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Food Safety
Mr. Jack: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food pursuant to his answer of 27 November 1997, Official Report, column 640, on food safety, what factors in respect of the management of risk his research programme is examining; what are the programme's findings to date on the public perceptions of food safety risk; which other relevant opinion surveys he has assessed; and what were their results. [19595]
Dr. John Cunningham: My Department's risk management research programme, which has been running for five years, covers all aspects of risk management including perceptions of risk, the way that risk messages are received by the public, risk communication and methods by which consumer views on food safety might be best taken into account in decision making. Other relevant opinion surveys are published by others, such as, for example, the Consumers Association, as a result of research into a variety of food-related issues.
Scientific Research (Corporation Tax)
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the Board of Trade's proposed changes to the guidelines on granting exemptions from corporation tax to scientific research associations. [19551]
8 Dec 1997 : Column: 490
Dr. John Cunningham:
The proposed changes to the guidelines would have a significant impact on a number of bodies under my Department's sponsorship and, following representations from several of these, both my noble Friend the Parliamentary Secretary and I, have raised the matter with colleagues at the Department of Trade and Industry.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which Community funded agricultural support schemes he estimates will underspend their budgeted amounts in 1997-98; and by how much. [19552]
Dr. John Cunningham:
I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him on 21 November 1997, Official Report, column 356.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those elements of his hill farming policy which are compatible with Article 33 of the treaty establishing the European Community. [19536]
Dr. John Cunningham:
Hill farmers receive specific financial help via the Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances scheme. This has been approved under the terms of the EC farm structures Regulation 950//97, and is therefore compatible with Article 33 (ex 39) of the Treaty.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons he decided to consult publicly on the banning of unpasteurised milk following his receipt of the scientific advice from the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food. [19585]
Dr. John Cunningham:
I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 4 December 1997, Official Report, column 357.