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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Beef Exports (South Africa)
Barbara Follett: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total percentage reduction agreed since August 1996 by the European Commission in the level of beef export refunds to South Africa. [12332]
Mr. Rooker: The level of export refund EU beef exports received is dependant not only on the destination, but also the type of cut. Since August 1996, the level of export refunds on beef exports to South Africa has fallen by between 35 per cent. and 43 per cent.
Barbara Follett: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the report on the effects of EU beef export subsidies on the Southern African livestock economy commissioned by the South African Government from Natal university. [12333]
Mr. Rooker:
We are aware of the report and have noted its contents. As mentioned in my reply to my hon. Friend's previous question, there has already been a large reduction in the level of refunds paid on beef exports to South Africa. We believe however that it is still too early to assess the full impact of these reductions.
27 Oct 1997 : Column: 705
Barbara Follett:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when will the EU Council of Ministers next debate beef export subsidies to South Africa; and if he will make a statement. [12334]
Mr. Rooker:
We know of no current plans to discuss beef export refunds to South Africa in the Agriculture Council.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the nationality of the fishermen and their projected generated financial gain covered in the European Union-Senegal fisheries agreement; what is the cost to the European Union; what is the financial share of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's position regarding fishing rights held by the European Union in third-party waters. [12500]
Mr. Morley:
The fishing opportunities available under the EC-Senegal fisheries agreement are allocated mainly to fishermen from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece who have traditionally fished in Senegalese waters. However, new pelagic fishing opportunities obtained under the new protocol have not been allocated to specific member states. We have no information on the projected financial gain by individual fishermen.
The cost of the agreement to the EU budget is 12 mecu per annum. The UK contributes some 15 per cent. of this amount.
The Government consider fisheries agreements with third countries to be important in safeguarding traditional fishing grounds for EU fishermen. The agreements with Norway and other North Atlantic countries, for example, are important to the UK distant water fleet. However, the Government wish to ensure that fisheries agreements as a whole provide value for money, promote sustainable fisheries and are coherent with general EU development policy.
Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library the reports which he received from the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Goods and the Environment and the Food Advisory Committee before he made his decision of 4 July to limit the level of vitamin B6 in dietary supplements. [12310]
Mr. Rooker:
The statements from the Committee on Toxicology of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment and the Food Advisory Committee have been placed in the Library of the House. They have been available in the public domain since 4 July.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of the integration of Agenda 2000 countries into the European Union on the United Kingdom fishing fleet. [12526]
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Mr. Morley:
It will not be possible to carry out a detailed assessment of the impact on the UK fishing fleet of integrating new countries into the EU until we know which countries are to be admitted and the accession terms proposed. However, those applicant countries which have marine fishing interests generally fish in areas, such as the Baltic sea, where the UK fleet is not active. Previous new entrants have, as part of their accession terms, been allocated quotas reflecting the areas and stocks for which they have historic track records. The Government will wish to ensure that similar conditions apply to further new entrants.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department approved the establishment of additional scientific committees as announced in European Union document ip/97/679; how those committees will co-ordinate their work with committees responsible to his Department; and if he will make a statement. [12744]
Mr. Rooker:
The European Commission has recently transferred all of its advisory scientific committees to Directorate General XXIV which deals with consumer policy and consumer health protection. It is now in the process of restructuring the committees, the six existing committees being replaced by eight new committees which will deal respectively with food; animal nutrition; animal health and animal welfare; veterinary public health; plants; cosmetic products and non-food products intended for consumers; toxicity, ecotoxicity and the environment; and medical products and medical devices. A restructured overarching committee, the Scientific Steering Committee, is also being set up, the membership consisting of the chairmen of the eight scientific committees and eight additional scientists.
The reorganisation of the committee structure is entirely a matter for the European Commission, but in so far as the intention is to provide a more effective advisory system we are in support, though it remains to be seen how the new arrangements will operate in practice. Advice on food safety issues in the UK continues to be provided by the UK advisory committees, although increasingly legislation on food safety is based on agreements reached in Brussels.
Officials have been in touch with officials in DG XXIV and will continue working to ensure that there is effective interchange of information between the EU and ourselves. We also keep in close touch with day to day developments in the EU scientific committees via the UK contact points, and EU committees will be well aware of the conclusions reached in UK discussions.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give a breakdown of expenditure by country under European Union document 9201/97. [12593]
Mr. Rooker:
Document 9201/97 concerns a Commission proposal to augment funding for the quality beef promotion scheme by up to 20 mecu. However, as this proposal has not yet been agreed by the Council, expenditure has not yet been allocated. Should the
27 Oct 1997 : Column: 707
proposal be adopted, it is expected that a breakdown of expenditure by sponsoring member state and by the implementing trade or inter-trade organisation, will be available in due course. Organisations may, however, operate in more than one member state.
Mr. Levitt:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the regulations governing the aerial spraying of bracken to ensure the maximum safety and convenience of residents. [12761]
Mr. Rooker:
The Control of Pesticide Regulations 1986 include general requirements for the use of pesticides, including aerial spraying, and were updated earlier this year. The amending regulations introduced a specific requirement on all users of pesticides to confine the application of the pesticide to the land, crop, structure material or other area intended to be treated. These regulations place obligations on the aerial spray operator to give notice of the intended aerial application to the chief health officer for the district; hospitals, schools and other institutions within 150 m of the intended flight path; and occupants or their agents of all property within 25 m of the boundary of the land to which the pesticide is to be applied.
These requirements will be emphasised in the revised code of practice for the safe use of pesticides on farms and holdings which will be published early in the new year.
Mr. Levitt:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish figures to show the incidence of BSE (a) in mainland Britain and (b) in the Channel Islands among (i) Jersey cows and (ii) other breeds. [12764]
Mr. Rooker:
The number of confirmed cases of BSE in Jersey and non-Jersey cattle in Great Britain as at 21 October 1997 are as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Jersey | 1,472 |
| Jersey cross breeds | 147 |
| Non-Jersey | 167,640 |
| Total | 169,259 |
These figures include cases reported before the 1988 BSE order.
| Number | As at | |
|---|---|---|
| Jersey | 132 | 10 October 1997 |
| Guernsey | 648 | 19 October 1997 |
| Alderney | 2 | 26 June 1995 |
27 Oct 1997 : Column: 708
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will instigate a new public inquiry into the BSE affair. [12967]
Mr. Rooker: The Government are considering the question of a public inquiry into BSE very carefully and will make an announcement when they have reached a conclusion.
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