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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Live Animal Transport (MV Cap Afrique)
Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many bovine animals were imported on 23 January on the MV Cap Afrique; if such animals entered and were rested at an EU-approved collection centre operating in full compliance with European law; and what was the age of such animals. [14607]
Mrs. Browning [holding answer 6 February 1997]: Forty bovine animals were imported on 23 January on the MV Cap Afrique. They were between 20 and 30 months of age. The animals were rested before being transported to their final destination. The resting place used is also an EC-approved collection centre but it was not operating as such when the animals were rested there.
BSE
Mr. Gill: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when specified bovine material was banned in (a) the Irish Republic and (b) each other EU country. [14770]
Mrs. Browning: The three other EU member states which have reported cases of BSE in native-born animals--France, Irish Republic and Portugal--all have some form of specified bovine material controls on cattle at slaughter. We understand the following controls apply.
The Irish Republic introduced legislation on 22 April 1996, prohibiting the use, sale or export of specified bovine material--defined as the bones of the skull, brain, eyes, spinal cord, spleen, thymus, tonsils and intestines
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and mechanically recovered meat obtained from bovine vertebrae excluding the tail--for human consumption unless licensed by the Minister.
In France legislation came into force on 28 June 1996 requiring the removal at the abattoir and incineration of:
In Portugal, legislation came into force on 28 January 1997 banning the use of certain bovine materials--including brains, spinal cord, eyes, tonsils, spleen, thymus and intestines--from any cattle of any age in the preparation of medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products and in food.
No other member states have SBM controls on domestic production. The Government continue to press the Commission on this matter.
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee to complete its investigation of possible links between the use of organophosphate warble fly treatments and the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will make a statement. [14823]
Mrs. Browning
[holding answer 7 February 1997]: The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee is not currently investigating the use of organophosphate pesticides and a possible link with BSE. The theory that BSE could have been caused by the exposure of cattle to OP pesticides as a treatment for warble fly infestation has already been considered in detail by scientists in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Health and the Medical Research Council. A report from SEAC entitled "Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies--A Summary of Present knowledge and Research" (HMSO ISBN 0 11 242 9874) published in 1995 and available in the Library of the House, reviewed a number of alternative theories of BSE, including the OP theory, concluded that none justified extending the current research programme to investigate them further at that stage. The report notes that the original epidemiological investigation considered any possible association between the use of agricultural chemicals, including OP insecticides, and the occurrence of BSE. None was found.
I am aware of the recent press reports concerning new research carried out by the Institute of Psychiatry on behalf of Mr. Purdey into the use of phosmet and its possible association with BSE. Mr. Purdey has yet to produce any new scientific evidence to support his hypothesis or to cause us to question ours that BSE is of feed origin; a hypothesis that has been established form objective scientific research.
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SEAC will be looking again at the possibility of a link between BSE and the use of certain OPs. Mr. Purdey has been asked to prepare a paper for presentation at a forthcoming SEAC meeting to define the latest theory on organophosphates and a possible link with BSE.
Mr. Morley:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps (a) to reduce the incidence of degenerative hip disorders and leg disorders in adult male turkeys, (b) to bring beak-trimming of turkeys to an end and (c) to secure an end to the selective breeding practices in respect of turkeys; and if he will make a statement. [15498]
Mrs. Browning:
The Government endorse the Farm Animal Welfare Council's view that high levels of leg disorders in adult male turkeys should be avoided by the continued application of careful selection and good management practices.
The Government also support the Farm Animal Welfare Council's view that the long-term aim should be to end the need for beak-trimming. We are funding research into improved rearing methods which will assist in its achievement.
I cannot agree with the implied suggestion that selective breeding is an inherently undesirable practice.
I refer the hon. Member to the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of turkeys, and to the Government's response to it, for a fuller assessment of turkey welfare and account of the steps the Government are taking to improve it.
Sir Julian Critchley:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what powers his Department has in respect of preventing Flander's Folly, Craven Arms from falling into disrepair and dilapidation. [15357]
Mr. Sproat:
Responsibility for the upkeep of a historic building rests primarily with its owner. In the case of a historic building which has deteriorated to the extent that its preservation may be at risk, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State looks to the relevant local authority to take statutory action. Local authorities are empowered to serve notice on the owner of a listed building specifying works necessary for its preservation and, in the event of the owner failing to take action, to begin compulsory purchase proceedings. Authorities also have power to carry out works which are urgently necessary for preservation of an unoccupied listed building and recover the costs from the owner.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has similar statutory powers to those of local authorities. Her policy is to treat them as reserve powers, for use only in exceptional cases. On the information available, Flander's Folly, which is listed grade II, seems unlikely to be such a case.
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Mr. Kirkwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list by Benefits Agency region the number of pensioners who also claim income support; and if he will make a staement. [14999]
Mr. Roger Evans:
The administration of income support is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
(a) the brains, spinal cord and eyes of all bovines over six months; and
In addition, legislation introduced in September 1996, amending the June order, prohibits the sale of brains, spinal cord and eyes of bovines over six months.
(b) the thymus, tonsils, spleen and intestines of cattle born or imported into France before 31 July 1991.
| BA Area Directorate (AD) | Number of pensioners in receipt of IS as at the end of November 1996 |
|---|---|
| AD 1 East London and Anglia | 146,954 |
| AD 2 Chilterns | 129,154 |
| AD 3 London South | 201,698 |
| AD 4 West Country | 128,811 |
| AD 5 Mercia | 135,936 |
| AD 6 West Midlands | 145,958 |
| AD 7 Wales | 91,729 |
| AD 8 North West Coast | 118,553 |
| AD 9 Greater Manchester | 111,046 |
| AD 10 Yorkshire | 149,507 |
| AD 11 Tyne and Tees | 89,541 |
| AD 12 West of Scotland | 75,212 |
| AD 13 East of Scotland | 88,823 |
The data have been provided by the Benefits Agency's Central Data Unit and is subject to amendment.
The data relates to customers in receipt of a pensioner premium because the customer or partner is aged not less than 60.
Jobseeker's Allowance (Devon)
Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients there are of the jobseeker's allowance in (a) north Devon and (b) Devon; and how many of these are aged under 25 years. [15092]
Mr. Roger Evans: The administration of jobseeker's allowance is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
| JSA paid via the National Unemployment Benefit computer system (NUBS) during week commencing 24 January 1997 and 31 January 1997 | JSA paid via the JSA computer system as at the end of November 1996 | |
|---|---|---|
| North Devon(17) | 2,725 | 3,031 |
| Devon(18) | 19,487 | 4,977 |
(17) North Devon includes: the Benefits Agency (BA) offices of Barnstaple, Exeter and Newton Abbot; and the Employment Service (ES) offices of Bude, Barnstaple, Bideford and Ilfracombe.
(18) Devon includes: the BA offices of Barnstaple, Exeter, Newton Abbot, Plymouth Crownhill, Plymouth Durley, Saltash and Torbay; and the ES offices of Bude, Barnstaple, Bideford, Ilfracombe, Axminster, Exeter, Exmouth, Honiton, Okehampton, Sidmouth, Tiverton, Brixham, Newton Abbot, Paignton, Teignmouth, Torquay, Totnes, Buckwell, Devonport, Hoegate, Plympton, Saltash and Tavistock.
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