access to available funds for R and D.

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums were spent on research and development for primary health care in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available. [106]

Mr. Moss: The Department of Health and Social Services currently provides support for research and development in the health and social services in Northern Ireland via a variety of mechanisms. Departmental funds are not reserved for specific areas of research, but are available for application across all priority areas.

During 1995-96, the Department provided £75,000 in direct support of R and D in the area of primary health care.

In addition to this, indirect support for primary health care was further provided through the provision of research funds to the four core-funded research units at the Queen's university of Belfast. The units undertake a broad portfolio of research, comprising issues directly and indirectly associated with primary health care: for example, a primary concern for the drug utilisation research unit is the prescribing of drugs by general medical practitioners. Figures for expenditure by the units on specific research projects are not available centrally.

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Casualty Animals

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representation he has received relating to problems associated with the payment by farmers for the collection and removal of casualty animals; and if he will make a statement. [462]

Mrs. Browning: I have received a number of representations from producers expressing concern about charges made for the collection and disposal of animals slaughtered on farm. Charges are generally higher for animals entering the over-30-month scheme than those applied to casualty animals before its introduction. The reasons for the increases are that there is now no residual value for the collectors in the hides or in the trimmings while their costs have actually increased as a result of the generally longer distances travelled to incineration sites. Against this, producers receive the full compensation rate under the OMTS rather than, as previously, a salvage value taking account of unusable parts of the carcass.

Beef Imports

Mr. Richards: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries which export beef and beef products to the United Kingdom; and what measures are in place to ensure all imported products conform with current public health criteria. [211]

Mrs. Browning: In 1996, beef--including beef carcass meat, bovine offal and preparations of beef meat and bovine offal--originating from the following countries has been exported to the United Kingdom.


Separate information is not available for exports of beef products into the United Kingdom. However, meat products--which may or may not have contained beef--originating from the following countries have been exported to the United Kingdom.



    Argentina
    Botswana
    Brazil
    Canada
    Croatia
    Hong Kong
    Hungary
    New Zealand
    Norway

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    Poland
    Singapore
    Thailand
    USA.
    Note: This information, as recorded in overseas trade statistics, is provisional.

Separate information covering imports from other member states is not readily available.

All consignments of fresh meat imported into the UK, whether from other member states or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules laid down in Council directive 64/433/EEC (as amended). In the case of meat products the harmonised rules are laid down in Council directive 77/99 (as amended).

Community rules require that all imports of third country animal products enter the Community through approved border inspection posts where they are subject to official checks to verify compliance with public and animal health import conditions.

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For imports from other member states, the member state of origin is responsible for ensuring that exported goods comply with Community rules. Those receiving such goods are also required to check and report any discrepancies to the competent authority in the member state of destination.

Aquatic Environment Monitoring

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what biological and physiological parameters are monitored by his Department, in order for the Department of the Environment to assess the cumulative impacts of discharges from offshore oil and gas installations on marine wildlife and habitats. [506]

Mr. Boswell [holding answer 30 October 1996]: Through the Directorate of Fisheries Research, the Department contributes to the extensive national monitoring programme which seeks, among other things, to identify any harmful effects of human activities on the marine environment. The monitoring includes chemical analysis, incorporating measurements of hydrocarbons in water and sediments, and biological effects testing. Aquatic environment monitoring reports which detail the monitoring programme and its findings are issued annually and are available in the Library of the House.