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Chocolate Directive
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Ministry plans to (a) support the European Commission's draft chocolate directive, (b) oppose the European Parliament's amendments to the draft directive and (c) make a statement about the Government's policy on the draft directive. [13350]
Mr. Rooker:
The Government broadly support the European Commission's proposals on chocolate and are opposed to a number of the amendments proposed by the European Parliament, particularly those which would have the effect of discriminating against chocolate containing small additions of vegetable fat and against high-quality UK "milk chocolate". As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced on 23 October, the Government will continue to press strongly for a new directive which protects names traditionally used in the UK and resist measures which would mislead consumers and unfairly penalise our chocolate industry.
30 Oct 1997 : Column: 848
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will assess the extra costs which will fall on farmers from the closure of hunt kennels; and if he will make a statement. [13209]
Mr. Rooker:
MAFF figures are not available. The private Member's Bill of my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Foster) is due to receive its Second Reading on 28 November. The Government's stance is neither to support nor to oppose a ban on hunting but to allow a free vote. The Bill will provide Parliament with an opportunity to study the pros and cons of any ban on hunting, including the ramifications on the service offered by hunt kennels to the farming community.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received from the Environment Agency into the potential flooding dangers posed to areas abutting the Thames estuary, east of the Thames barrier, consequent upon the increase of sea levels and dangers of surge tides; and if he will make a statement. [13215]
Mr. Morley:
The Department has not received any specific reports from the Environment Agency.
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his Department's policy to separate risk assessment and risk management in matters of food safety. [13184]
Mr. Rooker:
The process of risk analysis, which comprises risk assessment, risk management and the third component of risk communication, is, in the case of food safety, the joint responsibility of my Ministry and the Department of Health. In general we seek to ensure that risk assessment and risk management are considered separately, although they do also have a measure of interdependence, as has been made clear in recent expert FAO/WHO consultations on risk analysis and risk management. Officials in the joint MAFF/DH food safety and standards group are, however, studying current procedures in the light of recent developments in thinking to ensure that best practice is being followed.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the suppliers to his Department who are owed outstanding amounts, indicating the amounts and the due date on which the account should have been settled. [13545]
Mr. Rooker:
All Departments are required to pay all their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is later, where no such terms exist. Such detailed information on payment performance for the current financial year could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Treasury will shortly be publishing a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996-97.
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Mr. Hunter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many six-month entry visas to the United Kingdom were granted in each of the last two years for which statistics are available. [12575]
Mr. Fatchett:
The majority of visas for the UK are valid for presentation at a port within six months of date of issue. In the last two years for which statistics are available, entry clearance posts issued the following:
| 1995 | 1996 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total number issued | 1,076,531 | 1,273,156 |
| Number of non-settlement | 1,042,667 | 1,240,341 |
| Number of multiple entry visas valid for presentation within six months | 168,711 | 221,001 |
Goods and Services (Payments)
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list each of the functions relating to payment for goods or services supplied for which his Department is responsible indicating the management systems purchased, all sub-contractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other Departments; and the costs of the systems and processes in the last year for which figures are available. [12560]
Mr. Fatchett: This Department makes payments both in the United Kingdom and through embassies and high commissions overseas. No sub-contractors are involved. We also make a large number of payments overseas on behalf of other Government Departments.
In the United Kingdom, spending Departments input the invoice details electronically, but actual payment is issued centrally. During 1996-97, 33,517 payments--covering one or more invoice--were issued at a cost of £124,533 in central staff costs.
No figures are available for payments made overseas and to obtain the information required would involve disproportionate cost.
Mrs. Brinton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new exceptions to the arms embargo on Argentina there have been since 1 May. [13766]
Mr. Fatchett:
We have recently approved the export of a single sporting rifle to Argentina following its repair by the original manufacturer in the UK. This is an exception, but not a change, to the embargo.
Mr. Charles Clarke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will notify his decision on licensing the export of armoured Land Rover vehicles to the UN High Commission for Refugees in Rwanda. [13902]
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Mr. Tony Lloyd:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has recommended approval of an export licence for this item, which has been issued by the Department of Trade and Industry. UN Security Council resolution 1011 prohibits the export of military goods to non-governmental agents in Rwanda. However, the UN secretariat has confirmed that this embargo does not cover the export of equipment destined for UN operations. This export follows similar exemptions made for UNHCR in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia.
Fiona Mactaggart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the approval of an export licence for the supply of riot shields to the United States army in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [13850]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We recently approved the export of 340 riot shields of UK manufacture to the US Army for use in Bosnia to protect US SFOR troops. Given the tension in Bosnia around the time of the municipal elections on 13 to 14 September, we were glad to be able to approve this export as an exception to the EU common position on arms exports to the former Yugoslavia. This decision does not affect the Government's continued support of the EU common position.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the suppliers to his Department who are owed outstanding amounts, indicating the amounts and the due date on which the account should have been settled. [13550]
Mr. Fatchett:
All Departments are required to pay all their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is later, where no such terms exist. Such detailed information on payment performance for the current financial year could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Treasury will shortly be publishing a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996-97.
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the mean and median level of savings held by pensioners aged (a) 60 to 64 years, (b) 65 to 69 years, (c) 70 to 74 years, (d) 75 to 79 years and (e) 80 years and over (i) in total and (ii) for (1) single male pensioners, (2) singe female pensioners and (3) married pensioners. [12824]
Mr. Denham:
The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following tables.
Source:
Family resources survey 1995-96.
30 Oct 1997 : Column: 851
Source:
Family resources survey 1995-96.
30 Oct 1997 : Column: 851
Source:
Family resources survey 1995-96.
30 Oct 1997 : Column: 851
Source:
Family resources survey 1995-96.
30 Oct 1997 : Column: 851
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