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Future of Agriculture (Conference)
Mr. Soames: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the proceedings of his recent conference on the future of agriculture. [67279]
Mr. Rooker [holding answer 25 January 1999]: The texts of speaking notes and speeches from the recent conferences on proposals to reform the Common Agricultural Policy have been made available on the Internet at the following address: http://www.maff.gov.uk/farm/agendtwo/agendtwo.htm.
Veterinary Standards
Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place a copy of the Bendixon/Dexter report on standards of veterinary services in the EU in the Library; and if he will make a statement on veterinary standards in the qualifying countries as proposed in the Kennedy report on quarantine and rabies. [67408]
Mr. Rooker [holding answer 25 January 1999]: The Bendixon/Dexter report was produced for the European Commission between 1990 and 1992. A full report on the veterinary service in each Member State was produced, but sent only to the Member State concerned. A summary report was produced which presented a broad view of the findings and recommendations regarding the structure, resources and activities of veterinary services throughout the Community. Only a Synthesis Report was circulated to the Member States, and I will place photo-copies of this in the Libraries of the House, but it is, by now, out of date.
Veterinary standards in EU and EEA countries have been assessed by the European Commission and found to be of an appropriate standard for the purposes of intra-Community trade in animals and animal products.
My officials are examining which islands meet the definition of rabies freedom set by the Office International des Epizooties.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the traceability of GM material used in food production. [67481]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 25 January 1999]: Under World Trade Organisation rules it is not possible to require GM material used in food production to be segregated as a condition of import. However, the Government have encouraged the provision of consumer choice by publishing a list of 59 suppliers offering traceable non-GM material. All foods which contain GM ingredients must be clearly labelled under EC Regulations.
27 Jan 1999 : Column: 303
Mr. Hayes:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the relationship between agricultural incomes and incomes in the general economy. [67771]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 26 January 1999]: There is very little relationship in the short term between agricultural incomes and incomes in the rest of the UK economy. Although agriculture is subject to some of the influences which impact on the economy as a whole (eg productivity changes, world and domestic demand, and exchange rates), it is also subject to other influences which have a greater impact on the sector (eg the Common Agricultural Policy, weather and world commodity prices). As a single sector, agricultural income is more volatile than that of the UK economy as a whole. Agriculture currently accounts for about 1 per cent. of national GDP and about 2 per cent. of UK employment.
Mr. Hayes:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the present levels of income in (a) farming, (b) pig production and (c) other livestock production. [67770]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 26 January 1999]: Figures for 1998-99 will be published on 28 January. However, it is clear that net farm incomes for all farm types except general cropping are expected to fall substantially in 1998-99.
Mr. Rammell:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which measures of local deprivation his Department and its agencies use in considering allocation of funds to local projects. [66715]
Mr. Morley:
MAFF funds local projects through the English Objective 1 and 5b Structural Funds Programmes and the English LEADER II Community Initiative Programme. The socio-economic parameters taken into account in designating Objective 1 and 5b areas included low levels of agricultural income, low population density and location in less favoured areas. Measures of local deprivation are not used by this Department or its Agencies when considering the allocation of funds to specific local projects within the Objective 1 and 5b areas.
Mr. Hurst:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance is provided to young farmers to obtain their own farm holding. [66871]
Mr. Rooker:
The Government provide no specific assistance to help young farmers to obtain their own farm. However, in certain cases, loans can be guaranteed under the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme. In addition, the changes introduced by the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 will make it easier for young farmers to gain tenancies because landowners will be encouraged to enter the rented sector.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the six areas designated to receive assistance under the English Objective 5b Structural Fund Programme. [66901]
27 Jan 1999 : Column: 304
Mr. Morley:
In England the six areas designated by the European Commission to receive assistance under the Objective 5b Structural Funds Programme are:
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much the total cost of the subsidy for tobacco producers is in the European Union in the current financial year. [66902]
Mr. Rooker:
The amount provided for tobacco expenditure in the 1999 FEOGA budget year is 980 million euro (£687 million 1 ).
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the categories of persons eligible for distributed food, by country of distribution, sourced from intervention stocks designated for most deprived persons in the community according to 98/657/EC. [66346]
Mr. Rooker:
The information requested by the right hon. Member is not available.
Mr. Prosser:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list (a) the organisations that have responded to the Kennedy report on the reform of quarantine and (b) the organisations and individuals he will be consulting before he announces his decisions on the new regime. [67201]
Mr. Rooker:
The organisations that responded are set out in the list. I have no plans to launch a further consultation at this stage, but I will involve those affected as appropriate.
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Mr. Prosser:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which countries will qualify for privileged entry arrangements under the Kennedy report on the reform of quarantine; and how many pet animals were imported from these countries in (a) 1998, (b) 1997, (c) 1996. [67202]
Mr. Rooker:
The Kennedy Group recommended that cats, dogs and non-carnivores from EU and EEA Member States and rabies-free islands should qualify for exemption from quarantine, subject to their meeting the conditions for exemption. My officials are examining which islands meet the definition of rabies freedom set by the Office International des Epizooties.
The South West--Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and parts of Devon and Somerset;
The Marches--most of Shropshire and parts of Hereford and Worcester;
The Northern Uplands--parts of Lancashire, North Yorks, Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland;
Lincolnshire--excluding the City of Lincoln and other mainly urban areas;
East Anglia--the Fens, rural Norfolk and the Waveney Valley; and
Midlands Uplands--the Peak District of Staffordshire and Derbyshire.
Note:
1 Using an exchange rate of £1 = 1.4258 euro.
Report on the Advisory Group on quarantine: List of organisations that have submitted evidence.
