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Ministerial Visit (Broughton)
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a visit to (a) the Raytheon Jets Service Centre, Broughton, Flintshire and (b) British Aerospace, Broughton, Flintshire. [1266]
Mr. Ron Davies: My officials are in regular contact with both companies. I am delighted at their recent successes and congratulate my hon. Friend on his work in saving the Raytheon plant in his constituency. I hope to visit at a suitable opportunity.
Departmental Computer Systems
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ensure that his Department's computer systems are millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [1241]
Mr. Ron Davies:
An assessment of the effect of the millennium date change has been undertaken. I do not expect there to be any major costs involved in ensuring that my Department's computer systems can cater for the year 2000.
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Compensation Agency
Mr. Desmond Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Compensation Agency's Corporate Plan for 1997-98 to 1999-2000 and the Business Plan for 1997-98 will be published. [2154]
Mr. Ingram: The Compensation Agency's Corporate and Business Plans will be published today. The plans explain the Agency's business and organisation and set out assumptions about workloads and resources which underpin the plans and targets.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Chickens
Mr. Etherington: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many chickens have been dead on arrival at United Kingdom poultry slaughter houses since 24 April. [1121]
Mr. Morley: On the basis that my hon. Friend is referring to 24 April 1996, the information requested is as follows:
| Total throughput | Dead on arrival | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | 695,243,052 | (9)1,378,892 | 0.2 |
| Northern Ireland | 58,091,168 | (10)154,657 | 0.3 |
(9) To 27 April 1997.
(10) To 24 March 1997.
Animal Exports
Mr. Etherington: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pigs were included in the consignments exported on (a) 15 May and (b) 19 May; what factors led him on 16 May to issue a notice under the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1994 preventing the export from Dover of a consignment of pigs; what steps he plans to take to ensure regular compliance in the future with the health and welfare laws governing the export of live animals; and if he will make a statement. [1273]
Mr. Morley: A total of 2,919 pigs were exported on the MV Caroline on 15 May and 1,583 on 19 May. Officials delayed the 16 May consignment by serving a notice because they were not satisfied with the information given as to the destination. This is part of the Government's overall policy of applying the highest possible standards to this trade and of pressing the other Member States to do likewise.
The Government strongly prefer meat to be exported on the hook rather than on the hoof. Where animals are exported live, the public must have full confidence that the strictest possible welfare rules are being applied to this trade. We will not compromise on these standards.
A consultation letter has gone out to interested parties seeking suggestions and comments by 18 June. I have commissioned an urgent review of the arrangements for ensuring that animals are rested, fed, watered, cleared as fit and certified prior to export in accordance with the law.
4 Jun 1997 : Column: 208
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 21 May, Official Report columns 95-6, (1) which of the typical selection of identified landfill sites, where checks in respect of ground water quality have been or will be carried out, have a chalk base; [1509]
(3) if Beddingham landfill site is one of the typical selection of identified landfill sites where checks in respect of ground water quality have been or will be carried out. [1511]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 2 June 1997]: The Environment Agency has responsibility for the safe regulation of landfill sites in England and Wales under Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Agency has advised that the Beddingham landfill site is licensed to accept industrial, commercial and household waste; there was no sub-division of the site to keep these different waste streams apart; and that the carcases landfilled there (fewer than 10) were deposited in an unlined area of the site with a chalk base.
The Environment Agency monitors ground water quality in the vicinity of licensed landfill sites to check for leachate contamination as part of their statutory duties. It is understood that there are ten boreholes at Beddingham where regular monitoring of groundwater is undertaken by the operators of the site.
The Agency has carried out a qualitative assessment of all the sites concerned taking into account the number of carcases buried, the degree of containment and the proximity of water sources. It has carried out a further more detailed quantitative assessment of a selection of sites. This includes a chalk based site but not Beddingham itself.
The Agency presented its quantitative assessment to the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee for comments. The Agency is preparing to publish the final results of the assessment very shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her policy to adopt a social model of disability in framing all future and amending previous relevant legislation and guidance; and if she will make a statement. [1660]
Clare Short:
This Department currently has a policy of equal opportunity but is developing an action plan to achieve equality of opportunity specifically for disabled staff.
4 Jun 1997 : Column: 209
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the amounts of money Britain has given in overseas aid (a) in real terms and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [1882]
Clare Short:
International comparisons of figures for official development assistance (oda) are normally presented in relation to gross national product on a calendar year basis. UK assistance between 1991 and 1995 (the latest year for which figures are available) was as follows:
4 Jun 1997 : Column: 210
(2) if the part of Beddingham landfill site where carcases of cattle infected by BSE were disposed of was lined to prevent seepage into the chalk below; what other classes of waste have been permitted for disposal in that section of the site; and what monitoring of that section of site has been carried out subsequent to the disposal therein of the carcases referred to; [1510]
| Real terms (million at 1995 prices) | Oda/GNP (percentage) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2,044 | 0.32 |
| 1992 | 1,988 | 0.31 |
| 1993 | 2,029 | 0.31 |
| 1994 | 2,138 | 0.31 |
| 1995 | 2,000 | 0.28 |
The Government is firmly committed to working for a safer, more decent and environmentally stable world, and the eradication of poverty. As announced in The Queen's Speech, our development strategy will be set out in a White Paper to be published in the Autumn.
4 Jun 1997 : Column: 209