| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Ministerial Conduct
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will make a statement on his policy towards Ministers who are found to have misled the public; [67328]
- (2) if he will make a statement on his policy towards Ministers who are found to have misled him. [67329]
The Prime Minister: My policy on the conduct of Ministers is set out clearly in the Ministerial Code.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Organic Produce
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the percentage of food consumed in the United Kingdom which is organically grown; and what percentage of this food is grown (a) in the United Kingdom, (b) in the rest of the European Union and (c) in the rest of the world; and if he will make a statement. [67255]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 26 January 1999]: Sales of organic food accounted for 2 per cent. of UK food sales in 1997, the latest year for which data are available. It is estimated that imported organic produce accounted for around 70 per cent. of sales, of which the majority originated in the European Union.
My right hon. Friend the Minister recently re-affirmed this Government's support for the organic sector in a speech at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. Funding for research and development is set to increase from £1.5 to £2.1 million in 1999-2000. More resources will be given to the Organic Conversion Information Service and payments to farmers wishing to convert to organic production methods will be almost doubled.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to respond to the
27 Jan 1999 : Column: 299
second report of the House of Lords European Communities Committee on EC Regulations of Genetic Modification in Agriculture [HL11]; and if he will make a statement on measures to improve information on GM food for consumers. [67397]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 26 January 1999]: The Government will respond to the second report of the House of Lords European Communities Committee on EC Regulations of Genetic Modification in Agriculture within the two months prescribed limit.
The Government remain committed to providing clear information so that consumers can make an informed choice about genetically modified (GM) foods. EC legislation agreed last year requiring all food containing ingredients derived from GM soya or maize to be clearly labelled sets an important precedent for the labelling of all GM foods.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the maximum detectable percentage of GM material allowed in finished food produced which permits that food to be labelled as free from GMOs. [67590]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 26 January 1999]: There is no legal requirement for foods containing GM material below a certain limit to be labelled as free from GMOs. However, the EC Regulation on labelling of GM soya and maize (1139/98) does recognise the need to consider a de-minimis threshold to avoid the situation where low levels of accidental mixing would require a consignment otherwise free of GM material to be labelled as genetically modified. The Government will continue to press the European Commission to reach a conclusion on this issue.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what estimate he has made of the percentage of crops under cultivation which are genetically modified; [67589]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 26 January 1999]: There are currently no GM crops being grown commercially in the UK.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much genetically modified (a) maize, (b) soya and (c) canola was imported for (i) seed, (ii) animal feed and (iii) human consumption in the last year for which figures are available. [67208]
Mr. Rooker:
Import figures for maize, soya and canola can be found in H.M. Customs and Excise Business Monitors in the Library of the House. They do not, however, contain any separate breakdown for genetically modified crops.
Individual import consignments of maize, soya and canola may be used for a variety of purposes, including directly as animal feed, for human consumption or for industrial use. For example, when crushing oilseeds for human consumption, by-products can be used for animal feed.
27 Jan 1999 : Column: 300
Mr. Soames:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the potential effects of climate change on British agriculture. [67280]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 25 January 1999]: My Ministry has funded a substantial programme of research on Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture, which between 1990 and 1997 cost a total of £4.4 million. This work has provided the basis for a booklet aimed at the agricultural industry, which will be published later this year. The booklet will give an indication of how climatic and market conditions may change, and the areas in which farmers may need to consider adapting their activities, as well as providing practical pointers on how farmers might chose to adapt.
The Government have recently established the UK Climate Impacts Programme to take a broader, integrated approach to research on the effects of climate change. MAFF is the major funder of a project being developed under the programme to look simultaneously at the effects of climate change on water resources, agriculture, coastal resources and wildlife in two regions, East Anglia and the north-west. MAFF is also funding a study into the timescale of farm level response and adaptation to climate change in England and Wales.
Mr. Hayes:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the agricultural and horticultural trade balances (a) in the last year for which figures are available and (b) in the previous five years. [67772]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 26 January 1999]: The table shows the UK balance of trade for agricultural goods (food, feed and drink) and horticultural products (fruit and vegetables) for each year from 1994 to 1998. The values shown are at 1998 prices (deflated by the Retail Prices Index).
(2) what is the current acreage of GM crops under cultivation. [67596]
| Food, feed and drink | Fruit and vegetables | |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | -6,543 | 3,444 |
| 1995 | -6,865 | -3,817 |
| 1996 | -8,221 | -4,111 |
| 1997 | -7,494 | -3,747 |
| 1998 (forecast) | -7,805 | -3,758 |
Egg Production (Salmonella)
Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of egg production was contaminated with salmonella in the last year for which figures are available. [67608]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 25 January 1999]: A Department of Health funded survey undertaken in 1995-96 indicated that, at retail level, about 1 in 600 UK-produced eggs (0.17 per cent.) were contaminated with salmonella.
27 Jan 1999 : Column: 301
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what procedures his Department has for monitoring the use of pesticides in food produce entering the UK. [67554]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 25 January 1999]: The Government run a surveillance programme for the presence of pesticide residues in food. This is overseen by the Working Party on Pesticide Residues. Around 2,000 to 3,000 samples of both UK produced and imported produce are analysed for a wide range of pesticides. The results of this analysis are published in full in an annual report.
Mr. Paice:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the report on the impact of a pesticides tax from which the Minister of State quoted during his oral statement on horticulture on 20 January 1999, Official Report, columns 863-65. [67454]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 25 January 1999]: The report on the potential impact of a pesticides tax to which I referred was undertaken by ADAS for the British Agrochemicals Association and the National Farmers' Union. Publication is therefore a matter for these organisations.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the proposed strike by meat inspectors and its effects on butchers and catering outlets in the UK. [67555]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 25 January 1999]: The decision by UNISON to consider strike action by its Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) members at the present time is very disappointing. MHS staff have a vital role to play in ensuring the highest hygiene and animal welfare standards are applied within plants. The MHS pay offer is fair and equitable.
After negotiations, the MHS formally offered UNISON a pay offer with a total value of 4 per cent. in August 1998. Negotiations continued and UNISON requested an offer of 4.55 per cent. citing the total package settlement to core-MAFF staff of 4.7 per cent.
In fact the actual cost of the core-MAFF pay aware to staff was 4.2 per cent, with 0.5 per cent. included for one-off structural changes. The range of awards was from 0 per cent. to 6.2 per cent. depending on performance. Unlike the rest of MAFF, performance related pay (PRP) structures do not apply in the MHS. The MHS's total value offer is on par with the current average civil service settlement of 4 per cent. It would not be possible to justify a higher offer for MHS staff, particularly with no PRP element.
UNISON commenced a formal ballot of its members on industrial action on 6 January. The ballot involved 579 responses, with 352 votes for industrial action and 225 against, with 2 returns invalid. UNISON are now required to give the MHS 7 days' written notice of any industrial action.
27 Jan 1999 : Column: 302
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |