| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
MOD Police, Colchester
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence police constables on the complement were operating full time within the Colchester garrison on (a) 1 January and (b) 1 June; and what is the number planned for 1 October 1997. [2078]
Mr. Spellar: This is a matter for the Chief Constable and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from M. J. A. Smallwood to Mr Bob Russell, dated 9 June 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about Ministry of Defence Police at Colchester Garrison, on behalf of the Chief Constable/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency, as this falls into his area of responsibility. The Chief Constable/Chief Executive is away from the office at present.
There were 30 uniformed MOD Police officers of the rank of constable deployed at Colchester Garrison on 1 January and 25 on 1 June 1997. Based on current planning assumptions we anticipate that there will be 21 MDP constables deployed in and around the Colchester Garrison area on 1 October 1997.
Flagship Training Ltd.
Mr. Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposal to transfer the running of naval training to Flagship Training Ltd.; and if he will consider allowing affected employees to remain within his Department for the foreseeable future. [2005]
Dr. John Reid: No proposals exist to transfer the running of Royal Naval training to the private sector. The management and control of RN training will remain the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (NRTA)/Flag Officer Training and Recruiting and the Commanding Officers of his shore training establishments.
Proposals are currently being considered for the transfer of a number of, mainly support, NRTA activities to Flagship Training Ltd. which would involve the transfer of some employees under the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (TUPE).
All Agency employees who may be affected by these proposals have been given the opportunity to register a preference to stay within the Department. Every effort is being made to find alternative posts for those who have registered such a preference.
I will write to the hon. Member when a final decision has been taken on the activity transfer.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his discussion with the German Minister of Defence on the future of the Eurofighter Project, if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meetings and give details of specific assurances he received about future German funding of the production investment and production phases of the project. [2493]
Mr. Spellar:
When my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence met the German Defence Minister on 4 June in Bonn he pointed out that the Government was firmly committed to the Eurofighter programme and that
9 Jun 1997 : Column: 354
the UK wanted to proceed rapidly to the production phase. He confirmed that the UK was ready to sign the relevant Memoranda of Understanding now. In turn Herr Ruhe made it very clear that Germany needed and wanted Eurofighter. He hoped to secure Cabinet approval to proceed to the production phase of Eurofighter on 11 July when the German Cabinet meets to consider the 1998 Federal Budget. The approval of the Bundestag Parliament will then need to be obtained as soon as possible thereafter in advance of signature of the relevant Memoranda of Understanding by the four partner nations.
When my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met Chancellor Kohl in Bonn on 6 June, the Chancellor made very clear his personal commitment to the Eurofighter programme and his aim to secure the German Government's commitment to the production phase in July within the framework of the draft 1998 Federal budget.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review the present stocking density for table broiler chickens. [1902]
Mr. Morley:
A maximum stocking density of 34 kg/m 2 is recommended for broilers in the welfare code on domestic fowls. We will consider whether this provision needs changing in the light of (a) the results of scientific work commissioned following a recommendation from the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) in 1992 and (b) the further advice FAWC has undertaken to give when those scientific results are available.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for a total ban on all cage systems for laying hens throughout the EU.[1903]
Mr. Morley:
The Government will be seeking substantial improvements to the EU welfare requirements for laying hens during the forthcoming review by the Council of Ministers of the battery hens directive 88/166/EEC. The detailed objectives will be determined in the light of the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of laying hens, which we expect to be published shortly.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ban the keeping of ostriches on United Kingdom farms; and if he will make a statement. [1904]
Mr. Morley:
I am aware of the concerns expressed about ostrich farming in this country. This Government are committed to promoting animal welfare and intend to look closely at the welfare implications of this developing industry.
9 Jun 1997 : Column: 355
Mr. Letwin:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will be taking to renew the six mile and twelve mile fisheries limits. [2293]
Mr. Morley:
The current restrictions on foreign fishing vessels within our six and 12 mile fisheries limits will continue to apply until 31 December 2002. The Government are committed to securing their renewal after 2002 as part of the process of reviewing the Common Fisheries Policy.
