| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
RSPCA Freedom Foods
Mr. Coaker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the RSPCA freedom foods initiative. [5184]
Mr. Morley: This Government wholeheartedly welcomes any positive contribution to the maintenance and improvement of welfare standards for farm animals. Detailed requirements of schemes such as the RSPCA's Freedom Foods are a matter for the organisations concerned.
Farm Animals (Cruelty)
Mr. Coaker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the number of prosecutions for cruelty to farm animals in each of the last five years; and if he will list the powers under which such prosecutions may be made. [5182]
Mr. Morley: The Reports of the Chief Veterinary Officer have recorded the following figures for prosecutions relating to the welfare of animals on farm in Great Britain in which the State Veterinary Service (SVS) has been involved:
1992: 120
1993: 111
1994: 112
1995: 127
1996: 105.
The figures for 1992-94 are for successful prosecutions; those for 1995 and 1996 are for prosecutions initiated.
The relevant powers are contained in the Protection of Animals Act 1911, the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912, and the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968.
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the steps he is taking to ensure clearer labelling on food. [5202]
Mr. Rooker:
The Government believes that consumers have a right to receive information about the foods they buy and we are taking a number of steps to improve on that presently.
On mechanically recovered meat, we recently succeeded in getting the rest of Europe to agree that this should be separately and specifically declared on the label. We have also sought comments from interested parties on the operation of the nutrition labelling rules and invited suggestions for improvements to take forward in Brussels. Finally, we have recently announced our intention to press in Europe for all food to be labelled if they contain genetically modified material.
26 Jun 1997 : Column: 633
Mr. Whittingdale:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the health hazards posed by the sale of New York Dressed poultry, and the evidence on which his list is based. [5313]
Mr. Rooker:
The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food considered the risks posed by New York Dressed (NYD) poultry in its "Report on Poultry Meat" published in 1996. NYD birds are sold uneviscerated and with the head and feet attached. These birds present a particular hazard due to the risk of leakage of faeces and resulting contamination of the surface of the birds. If evisceration is carried out in the kitchen, there is also the risk of faeces or intestinal contents from ruptured intestines cross-contaminating other foods.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review the operation of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949. [5157]
Mr. Morley:
The results of the 1993 National Rodent Survey did not provide evidence to suggest that a change in rodent control policies was needed. A further survey has been carried out, the results of which will be available later this year, and the situation will be reviewed in the light of the results of this survey.
Mrs. Organ:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to alter the amount payable to farmers involved in the over 30 months cattle scheme to take account of fluctuation in the value of the green pound. [5341]
Mr. Rooker:
None. The sterling value of payments made for cattle slaughtered under the over 30 months scheme still represents a good return in comparison with the market price of clean beef in the UK and cull cow prices in some other member states.
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to publish the list of kennels that have agreed to comply with the code of practice on welfare standards. [5583]
Mr. Rooker:
Information on the quarantine premises that comply with the voluntary code of practice for the welfare of dogs and cats in quarantine premises will be included in the literature sent out to prospective importers
26 Jun 1997 : Column: 634
of pet dogs and cats after all the premises that have undertaken to comply with the code have been inspected by the State Veterinary Service. The majority of these inspections have been carried out.
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review further the provision of care and welfare standards at quarantine kennels. [5582]
Mr. Rooker:
The voluntary code of practice for the welfare of dogs and cats in quarantine premises was published in March 1995. It will be kept under review.
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to commission a risk assessment and economic audit to determine the costs and benefits of quarantine and alternative systems. [5579]
Mr. Rooker:
I shall consider whether a risk assessment and economic audit is appropriate as the review of the rabies quarantine regulations progresses.
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many owners of quarantine kennels have (a) agreed to abide by the voluntary code of practice on welfare standards, (b) indicated they will not comply and (c) not yet responded. [5580]
Mr. Rooker:
Seventy-three owners of quarantine premises have agreed to abide by the voluntary code of practice. Three have indicated that they do not wish to comply with the code at this stage and two have not yet responded to the invitation.
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many quarantine kennels which have agreed to abide by the code of practice on welfare standards have been inspected by the State Veterinary Service. [5581]
Mr. Lawrie Quinn:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a report on progress on implementing the MAGP III fishing industry provisions; and if he will make a statement.[4916]
Dr. John Cunningham
[holding answer 24 June 1997]: Fleet reduction targets under the third fisheries Multi-Annual Guidance Programme (MAGP III) relate to the period from 1 Janaury 1992 to 31 December 1996. The European Commission is still considering figures submitted by Member States in order to draw up a final assessment of what was achieved. The position as reported by the previous administration is set out in the table below.
26 Jun 1997 : Column: 633
A negative percentage figure represents the over-achievement of the Objective.
26 Jun 1997 : Column: 635
26 Jun 1997 : Column: 635
Reading and Writing
16. Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the number of children who left primary school in 1996 able to read and write to their chronological age. [4107]
Mr. Byers: Fifty-eight per cent. of pupils reached level 4 and above--the level expected for 11-year-olds--in English in the 1996 national curriculum tests.
Welfare-to-work Task Force
17. Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the remit of the welfare-to-work task force. [4108]
Mr. Andrew Smith: The role of the task force is first, to ensure that the design of the new deal takes full account of the requirements of employers and the wider community, second, to harness the energy and commitment of all sections of society, and particularly the business community, behind the new deal, and finally, to keep the Government informed of the way the proposals are working on the ground and advise on the resolution of any problems which arise.
28. Jacqui Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the members of the welfare-to-work task force. [4120]
Mr. Smith: We have appointed Sir Peter Davis to lead the new deal advisory task force. The Government are now working with him to ensure that membership of the task force consists of people representing employers and other interests who are vital to the success of our initiative. The list will be made public in due course.
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the remit of the welfare-to-work task force. [4115]
Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the remit of the welfare-to-work task force. [4117]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
One of our most urgent priorities is to help unemployed people move from welfare to work. We intend to work in partnership with the business community and other key interests to offer unemployed people help in returning to sustained employment. The aim of the new deal advisory task force, which is headed
26 Jun 1997 : Column: 636
by Sir Peter Davis, will be to ensure that employers and other key sectors are committed to the success of the initiative. The role of the task force is threefold:
(a) to ensure that the design of the new deal takes full account of the requirements of employers and the wider community;
(b) to harness the energy and commitment of all sections of society, and particularly the business community, behind the new deal;
(c) to keep the Government informed of the way the proposals are working on the ground, and advise on the resolution of any problems which arise.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |