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Eggs
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of (a) the number of intensive poultry units in England and (b) the average number of birds found within such units. [63375]
Mr. Rooker: The figures obtained from the June Census returns do not provide sufficient detail to determine the number of intensive poultry units in England. In England and Wales, there are 23,000 farms with laying hens but not all of these will be cage production and indeed the vast majority have fewer than 100 birds.
It may be of interest to look at the current breakdown of shell eggs packed by type of production system. This is:
This is from an estimated UK annual production (in 1997) of 9,540 million eggs.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take measures to prohibit the use of the term 'farm-fresh' eggs to designate those eggs which originate from a battery system. [63378]
Mr. Rooker:
The terms 'farm fresh', 'naturally fresh' and 'country fresh' may be used to describe eggs produced under any system. The word 'fresh' is reserved for eggs of Grade A quality, which is the highest standard of freshness and cleanliness laid down in the Regulations. The words 'farm' and 'country' are not considered to be misleading, as nearly all eggs are produced on farms of one kind or another or in the country.
I am aware that consumer research, undertaken by welfare organisations, has indicated that some consumers are under the impression that this reflects the method of production. No legislative action is currently proposed
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and any changes would have to be discussed in Brussels. I am aware, however, that the egg industry and supermarkets themselves are addressing this consumer concern.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with supermarkets concerning the descriptions applied to eggs offered for sale to the public. [63377]
EC legislation governing the marketing of shell eggs specifies which exclusive terms can be used to indicate type of farming (but exempts organic/biological farming). These optional descriptions are 'free range' eggs; 'semi-intensive' eggs; 'deep litter' eggs; 'perchery' eggs (barn eggs) and 'eggs from caged hens'. All these marketing terms are optional. Producers or marketing outlets can therefore use these terms if they wish to clarify the method of production for consumers, providing the minimum production criteria set out in the marketing legislation is met.
As far as other descriptions are concerned, there is an obligation that neither the pictures nor terms used on egg packs are misleading. Trading Standards officers of local authorities have the power to act if this is the case.
Mr. Luff:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to resist the withdrawal of authorisation of any veterinary medicine unless he is satisfied that the alternative products available on the market are at least as safe for (a) animals and (b) humans; and if he will make a statement. [64027]
Mr. Rooker:
No veterinary medicine is authorised for use unless it satisfies stringent statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy. Safety includes the safety of treated animals and humans.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the weight of antibiotics used annually in farming; what is his policy in respect of this application; and if he will make a statement. [63381]
Mr. Rooker:
The information is not kept centrally. However, industry sources indicate that a total of 756 tonnes of antibiotics, including 99 tonnes of growth promoters, were supplied to users including the farming industry and keepers of pets in the UK during 1996.
We are very concerned to ensure that human health is not compromised by the use of antibiotics in livestock production. To that end we have supported a proposal by the European Commission to suspend the use of four antibiotic growth promoters that are related to antibiotics used in human medicine.
Mr. Swinney:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the offices or agencies under his control which will be subject to L.2 of Head L in
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Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998; how many people are currently employed in these offices; and what equal opportunities practices are adopted in these offices. [63795]
Mr. Morley:
As regards cross-border authorities, a list of these cannot be specified until appropriate subordinate legislation is made under the Act.
The State Veterinary Service (SVS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has 15 offices in Scotland and employs 81 veterinary and animal health staff. These staff are covered by the Ministry's policy of equality of opportunity for all staff. The Ministry's network of Equal Opportunities Officers includes two Equal Opportunities Officers with Responsibility for matters arising for SVS staff in these grades.
The Veterinary Laboratory Agency employs 26 staff at its Lasswade Laboratory. These staff are covered by the Agency's equal opportunities policy which has been developed within the framework of the Ministry's overall policy. There is an Agency Equal Opportunities Officer with responsibility for matters arising for these staff.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the recruitment procedure for staff of his Department; and if he will make a statement. [63045]
Mr. Morley:
None.
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Mr. Steen:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the exact number of letters he received from Labour hon. Members on problems facing the United Kingdom agricultural industry in the three months prior to 11 November. [61659]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 7 December 1998]: In the period 12 August to 11 November inclusive, MAFF Ministers received 1,894 letters from hon. Members. Many letters dealt with multiple subjects. To verify the exact number of letter from Labour hon. Members that raised problems facing the UK agricultural industry would require each one to be checked individually; the information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Plaskitt:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the total payments were by county in 1996 and 1997 under (i) the arable area payments, (ii) the suckler cow premium and (iii) the sheep annual premium schemes of the CAP; and in each case what the average farm payment was in each county. [62885]
Mr. Rooker:
The following tables give the information requested. Payments are attributed to the country of the claimant's main holding. These figures represent payments by MAFF, in England, in respect of 1996 and 1997 claims--not the payments which were made in those years. For 1996 arable area payments, the figures update those previously published. These were given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) on 30 July 1997, Official Report, columns 327-30.
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cage eggs--82 per cent.
free range--14 per cent.
barn/other--4 per cent.
(20) Cornwall figures include the Scilly Isles
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