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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Genetically Modified Foods
Mr. Todd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that genetically modified foods are labelled as such. [15842]
Mr. Rooker: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 9 June 1997, Official Report, columns 356-57.
Mr. Tyler: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence his Department has evaluated with respect to (a) the effects of changes in the composition of diet and (b) the effects of genetic modification of food on the toxicity of pesticide residues in the human body; and if he will make a statement. [16203]
Mr. Rooker: When applications for pesticide approvals are evaluated, or existing approvals are reviewed, food consumption patterns are routinely taken into account. This information is derived from the National Food Survey and other sources.
No approvals have been granted for the use of any pesticide specifically on a genetically modified crop. Where the genetic modification would be expected to alter the way the crop metabolises the pesticide, the resultant risks would be assessed. This is most likely to be an issue with genetically modified herbicide tolerant crops and I am taking steps to ensure that such new uses of herbicides will require specific evaluation.
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice his Department has received from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes with respect to elevated oestrogen levels in genetically modified soya. [16202]
Mr. Rooker:
When the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes carried out its safety evaluation of the genetically modified soya produced by Monsanto--the only soya which it has evaluated to date--it found no differences in oestrogen levels compared with traditional soya.
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated with respect to elevated oestrogen levels in genetically modified soya. [16197]
Mr. Rooker:
When the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes evaluated the safety of the genetically modified soya produced by Monsanto, it found no differences in oestrogen levels compared with traditional soya and there was therefore no reason to commission further research on this point.
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Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice his Department has received from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes with respect to the bla gene in Ciba-Geigy's genetically modified maize line CG00526-176. [16199]
Mr. Rooker:
The report of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes on this genetically modified maize is contained in Appendix XII of its Annual Report for 1996, a copy of which is held in the Library of the House.
Mr. Todd:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that farm feed products are labelled so as to reveal their full contents. [15827]
Mr. Rooker:
Ingredient listing of compound feed, either by specific ingredient or by category, has been a requirement of EC legislation since 1991. Commission Directive 97/47/EC, which takes effect in the UK in the New Year, deletes the "Land Animal Products" category and requires any animal material still permitted in compound feed to be separately identified. The European Commission is now considering the complete removal of the category option, which would receive UK support.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's agriculture, fisheries and food priorities for the period of the United Kingdom's Presidency of the European Union. [16348]
Dr. John Cunningham:
There is still some substantive agriculture, fisheries and food business to be completed under the Luxembourg Presidency. It would, therefore, be inappropriate to go into the detail of priorities for the UK Presidency at this time.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which European countries currently allow the use of unpasteurised milk in the production of dairy products of any type. [16378]
Dr. John Cunningham:
All members of the European Union allow the use of unpasteurised milk in the production of dairy products. This is permitted and closely controlled by the EC Milk and Milk Products Hygiene Directive.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his reasons for seeking to bring the English and Scottish policies into line on the use, consumption and production of unpasteurised milk. [16379]
Dr. John Cunningham:
Having studied the issues closely, the independent Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food has expressed concern about the microbiological quality of unpasteurised cows' milk for drinking and has recommended that the sale of such milk be banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Consequently, I have initiated a public
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consultation on a proposal to ban the sale of raw cows' milk for drinking, which aligns with the policy in Scotland.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his scientists' 1997 assessment of the state of fish stocks which are subject to annual consideration in terms of total allowable catches and community quotas; and if he will list the changes in that assessment from the 1996 assessment. [16380]
Dr. John Cunningham:
The scientists of the Ministry's agency, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, monitor fish stocks in order to contribute to the annual assessments made by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The 1997 ICES' assessments are expected to be published shortly.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish his White Paper on the Food Standards Agency. [16386]
Dr. John Cunningham:
As soon as possible.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the compensation available to farmers of certified organic crops in the event of the spread of a patented gene to that crop by a process of horizontal gene transfer. [16150]
Mr. Rooker:
The issue of compensation for farmers of certified organic crops affected by actions on neighbouring farms is a civil matter to be pursued between those concerned.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce the outcome of his consideration of the rates for Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance in 1998. [16377]
Dr. John Cunningham:
I expect to make an announcement within the next month.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his current estimate of the costs involved in moving his Ministry's offices from Whitehall Place to Nobel House. [16388]
Dr. John Cunningham:
The latest estimate of the costs involved in moving my offices, and those of officials, from Whitehall Place to Nobel House remains at £120,000.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish his conclusions on the quarantine law consultation exercise. [16381]
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Dr. John Cunningham:
I have asked Professor Kennedy, Professor of Health Law, Ethics and Public Policy at University College, London to carry out an assessment of alternatives to quarantine and of the current policy of quarantine. The assessment will consider the risk of introduction of rabies into the United Kingdom, the practical aspects of enforcement and the costs and benefits involved. The assessment will take several months. I will publish Professor Kennedy's report, and will thereafter hold a full public consultation.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what discussions he has had with the Welsh Development Agency about the Government's policy on the sale and supply of military, security and police equipment to oppressive regimes; and if he will place the minutes of the meeting in the Library; [15750]
Mr. Hain:
Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have had any discussions with the Welsh Development Agency on this matter, but Welsh Office officials have written to the Agency to ensure that they are aware of the Government's policy announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary which requires defence exporters to take account of ethical considerations. A copy of that letter has been placed in the Library.
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(2) what (a) instructions and (b) policy guidelines he has issued to the Welsh Development Agency about the Government's policy on the sale and supply of military, security and police equipment to oppressive regimes; and if he will place copies of them in the Library. [15754]
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