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HOUSE OF COMMONS
Public Appointments
Mr. Charles Clarke: To ask the President of the Council what assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the advantages of establishing a procedure for ratification by Select Committee of some senior public appointments; and when she expects to bring recommendations to the House. [15301]
Mrs. Ann Taylor [holding answer 10 November 1997]: The Government have accepted the recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public Life on appointments to executive non-departmental public bodies and NHS trusts. The consultation paper "Opening up quangos", published by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 11 November, sets out proposals to extend these recommendations to other public bodies. The Government will review the possibility of ratification of certain appointments by Select Committees but has no immediate plans to recommend this.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Hill Farmers
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average income of hill farmers in each year since 1987. [15197]
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Mr. Morley:
Estimate of average net farm income for full-time Less Favoured Area (LFA) cattle and sheep farms in the United Kingdom are given in the table. The figures, expressed in real terms at 1996-97 prices, are estimates of averages across the United Kingdom. These data have to be interpreted with caution because incomes of individual farms vary considerably according to the farm size, mix enterprises and production systems. More detailed information can be found in the annual publication "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom".
| Year | Average net farm income (£/farm) (real terms at 1996-97 prices) |
|---|---|
| 1987-88 | 14,900 |
| 1988-89 | 17,000 |
| 1989-90 | 11,300 |
| 1990-91 | 8,400 |
| 1991-92 | 10,000 |
| 1992-93 | 12,700 |
| 1993-94 | 14,500 |
| 1994-95 | 10,500 |
| 1995-96 | 14,500 |
| 1996-97 | 14,100 |
Forecasts for 1997--98 will be placed in the Library of the House within the next few weeks.
Soil Survey Data
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to make soil survey data accessible. [15852]
Mr. Morley: Soil survey data are currently published and readily available as maps, an associated range of Bulletins and the Soil Geo-chemical Atlas.
Our officials, along with those in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Environment Agency, are in discussions with the Soil Survey and Land Use Research Centre--which holds the data--to assess how access might be better facilitated for bona fide research purposes.
Soil Protection
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to publish his plans for soil protection. [15851]
Mr. Morley: In response to a recommendation of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, the Government plan to issue an explicit statement of their policies for the protection of soil. This will take the form of a "soil strategy". Our officials are in discussion with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions about the preparation of the strategy. The plan is to consult publicly before the strategy is finalised.
Live Animal Exports
Dr. Palmer:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will announce the results of the review of the operation of laws designed to safeguard the welfare of live animals destined for export from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [15318]
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Mr. Morley:
The supervision of exports must not only be the best possible but also be seen to be the best. The current system lends itself to criticism. We intend to change the system so that the Department can nominate veterinary surgeons from a special panel and pay them from a charge on the exporter. Instructions to veterinary surgeons will be clarified and additional training given. We are in discussions with the professional veterinary bodies to get the details in place as soon as possible.
Dr. Palmer:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many live (a) sheep and (b) pigs have been exported from the United Kingdom since 1 January for (i) slaughter, (ii) further fattening and (iii) breeding. [15317]
Mr. Rooker:
The following table, derived from Departmental computer records of animal health export certifications, shows the number of live sheep and pigs exported from the United Kingdom, from January-October 1997 inclusive in the categories requested.
| For slaughter | For further fattening | For breeding | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheep | 28,100 | 288,200 | 1,200 |
| Pigs | 71,000 | 11,700 | 138,700 |
The information given above is provisional and subject to change.
Climate Change
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the impact of climate change on (a) agricultural production and methods and (b) crop diseases and pest control; and if he will make a statement. [15590]
Mr. Morley: The Department is aware of an increasing level of concern about the impact of a climate change on agriculture. In particular, we received a query from the Country Landowners' Association covering a range of climate change issues following my visit to East Anglia in June. In October, my officials attended a conference arranged by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) to discuss climate change issues with a group of farmers and other interested groups.
The Department will spend about £1 million this year on R and D on climate change in relation to agriculture, of which £300,000 will be spent assessing the impact of climate change and identifying adaptation strategies. Much of the rest will be spent on assessing the extent of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and developing options for mitigation. We also intend to publish a booklet on climate change and agriculture in the United Kingdom in the early part of next year.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mr. Stunell:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list (a) his Department's policies and initiatives designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and (b) the departmental policies and initiatives designed to reduce other greenhouse gases; if he will estimate for each the annual reduction in tonnage of greenhouse gas emissions achieved in the most recent year for which figures are available compared to those for
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1990; and what estimate he has made of further reductions, or increases, predicted for 2000 and 2010, assuming continuation of current policies. [15547]
Mr. Morley:
I refer the hon. Member to the United Kingdom's Second Report under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change which was published in February 1997. It reports the UK's progress in implementing its programme for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and gives a projection of what the programme is expected to deliver by 2000. The report projects forward what the current programme is expected to achieve to 2020.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the number of farmers who have prohibited hunting with dogs on their land; and what percentage of the total this represents. [15972]
Mr. Morley:
There is no information available to form the basis for such an estimate, but farmers are free to prohibit hunting with dogs on their land and many do so.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department will publish a review of the workings of the Agriculture Tenancies Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [16070]
Mr. Morley:
An independent initial policy evaluation of the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995, commissioned by this Department and the Welsh Office, is now nearing completion. The results, which it is expected the researchers will wish to publish, will provide data for England and Wales separately.
The primary aims of this initial evaluation were to examine the initial impact of the 1995 Act and to establish a baseline for a more detailed independent evaluation expected to be commissioned in three to four years time.
Mr. Greenway:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many postal surveys of farmers have been undertaken by his Department during the past five years; and which of these had a statutory basis providing for penalties for non-compliance. [16047]
Mr. Morley:
In 1996, 15 regular statistical surveys were conducted to farmers, of which 6 were compulsory. This excludes 2 voluntary surveys which are not run every year. Over the last five years, 3 voluntary statistical surveys have been dropped and 2 have been introduced. Rather than reducing the number of surveys, most survey control action has concentrated on reducing the numbers contacted. In addition to the statistical surveys, 11 ad hoc postal surveys were run to provide information for policy needs in 1996.
Mr. Greenway:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many postal surveys of farmers undertaken during the past five years requested information which was required by the European Commission. [16048]
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Mr. Morley:
Of the 15 regular statistical surveys conducted in 1996, 10 provided information required by the EU. This provides the annual picture, apart from a labour survey which is run every 2 or 3 years to provide detailed information required in the European Structure Survey.
Mr. Greenway:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to reduce the number of (a) separate surveys and (b) questions and their level of detail required of farmers and landowners. [16046]
Mr. Morley:
The Government are committed to reducing the amount of statistical data collected from farmers. Survey control procedures ensure that the essential information need and the number of surveys is regularly reviewed. Increased sampling in the June and December surveys, together with use of administrative data, will save on the issue of over 25,000 forms this year. About 25 per cent. of farmers contacted in the June 1997 census received a simpler form.
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