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Poultry Meat
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is proposing to take in the interest of consumer safety to ensure that adequate controls are put in place to cover the production of poultry meat in premises processing fewer than 10,000 birds per year; and if he will make a statement. [4778]
Mr. Rooker: I have asked for a review to be conducted of the exemption from Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 of premises slaughtering fewer than 10,000 birds per year.
As part of that review, I will be seeking urgent advice from the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) on the health risks associated with the continued sale of New York Dressed (NYD) and effile poultry from unlicensed premises.
18 Jun 1997 : Column: 220
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research the LINK programme on sustainable livestock production has evaluated on the competitiveness of free range (a) egg and (b) pork production relative to intensive production; and if he will make a statement. [3580]
Mr. Rooker:
There are no LINK projects on the topics referred to in the question. However, the Government's role within the LINK programme is to respond to research proposals put forward by industry for joint funding. If projects of this kind were to come forward, they would be considered on their merits.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the application of the early marketing and the calf processing schemes within the United Kingdom beef sector. [3925]
Mr. Rooker:
Under EU law, member states must operate either the Calf Processing Scheme (CPAS) or the Early Marketing Scheme for veal, or both. The aim of both schemes is to reduce oversupply on the EU beef market following a decline in consumption. The UK has opted for the CPAS because it more directly tackles the problem of the sudden loss of markets for UK calves following the imposition of the beef export ban. As at 13 June 1997, a total of 636,471 calves had been slaughtered of which 597,044 were dairy and 39,427 non-dairy breeds.
Mr. Letwin:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the advantages of giving special compensation for lowland beef farmers. [3924]
Mr. Rooker:
All beef producers have been affected in varying degrees by the current low market price for finished cattle. Thus all producers, regardless of their geographical location or farming system, would urge the case for affording them special assistance. In considering any case put to us for such assistance, the Government have to be mindful of the tight constraints which currently apply to public expenditure and the extent to which the provision of such assistance would distort the proper functioning of the market. Such distortion might simply insulate producers from the realities of the market-place and encourage unrealistic expectations of the level of future returns.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tests his Department has authorised to determine the percentage of milk on sale which contains measurable quantities of (a) medicines, (b) illegal antibiotics and (c) hormones; and if he will make a statement. [3413]
Mr. Rooker:
The Dairy Products (Hygiene) Regulations 1995, as amended, require manufacturers to carry out checks to ensure that dairy products do not contain residues of substances having pharmacological or hormonal action, antibiotics or other substances, which are harmful to human health, or might be harmful if those residues exceeded permitted tolerance limits laid down in legislation.
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Local authority environmental health officers are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Regulations; this may include sampling and analysis. Enforcement action is taken where appropriate.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate tests whole milk collected at the retail point of sale under their non-statutory surveillance scheme. They look for residues of a number of antibiotics and also substances prohibited under EU legislation. In 1996 they completed 1,434 analyses and, consistent with the experience of previous years, found no detectable residues.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the cloning of animals. [3412]
Mr. Rooker:
The Ministry's policy on the cloning of farm animals is guided by the recommendations of the report of the Committee to Consider the Ethical Implications of Emerging Technologies in the Breeding of Farm Animals--the Banner Committee--which reported in 1995.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to withdraw clearance for the commercial use of organophosphates. [3389]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 16 June 1997]: We have considered this very carefully. The Government act on the scientific advice of the independent advisory committees set up by the Medicines Act 1968 and the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985. Their current advice is that organophosphourus sheep dips and pesticides can be used safely in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions. Further work is in hand to emphasis the importance of using and disposing of these products safely including an updated leaflet "Sheep Dipping" which will be sent to sheep farmers later this year. The Government attach great importance to this work.
12. Mr. Rogers:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to increase the resources for local authority housing repair grants. [2605]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
£164 million is available from the Welsh Office to Welsh local authorities for private sector renewal this year. Provision for future years will be subject to the outcome of the annual Public Expenditure Survey.
The Bill on Supplementary Credit Approvals, which had its Second Reading on 17 June, will provide local authorities with the capability of applying at least some of their Supplementary Credit Approvals to housing repair programmes.
18 Jun 1997 : Column: 222
13. Mr. Opik:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on community hospitals and ambulance service provision in Wales. [2606]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
Community hospitals and ambulance services play an important role in the delivery of health services. In Wales these services are provided by NHS Trusts.
14. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the starting date of the A55 improvements across Anglesey. [2607]
Mr. Hain:
Since the decision to progress the scheme under the Private Finance Initiative was announced in July 1996, the Department has received 43 representations about the start of work to-date.
15. Mr. Robathan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the representation of Monmouthshire in a devolved Welsh Assembly. [2608]
Mr. Ron Davies:
Monmouthshire, like other parts of Wales, will be represented in the Assembly by both directly-elected and additional Members. Details of the proposed Additional Member System will be set out in the White Paper to be published in the summer.
16. Mr. Connarty:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his economic priorities for Wales. [2609]
Mr. Ron Davies:
I intend to publish an economic development strategy document later this summer. This will set out my general approach and priorities.
17. Mr. Ian Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the annual cost of a Welsh Assembly; and if the cost will be met from the existing Welsh Office Vote. [2610]
Mr. Ron Davies:
We will publish this information in the Devolution White Paper next month.
22. Mr. Hammond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the White Paper on devolution for Wales is to be published. [2615]
Mr. Davies:
We aim to publish the White Paper before the summer recess and certainly well before the Referendum.
18. Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the effects of the single currency and the convergence criteria on public services in Wales. [2611]
18 Jun 1997 : Column: 223
Mr. Hain:
The Government have made it clear that any decision on the single currency will be made in the interest of the UK economy as a whole. This includes our ability to deliver a level of public service which we deem desirable.
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