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Milk (Derbyshire)
18. Mr. Barnes: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received concerning levels of dioxin in milk in Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement. [63002]
Mr. Rooker: Since 1991, samples of cows' milk have been taken from dairy farms in the Bolsover and Staveley areas for analysis for dioxins. The results are routinely published and show that the levels of dioxins in cows' milk from both areas are now similar to those found in other parts of the UK. For this reason, the Ministry has no plans to carry out further sampling.
Battery Hens
20. Mr. Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he has taken to improve the welfare of battery hens. [63004]
Mr. Rooker: We initiated discussions on proposals for new and improved EU welfare standards for all laying hens during our Presidency. We will continue to work with our European partners to being these negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion.
Food Standards Agency
21. Mr. Corbett: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the timetable is for consultation on financing the proposed Food Standards Agency. [63005]
Mr. Nick Brown: The Government remain committed to setting up the Food Standards Agency following the proposals outlined in the White Paper, The Food Standards Agency: A Force for Change (CM 3830). Should additional Parliamentary time become available, we hope to make progress on the necessary legislation in the present Session. In the meantime, following discussion with colleagues today, I can announce that we shall publish the Food Standards Bill in draft for public consultation in January 1999. The draft Bill will be available for pre-legislative scrutiny by this House. At the same time, we intend to publish a document for consultation on the Government's proposals for financing the Agency.
Mr. Corbett: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when he expects to publish the draft Bill to establish a food standards agency; and what period will be provided for pre-legislative scrutiny of it; [63548]
- (2) what form the pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Bill to establish a food standards agency will take. [63547]
Mr. Nick Brown
[holding answer 14 December 1998]: The Government remain committed to setting up the Food Standards Agency following the proposals outlined in the White Paper, The Food Standards Agency: A Force for Change (CM 3830). Should additional Parliamentary time
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become available, we hope to make progress on the necessary legislation in the present Session. In the meantime, following discussion with colleagues today, I can announce that we shall publish the Food Standards Bill in draft for public consultation in January 1999. The draft Bill will be available for pre-legislative scrutiny by this House. At the same time, we intend to publish a document for consultation on the Government's proposals for financing the Agency.
22. Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to ensure British farmers can compete on even terms with farmers in countries that have lower food and animal welfare standards. [63006]
Mr. Rooker:
I am working hard to create a level playing field for standards across the European Union. As a result of initiatives we took in our Presidency, the European Commission has been charged with producing a report by June 1999 considering the relationship between EU and third country farm animal welfare standards and making any necessary proposals.
23. Mrs. Spelman:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of the recent decline in farm incomes on the UK farming industry. [63007]
Mr. Rooker:
My Department announced on 1 December that Total Income from Farming is forecast to be 33 per cent. lower in 1998 compared to 1997. The main reason for the fall in prices in 1998 has been the oversupply of commodity markets, although the strength of the "green pound" has also been a factor.
The Government are aware of the difficult times that some sectors of the farming industry are undergoing, and have responded by announcing an aid package worth £120 million, targeted to the sectors most affected.
For the future, Government and all those associated with food production in the UK need to work together towards a sustainable, competitive and profitable industry and an attractive and viable countryside. This means in particular securing reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.
24. Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the prospects for future profitability of farming in the United Kingdom over the next 10 years. [63008]
Mr. Rooker:
It is difficult to predict the trend in farm incomes because of the many factors involved. I am kept informed by my officials on how specific market developments could impact on farm incomes.
25. Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions have taken place with regard to the sale of beef on the bone to the final consumer. [63009]
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Mr. Rooker:
Local authorities are generally responsible for enforcing the Beef Bones Regulations 1997 and I am not aware that any prosecutions have been completed though at least three are in progress. I would expect prosecutions to be taken if other enforcement action fails. I understand that such action has included reminding traders that the retail sale of bone-in beef is not permitted, the issuing of warnings and the formal cautioning of traders who admit to retailing bone-in beef. Details of prosecutions brought to my Department's attention are included in the BSE Enforcement Bulletin which is published monthly by my Department. Copies of the Bulletin are available in the Libraries of the House.
26. Mrs. Organ:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures have been taken to combat TB in cattle. [63010]
Mr. Rooker:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 12 November 1998, Official Report, column 311.
27. Mr. Dawson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to change the regulation of the disposal of meat and bonemeal. [63011]
Mr. Rooker:
The Government have no plans to change the regulations which currently govern the disposal of meat and bonemeal.
29. Mr. Wilkinson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will meet the Commission of the European Union to discuss the fraudulent misapplication of funds under the common agricultural policy. [63014]
Mr. Rooker:
I have no plans to do so. The Government have made it clear that they strongly support and encourage measures to reduce fraud against the CAP budget and to improve the budget's financial management.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the competitiveness of the United Kingdom turkey industry. [62999]
Mr. Rooker:
In common with other agricultural sectors, the turkey industry is experiencing difficulties and having to compete with cheap imports from other EU member states, particularly on the catering market.
The standard turkey as a Christmas loss leader in UK supermarkets will mean that lower priced imports will be competing with UK production during the busy Christmas period. However, at least one major supermarket is sourcing from the UK only and traditional farm fresh turkeys will all be British.
Mr. Quinn:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 14 and 15 December. [64558]
17 Dec 1998 : Column: 662
Mr. Nick Brown:
I represented the United Kingdom at a meeting of the European Union Agriculture Council in Brussels on 14 and 15 December.
The Council agreed by qualified majority (Belgium, Spain and Portugal abstaining) a Commission proposal to ban the use of four antibiotics in animal feed as from 30 June 1999. I welcomed the proposal as an appropriate response to advice, including from our own specialist scientific committees, that the use of antimicrobial growth promoters which may impair the efficacy of antibiotics used in human medicines should be phased out. I also welcomed the Council's statement stressing the need for an overall science-based approach to the issue of antibiotic resistance and calling for the Commission to submit a further report on the question of third country compliance with equivalent rules.
The Council also agreed by qualified majority (Italy and the Netherlands opposing, Portugal abstaining) two regulations establishing new agrimonetary arrangements to apply following introduction of the Single Currency on 1 January 1999. I supported these measures which will greatly simplify the agrimonetary system whilst reducing its costs and making it easier to operate. I was particularly pleased to secure provision that the impact of the ending of the freeze on green rates on 1 January, which benefited our farmers more than any other member state's, will be subject to a gradual transition over 3 years.
The Council reached unanimous political agreement on a proposal to send food aid to Russia, targeted towards regions most in need. I particularly welcomed this important gesture of EU solidarity with the Russian people.
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