Mr. Edwards:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representation his Department has made to the European Commissioner for Agriculture about lifting the ban on the export of beef. [2526]
Mr. Rooker:
My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food met Commissioner Fischler on 12 May and their discussions covered, amongst other matters, the way forward on lifting the export ban. It was stressed that the Government will respect the framework set by the Florence Agreement and work constructively with the Commission and through the European Parliament on making progress on this issue. However, it is for Madame Bonino, the Consumer Health and Food Safety Commissioner, whom my right hon. Friend also met in May, to arrange scientific consideration of the UK's proposals for an Export Certified Herd Scheme. The results of this scrutiny are expected later this month.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present situation with regard to ADAS; and if he will make a statement. [2632]
Mr. Morley:
The sale of ADAS to a management and employee buy out team was completed on 1 April 1997 and it is now trading as a private limited company. ADAS's statutory functions and work directly concerned with the payment of grants and subsidies were not included in the privatisation and are now being carried out by the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency, an executive agency of MAFF and the Welsh Office.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what allergic reactions have been established as being caused by the introduction of genetically engineered material into the food chain. [1961]
Mr. Rooker:
We have no evidence that any allergic reactions have resulted from the genetic modification of food approved for use in the UK. All such foods are fully assessed by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes for safety, including allergic potential, before being permitted to enter the food supply.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the possible increase in (a) resistance to antibiotics and (b) severe immune reactions from the use of genetically engineered viruses as delivery vehicles in the generation of transgenic plants and animals. [1962]
9 Jun 1997 : Column: 356
Mr. Rooker:
None of the GMOs released into the environment in the UK have involved the use of genetically modified viruses as delivery vehicles in the generation of transgenic plants and animals. The use of antibiotic resistance markers is kept under close review by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy regarding the transfer of animal genes into plants; and what consultations his Department has held with vegetarian groups and religious groups on this issue. [1963]
Mr. Rooker:
In 1992 the Polkinghorne Committee was set up to consider ethical issues associated with genetically modified (GM) foods. Following extensive consultation with interested parties, including religious and vegetarian groups, the Committee issued a report, a copy of which was deposited in the Library of the House.
Any plant containing animal genes which is intended for food use would need to be approved and labelled in accordance with the EC Novel Foods Regulation (258/97) before it could be sold to the public. As part of this process a thorough safety assessment would be carried out by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes and, if the plant was also intended to be grown in Europe, by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. To date no applications for plants of this type have been received.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy regarding the use in food of genetically engineered bacteria to produce the supplement tryptophan. [1964]
Mr. Rooker:
The addition of tryptophan to food is prohibited under the Tryptophan in Food Regulations 1990.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy in respect of crops engineered to produce their own pesticides. [1967]
Mr. Rooker:
Before any genetically modified crop can be marketed in Europe it requires a marketing consent under Directive 90/220/EEC or approval under the EC novel foods regulation 258/97 based on a detailed safety assessment. Provided that such a consent or approval is given, I cannot see any reason why the use of such crops should not be allowed.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to introduce a moratorium on the release of genetically modified organisms. [1968]
Mr. Rooker:
No. The release of genetically modified organisms is only permitted following risk assessment in accordance with Directive 90/220/EEC or the EC novel foods regulation (258/97) and I am satisfied that this procedure provides a sufficient safeguard as regards public health and the environment.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce full disclosure labelling for genetically engineered foods.[1959]
9 Jun 1997 : Column: 357
Mr. Rooker:
I am committed to ensuring that consumers are able to make an informed choice when purchasing food. I therefore intend to press at European level for the labelling of all foods that may contain ingredients which have been genetically modified.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of genetically engineered foods. [1960]
Mr. Rooker:
The EC novel foods and novel food ingredients regulation 258/97 lays down an EU wide pre-market approval system for novel foods and novel food ingredients including those containing or produced from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Provided that there are no safety concerns, and they are appropriately labelled, I see no reason why these types of foods and ingredients should not be sold to the public.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |