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Food Labelling

Mr. Thurnham: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive the interim report by the Food Advisory Committee on nutritional labelling and health claims; and if he will make a statement. [3590]

Mrs. Browning: The Food Advisory Committee has not been asked to make an interim report on these matters. It is currently reviewing functional foods and health claims and is due to consider the issues again at its December meeting.

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Beef Farmers' Incomes

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the reduction in beef farmers' incomes since 20 March. [2583]

Mr. Boswell: Incomes of beef farmers in hill and upland areas are currently being considered as part of the autumn review of the economic prospects of hill farms, and forecasts of incomes for 1996-97 will be deposited in the Library of the House on 26 November.

Estimates of 1996-97 incomes by type of farm for all farms in the United Kingdom will be published in a press notice on 31 January 1997.

Agricultural Holdings

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans his Department has to bring the level at which agricultural holdings are deemed to be economically viable in line with Department of Social Security assessments of personal economic need; and if he will make a statement on his assessment of the advantages of such changes. [3235]

Mr. Boswell: The Department does not define any specific level of economic viability for agricultural holdings and there are no plans to introduce one.

Planning Guidelines

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the advantages of giving additional weight to environmental impact in determining planning restrictions on agricultural buildings. [3363]

Mr. Boswell: Planning authorities are already able to take full account of the environmental aspects of development proposals involving agricultural holdings.

British Beef

Sir Robert Hicks: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken since 1 August to persuade the major supermarkets and fast-food retail organisations to (a) use and (b) promote United Kingdom beef; and if he will make a statement. [1629]

Mrs. Browning [holding answer 5 November 1996]: In July, I launched an initiative aimed at restoring consumer confidence in British beef, which I believe needs to start with understanding the concerns of customers and consumers. As a part of this initiative, my officials and I have held a number of discussions with leading supermarkets and fast-food businesses about the measures which the Government have taken to protect public health, and the further steps needed to restore confidence in beef. We have also held seminars with important industry groups.

Forestry Commission (Land Sales)

Mr. Denham: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the plots of Forestry Commission land in Hampshire in each of the last five years which (a) were sold and (b) were offered for sale,

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specifying in each case (i) which were sold without public access protected, (ii) the size of the plot and (iii) what consultation was undertaken in advance of the sale; [1968]

Mr. Boswell [holding answer 4 November 1996]: The subjects of the questions relate to matters undertaken by Forest Enterprise. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. Gordon Cowie, to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Gordon M. Cowie to Mr. John Denham, dated 12 November 1996:


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Beef (Emergency Control) Order 1996

Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions have been initiated against individuals claimed to be flouting article 2 of the Beef (Emergency Control) Order 1996--statutory instrument 1996/961--and the subsequent amendments. [816]

Mr. Boswell [holding answer 6 November 1996]: This Department has not, to date, initiated any prosecutions under the article 2 of the Beef (Emergency Control) Order 1996 or its replacement orders, the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) Regulations 1996 and the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No. 2) Regulations 1996.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Prisoners (Costs)

Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the current annual costs of keeping a prisoner in each of Northern Ireland's prisons; and what are the current average costs in England and Wales and Scotland. [2737]

Sir John Wheeler: Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the Northern Ireland Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. Alan Shannon. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Alan Shannon to Mr. Tony Worthington, dated 11 November 1996:

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the current annual cost of keeping a prisoner in each of Northern Ireland's prisons.


Forestry Grants

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for increased financial provision in respect of proposals to increase the forest cover in the United Kingdom; what percentage of this provision is planned to be spent before May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [1846]

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Mr. Ancram: Uptake under the forestry grant schemes in Northern Ireland has increased over the past five years from around 500 ha in 1991-92 to more than 800 ha in 1995-96. Expenditure in 1995-96 was some £1.1 million and is expected to be just under £1.2 million in 1996-97. Future spending will be determined following the conclusion of the 1996 public expenditure round. Approximately 10 per cent. of annual provision is spent in each of the first two months of the financial year.

Local Exchange Trading Schemes

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the desirability of providing financial aid and incentives to encourage rural local authorities to set up specific local exchange trading schemes to help farmers during the BSE crisis; and if he will make a statement. [2310]

Mr. Ancram: There have been no representations to the Department to suggest that local exchange trade schemes would be of use.

Beach Materials (Cloghy)

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what permission has been given for the removal of sand and rock from the beach at Cloghy, County Down; and if he will make a statement about the removal of beach materials. [2399]

Mr. Moss: None. Much of Cloghy beach is held by Ards borough council under lease from the Crown Estate Commissioners. The removal of sand and rock is therefore a matter for the council.

Mr. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the rocks on the beach at Cloghy, County Down form part of a breakwater; and what erosion there is at the beach near No. 9 Manser road, Cloghy. [2400]

Mr. Moss: I understand that, while there are several small isolated lengths of rock armour along the beach at Cloghy, which offer some protection to the adjacent sea wall, no such rock armour is present opposite to 9 Manser road, where a grassed area separates the beach from the road. I am also advised that the area in question is in private ownership.

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