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Parliamentary Questions
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many questions were tabled for reply by his Department in each Session since 1979-80; in how many instances in each year the reply has been that providing the information involved disproportionate cost; and in how many instances in each year questions have been given the reply that the information was not available centrally. [16784]
Mr. Boswell: A list of the number of written and oral parliamentary questions answered by the Department in the Sessions 1982-83 to 1995-96, as supplied by the parliamentary on-line information service unit, has been placed in the Library. Figures for 1979-80 to 1981-82 are not available. The rest of the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost but is a matter of public record.
Quarantine
Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the date by which owners of quarantine kennels must indicate whether they will agree to abide by the voluntary code of practice on welfare standards in quarantine premises. [16691]
Mrs. Browning [holding answer 20 February 1997]: Owners of quarantine kennels who have not so far indicated this may indicate at any time that they will agree to comply with the voluntary code of practice for the welfare of dogs and cats in quarantine premises. We intend to publish a list of quarantine owners who have agreed to abide by the code of practice when inspection of their quarantine premises has been completed.
Food Safety
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the food safety aspects of manufacturing practices in the canning industry; and what guidelines his Department issues to the industry. [16985]
25 Feb 1997 : Column: 195
Mrs. Browning:
In 1993 the Department funded detailed modelling of heat penetration into cans under different heating environments and heating times. As a result, a number of technical notes to be used for guidance by canneries were published. The Department also funded a review of canning operations which resulted in the book "Guidelines for the Safe Production of Heat Preserved Foods", which was published by the Department of Health in 1994. In 1994-95, the Department commissioned surveillance of the technical expertise and the application of good manufacturing practices in UK canneries. In response to this survey, which was published in 1996, the Department of Health has been in discussion with local authorities to ensure that they have appropriate technical support to enable them to assess the safety of canneries.
Sir Cranley Onslow:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his Department has taken to alert users and manufacturers of warfarin-based rodenticides to the danger these products present to barn owls and other raptors. [17113]
Mrs. Browning:
The Government work closely with manufacturers and trade associations to achieve an effective means of pest control while at the same time seeking to ensure the safety to wildlife. Promotion of the safe use of rodenticides, including those based on warfarin, is an on-going process and includes a campaign against illegal poisoning of wildlife, supported by industry and wildlife organisations and articles specifically on the safe use of rodenticides for trade journals and presentations to industry.
The statutory labelling requirements for all rodenticides make clear to users the means by which secondary risks posed by rodenticide products must be minimised. Guidance to users on the protection of wildlife is also contained in the code of practice for the safe use of pesticides on farms and holdings.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements exist compensating renderers for the non-recovery of meat and bonemeal products. [17041]
Mr. Baldry:
The Government are providing temporary financial assistance to the rendering industry as part of our package of measures designed to maintain essential links in the meat supply and disposal chain in the aftermath of the BSE crisis.
During 1996-97, rendering companies are receiving support estimated to total about £100 million. This is based on loss of income by comparison with 1995-96, with adjustments to take broad account of renderers' actual levels of throughput and costs this year.
We are currently consulting on proposals for delivering support, amounting to up to £59 million, during 1997-98. The disposal chain now has to come to terms with the changed value of animal by-products. At the same time we want to inject greater competition and market choice into the chain. We therefore intend that support should be phased out during 1997-98. Copies of our consultation papers are available in the Library.
25 Feb 1997 : Column: 196
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (1) what measures were taken and on what dates to publicise the request from the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food for information concerning the risks to human of antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms entering the food chain; and if he will make a statement: [16952]
(3) when the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food announced that it had set up a working group to assess the risks to humans of antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms entering the food chain; what were the date and method by which requests for information were first publicised; what was the last date on which responses could be sent to the secretariat; and if he will make a statement. [16953]
Mr. Horam:
I have been asked to reply.
(2) if he will list the (a) names and (b) employers of the members of (i) the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food and (ii) the working group set up by the committee to assess the risks to humans of antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms entering the food chain; and if he will make a statement; [16954]
25 Feb 1997 : Column: 197
| Membership | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | |
| Professor D. L. Georgala | Independent scientific consultant. Retired Director of the Institute of Food Research |
| Vice Chairman | |
| Dr. G. Spriegel | J Sainsbury plc |
| Members | |
| Mr. J. A. R. Dewhirst | Farmer; member of the East Yorks National Farmers' Union Pigs Committee and Farm Animal Welfare Council; Vice Chairman of the British Pig Association; UK Chairman of the European Pig Producers' Organisation |
| Professor A. T. Hart | Department of Medical Microbiology and Genito-Urinary Medicine, Royal Liverpool Univeristy Hospital |
| Dr. A. M. Johnston | Royal Veterinary College, University of London |
| Dr. L. Piddock | Department of Infection, University of Birmingham |
| Ms B Saunders | Consumer consultant |
| Dr. N. A. Simmons | Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust; Honorary Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, the London Hospital College |
| Dr. D. J. Taylor | Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Glasgow Veterinary School |
| Dr. P. Wall | Consultant Epidemiologist, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre |
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