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British Council
Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future Government funding of the British Council, indicating the split between his Department and the Department for International Development. [6290]
Mr. Fatchett:
This Department and the Department for International Development, together with other government departments, are currently examining the deployment of all their resources, including those
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dedicated to the British Council, as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. The findings of the review will be submitted to the Cabinet's Committee.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which European Union Governments are planning to put the Amsterdam treaty to a national referendum; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy. [6104]
Mr. Henderson:
Denmark will hold a national referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty in 1998. We are not aware of any other Member State whose Government has announced that it will hold a referendum, though the situation may change. The Government does not intend to hold a referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty.
Mr. Mullin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to implement the suggestions for monitoring the effect of restructuring the BBC World Service made by the then Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 12 November 1996; and if he will make a statement. [5832]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We are monitoring closely the effects of the restructuring, and the implementation of the 20 agreed measures contained in this Department's/BBC World Service Working Group Report. We have regular meetings with the World Service to review progress. Diplomatic posts abroad have been asked to monitor World Service broadcasts. The Working Group is due to reconvene in the Autumn.
Mr. Mullin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is he will list the safeguards announced in October 1996 for the protection of the BBC World Service during the period of restructuring, indicating in each case the extent to which it has been implemented; and if he will make a statement. [5831]
Mr. Lloyd:
Copies of this Department's/BBC World Service Working Group Report, which contain the 20 agreed measures designed to safeguard the World Service, are available from the Libraries of the House. The Working Group will reconvene in the autumn to ensure that the measures are functioning satisfactorily and producing the desired results.
Live Animal Transport
Mr. Caton: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps his Department takes to ensure the enforcement of the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1994 and directive 91/628/EEC during the import of cattle into the United Kingdom from third countries; and if he will make a statement; [4143]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the compliance with (a) the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1994 and (b) directive 91/628/EEC in respect of (i) the recent birth of a calf on a sea voyage from Canada to
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- Bristol, (ii) the transport onward from Bristol of the calf and its mother, (iii) the weather during the voyage and (iv) the containers used for the cattle during the sea voyage. [4722]
Mr. Morley: Enforcement of the legislation concerning the welfare of animals during transport is the responsibility of local authorities, and Ministry staff liaise with them in relation to this work. In April officers from the enforcement authority for the Welfare of Animals during transport Order 1994, (North Somerset District Council), and the Ministry's veterinary service monitored the arrival of 227 cattle at the Royal Portbury Dock which had been transported from Canada. One heifer calved on the dockside and the movement of these two animals was authorised, after their welfare had been assessed, under a statutory notice to specified premises near Chepstow. A subsequent visit was made to these premises when both the heifer and calf were reported to be in good condition. The remaining cattle were reported to be in excellent condition and were transported to their destination. The containers provided suitable accommodation during this, and on other, sea voyages. No incidents of abrasions, lameness or injury to the animals whilst in the containers were reported.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 12 June, Official Report, column 536, what assessment he has made of the impact of the decrease in the number of abattoirs since 1975 on (a) journey times and (b) distances within England for animals between point of production and point of slaughter. [4145]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 17 June 1997]: Various studies have been made of movement patterns in the British livestock sector. These indicate that a range of factors rather than just distance from the nearest abattoir influence the length of animals' journeys to slaughter.
Fur Farms
Mr. Coaker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many mink and fox fur farms there are in England and Wales by county. [5555]
Mr. Morley: There are currently no licensed mink farms in Wales. At 20 June 1997, there were the following mink farms in England:
| County | Number of licensed mink farms |
|---|---|
| Cornwall | 1 |
| Dorset | 1 |
| Hampshire | 1 |
| Isle of Wight | 1 |
| Lancashire | 6 |
| Northumberland | 1 |
| Staffordshire | 1 |
| South Yorkshire | 1 |
| West Yorkshire | 2 |
| Total | 15 |
There is no requirement to register fox fur farms. However, I am not aware of any in England and Wales.
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Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to review agricultural and food policies in order to safeguard rare and endangered species. [5183]
Mr. Rooker:
The Government are fully committed to protecting biodiversity and will take account of this when considering all relevant aspects of agricultural and food policies.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he plans to take to ensure compliance by abattoirs with paragraph 9(a)(ii) of Schedule 5 to the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995; and if he will make a statement. [6066]
Mr. Morley:
Recent developments will help both enforcement staff and slaughterhouse operators to ensure full compliance with this requirement. A testing unit has been developed which will confirm whether electrical stunning equipment contains an effective impedance device ("fail-safe"). In addition, a "fail-safe" device which may be fitted into existing stunning equipment is expected to be available commercially later this year. Once this equipment is available, appropriate enforcement action will then be taken when necessary.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he plans to take to reduce the incidence of pre-stun electric shocks experience by turkeys at slaughter; and if he will make a statement. [6065]
Mr. Morley:
The Government wish to see the highest standards of welfare at slaughter and this is one area where improvement can be achieved. Research, funded by this Ministry and others, has already suggested ways of reducing pre-stun shocks, and commercial trials on further developments are in progress. We are also supporting proposals issued by the European Commission to amend the present rules on slaughter to require slaughterhouse operators to take measures to prevent pre-stun shocks in turkeys.
Mr. Bernard Jenkin:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his statutory annual meeting with the Association of Sea Fisheries Committees. [6071]
Mr. Morley:
I represented the Minister at the annual statutory meeting with the Association of Sea Fisheries Committees (ASFC) which was held on the afternoon of 25 June. All twelve SFCs were represented, along with officials from their association and the Environment Agency. Officials from this Department and the Welsh Office were also present.
There was a useful discussion of progress on a range of issues which the ASFC has requested for discussion. These included the implications for them of the local government review in England and Wales, the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966, technical conservation, shellfish licensing and bass conservation.
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