Alley Cat Allies
American Veterinary Medical Association
Angus Council
Animal Behaviour Centre
Animal Concern, Cumbria
Animal Protection Centre
Animalcare Ltd.
Animals Asia Foundation, Hong Kong
Animals in Almeria
Aquithie Boarding and Quarantine Kennels and Cattery
Ards Borough Council
Army Families Federation
Army Families Federation, Germany
Association of Circus Proprietors
Association of Port Health Authorities
BAA Air Cargo
Ballymoney Borough Council
Bamford J. C., Excavators Ltd.
Barking and Havering Health Authority
Barnet Association of Responsible Dog Owners
Bat Conservation Trust
Birmingham City Council, Environmental Services Department
Blue Cross
Bristol Zoo Gardens
British Airways World Cargo
British and Commonwealth Women's Club of Brussels
British Forces Animal Rehoming Centre
British Medical Association
British Ports Association
British Rabbit Council
British Shipping
British Tourist Authority
British Veterinary Association
British Veterinary Zoological Society
Buckinghamshire Health Authority
Camden and Islington Health Authority
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
Canine and Owner Education Centres
Canine Partners for Independence
Cat Association of Britain
Cats Protection League
Celtic Travel Connections
Central Science Laboratory
Centre for Tropical Medicine, Oxford University
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
Clackmannanshire County Council
Clayton and Cox
Coleraine Borough Council
Conservative Countryside Forum
Corporation of London
Daily Mail and General Trust plc
Dansk Kennel Klub, Denmark
Derbyshire County Council
Dog Action Working Group, Scotland
Dorset Health Authority
Dover and Folkestone Quarantine Kennels
Dundee City Council
Durham County Health Authority
East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority
Ecole de Chiens Guides D'Aveugles de Paris
Electric Veterinary Records Ltd.
Equine DNA Register
Eurocoils Ltd.
European Blind Union
Eurostar (UK) Ltd.
Farmers Union of Wales
Ferne Animal Sanctuary
Fife Constabulary
Firs International Quarantine
Foredown Kennels and Cattery
Four in Hand Kennels
Freight Transport Association
Galley Hill International Kennels and Cattery
German Shepherd Dog Club, Jersey
Glasgow City Council
Golden Retriever Breed Council
Governing Council of the Cat Fancy
Granda Group Plc
Guernsey, States of, Agricultural and Milk Marketing Board
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Hampshire County Council
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Highland Council
Home Office, Constitutional and Community Policy Directorate
Constitutional Unit (replies for Jersey)
Hull and Goole Port Health Authority
Humane Society of the United States
Independent Animal Health Alliance
Institute of Trading Standards Administration
International Zoo Veterinary Group
Isle of Man Government
Isle of Wight Council
Jersey Animal's Shelter
Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust
Jersey, Health and Social Services
Jersey, States of, Deputy Bailiff
Joint Mobility Unit (service provided by RNIB and GDBA)
Kennel Club
Kennel Holckenhus
Kent County Council, Strategic Planning
Kingston Upon Hull City Council, Public Protection Division
Knightwood Kennels
Lambeth Southwark and Lewisham Health Authority
Leeds Health Authority
Local Authorities Coordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards
Lothian and Borders Police
Lowe Group
Manchester City Council
Merial Animal Health Ltd.
Merton Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, New Zealand
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Finland
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry, Bonn, Germany
Moonwinds Quarantine and Boarding Kennels and Cattery
National Canine Defence League
National Dog Tattoo Register
National Farmers Union of Scotland
National Federation of the Blind of the United Kingdom
National Gerbil Society
National Institute of Mental Health, USA
National Office of Animal Health Ltd.
Netherlands Anti-Quarantine Action Group
Norfolk County Council
North Ayrshire Council
North and East Devon Health Authority
North Lanarkshire Council
North Lincolnshire Council
North of Ireland Veterinary Association
North Somerset Council
North Yorkshire County Council
North West Anglia Health Authority
Northumberland Health Authority
Oakenshaw Grange Kennels
Old Golfhouse, Veterinary Hospital
Orkney Islands Council
Par Air Services (Livestock) Ltd.
Passenger Shipping Association
Passports for Pets
Pembrokeshire County Council
Pet Advisory Committee
Pet Plan Group Ltd.
Portland House Veterinary Group
Public Health Laboratory Service
Public Health Medicine Environmental Group
Quarantine Abolition Fighting Fund
Quarantine Association
Quarantine Kennels Owners Association UK
RAVC, Animal Defense Support Unit
Royal College of General Practitioners
Royal College of Pathologists
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Royal Welsh Agricultural Society
Scottish Consumer Council
Scottish Landowners Federation
Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Smithkline Beecham
Smokey Klinic, Veterinary Surgery
Sociedad Protectora Para Animales De Torrevieja, Spain
Somerset County Council, Trading Standards Department
South Ayrshire Council
Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
St. Andrews Farm Kennels
Starpaws Maine Coons
Suffolk Health Authority
Summerfold Property Management
Unichem
United Kingdom Major Ports Group Ltd.
Universities Federation for Animal Welfare
University of Aberdeen
University of Bristol
University of Edinburgh
University of Glasgow
University of Liverpool
Vets in Support of Change
Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
West Pennine Health Authority
West Sussex County Council, Directorate of Property and Trading Standards
Westland Golden Retrievers
Westland Helicopters GKN
Zeneca Ltd., Central Toxicology Laboratory.
| Year | No. of domestic animals imported into quarantine (8) |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 3,274 |
| 1997 | 2,968 |
| 1998 | 2,342 |
(8) Includes all carnivores (e.g. ferrets). Figures are for Great Britain.
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