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Bradfield House School, Devon
Mr. Jamieson:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many boys from
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Bradfield house school, Cullompton, Devon appeared before the Cullompton juvenile court; and what percentage of total cases this constituted in 1996. [16347]
Mr. Streeter:
I have been informed by the court that, out of 52 appearances before the Cullompton Youth Court in 1996, Bradfield house school was given as the defendant's address in 15 cases. That represents 29 per cent. of all appearances. In some instances, a defendant may have appeared on more than one occasion.
Mr. Frank Field:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list the (a) 20 solicitors firms and (b) barristers who have received the largest sums of money from the legal aid scheme for each year for which information is available. [8700]
Mr. John Marshall:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, which firms of solicitors received more than £500,000 from the legal aid fund in 1995-96; how much they each received; and what sum they have received in 1996-97. [12309]
Mr. Streeter
[holding answer 29 January 1997]: It has not proved possible to provide all the information in the form requested. I have therefore written to the hon. Members and placed a copy of the letters in the Library.
Agriculture Council
Mr. Mark Robinson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 17 February; and if he will make a statement. [16858]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office, represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture Council in Brussels on 17 February.
The main business of the Council was to consider the Commission's proposed regulations establishing a system of identification and registration of cattle, together with a linked proposal on the labelling of beef and beef products. The importance to the United Kingdom of early progress on the setting up of an EU-wide animal identification and registration system was emphasised in the Council discussions, subject to the proposal being technically sound and workable. However, my noble Friend expressed reservations about the practicability of the proposed funding arrangements. The presidency informed the Council that further work would continue urgently on these proposals with a view to the Council being in a position to reach agreement if possible at its March meeting.
Prompted by discussion papers tabled by the Italian and United Kingdom Governments, the Council held a wide-ranging debate on the future of the Common Market organisation in milk and milk products, in particular the future of the EU milk quota regime. The United Kingdom pressed for early progress on reforming the milk regime in view of World Trade Organisation and budgetary constraints, as well as the prospect of future EU enlargement. In the light of the Council discussion, the
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European Commission undertook to bring forward shortly a detailed analysis of the milk sector and ideas for possible changes to the milk quota regime.
The Council held a brief discussion on the situation in the beef and veal sector, in particular on the early marketing and calf processing schemes. My noble Friend took the opportunity to press for a reduction in the rates of payment under the calf processing scheme which, at their present levels, risked creating distortions in the market.
The Agriculture Commissioner presented reports to the Council on options for reform of the EU market regimes for tobacco and olive oil. Legislative proposals will be made to the Council in the near future on changes to the tobacco regime. The Council will consider in detail the options for reforming the olive oil regime at its forthcoming meetings.
Mr. Gill:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to impose a ban on all beef and beef products, originating in countries which (a) cannot demonstrate a total absence of BSE in their cattle herds and (b) have not instituted a complete ban on specified bovine material and the use of animal protein in animal rations. [14769]
Mrs. Browning:
The Fresh Meat (Beef Control) Regulations 1996 prohibit the sale for human consumption of all bovine meat derived from bovines which at the time of slaughter were more than 30 months old. This measure applies to cattle slaughtered on or after 29 March 1996 whether in the United Kingdom or overseas, other than those born, reared and slaughtered in specific third countries set out in the regulations. This list of countries is confined to those where the Government
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are satisfied that we can import beef without risk because they are free of BSE. Other countries, including all other member states, are covered by the 30-month rule.
The Government do not believe that it is necessary to go beyond this and institute a wider ban on the basis proposed by the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) in order to protect public health. Those member states which have endemic BSE already have controls in place to remove bovine offals which are similar in nature to those in this country. The Government have strongly supported European Commission proposals to introduce controls on bovine offals on a Community-wide basis which were discussed by the Council in December and rejected. We are pressing the Commission to introduce revised proposals shortly.
The European Community already has a prohibition on the use of mammalian protein in ruminant rations, with certain exceptions. The United Kingdom law goes further and covers mammalian meat and bonemeal in all farm animal rations but neither European Community nor UK law prohibits the use of all animal protein in animal rations. In particular exceptions are made for mammalian proteins such as milk and there are no prohibitions on fish or avian proteins in any animal feed nor any scientific basis on which to justify such action.
Mr. Alan W. Williams:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many responses he has received to the consultation document, "Proposal for a UK Certified Herds Scheme"; from what source; and if his Department will publish a summary of those responses. [15874]
Mr. Baldry:
Forty eight replies were received in the UK to the consultation document, "Proposal for a UK Certified Herds Scheme". A list of those who responded and copies of their responses can be examined at the libraries of the Agricultural Departments.
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Mr. Williams:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress in discussions with the European Commission on the introduction of a UK certified herds scheme. [15876]
Mr. Baldry:
We have been working closely with the Commission on our proposals for an export certified herds scheme and intend formally to submit those proposals shortly. Thereafter, the proposals will be subject to the process laid down in the Florence agreement, which includes: consultation with the Scientific Veterinary Committee, the Multi Disciplinary Scientific Committee and, where appropriate, other relevant scientific committees, in tandem with discussions in the Standing Veterinary Committee. In the light of those discussions, the Commission will take a decision using established procedures and will subsequently fix the date when exports can effectively resume following a successful outcome of a Community inspection.
Mr. Williams:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response his Department has made to the criticisms by the National Farmers Union of the proposed certified herds scheme. [15875]
Mr. Baldry:
We are finalising our proposals for an export certified herds scheme in the light of comments made on our consultation document from the National Farmers Union and others.
Mr. Williams:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is the Government's policy to press for a lifting of the European ban first on certified herds in Northern Ireland. [15877]
Mr. Baldry:
I refer the hon. Member to the full statement by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster during the debate on the BSE crisis, Official Report, columns 708-13. My right hon. Friend made it clear that the export certified herds scheme we will put forward to the Commission applies to the whole United Kingdom but that Northern Ireland, with its computerised cattle tracing system and low incidence of BSE, would derive immediate and significant benefit from our proposals.
Mr. Jopling:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the sale of ADAS has been agreed. [17133]
Mr. Douglas Hogg:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are pleased to announce, that following independent financial advice from PA Strategy Partners Ltd., we have selected the management and employee buy-out--MEBO--team led by the current chief executive, Phillip Needham, as the preferred bidder for ADAS.
The deal which has been agreed meets all the objectives which I announced on 4 November 1966, Official Report, column 313. The overall net present value to the taxpayer
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of the MEBO bid is some £23.5 million, made up of the consideration for the business, savings flowing from the pricing structure for future services for MAFF and the Welsh Office, and rents for the properties occupied by ADAS.
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