| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Date Based Export Scheme
Dr. Strang: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made in implementing the Date Based Export Scheme. [67817]
Mr. Rooker: We are currently considering the responses to the consultation on the Date Based Export Scheme (DBES) and making the necessary arrangements for the scheme to operate. I expect to lay the legislation necessary to implement the DBES later this month. However, the EC Commission need to carry out an inspection, report and set a date on which exports may resume.
Welsh and English Lamb
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to seek protection for (a) Welsh and (b) English lamb under European Union law relating to food labelling requirements. [68595]
Mr. Rooker: EC legislation on the protection of food names enables products from particular regions, with a specific quality or characteristic attributable to that region, to be protected against imitators. An application to protect "Welsh lamb" has been submitted to the European Commission for approval. Cases are being developed to protect lamb from a number of specific regions of England.
As I have already announced to the House, we will shortly be implementing the recommendation of the
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 771
Review of the Organic Aid Scheme that rates of aid for farmers converting to organic farming should be substantially increased.
Mr. David Taylor:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conversion payments have been made by region in each of the last five financial years to encourage farmers to switch to organic production; and if he will make a statement about the Organic Aid Scheme. [67711]
Mr. Morley:
The Organic Aid Scheme was not in operation during the financial year 1993-94. Expenditure under the scheme in subsequent financial years, by region, is as follows:
| Total amount paid | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 (21) |
| Carlisle | -- | 7,975 | 11,594 | 12,383 | 6,719 |
| Northallerton | -- | 0 | 7,919 | 7,763 | 7,225 |
| Crewe | -- | 4,011 | 6,556 | 15,892 | 11,267 |
| Worcester | -- | 69,831 | 110,217 | 97,617 | 87,396 |
| Nottingham | -- | 16,229 | 20,063 | 21,532 | 32,963 |
| Cambridge | -- | 7,459 | 17,975 | 46,855 | 43,100 |
| Reading | -- | 32,427 | 71,253 | 124,722 | 123,256 |
| Bristol | -- | 62,822 | 85,902 | 139,903 | 152,535 |
| Exeter | -- | 39,264 | 42,840 | 105,667 | 99,088 |
| Total | (22)-- | 240,018 | 374,319 | 572,334 | 563,549 |
(21) To end October 1998
(22) No significant expenditure
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02. [68400]
Mr. Morley: In answer to parts (a) and (d) of the question, I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Ms Keeble) on 27 October 1998, Official Report, columns 156-58. With the exception of work on food safety and standards, which will transfer to the proposed Food Standards Agency, MAFF is not proposing to transfer any responsibilities to another Department or to an executive agency.
PRIME MINISTER
Mr. Ewen Cameron
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions since May 1997 he has met Mr. Ewen Cameron, and if he will make a statement on the matters discussed. [69341]
The Prime Minister:
As under previous administrations, it is not the normal practice to provide details of private meetings with specific individuals or organisations.
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 772
Head Lice
Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 1999, Official Report, column 242, on head lice, what help is available to parents on low incomes for the purchase of head lice treatments. [68926]
Ms Jowell: All medication, which includes treatment for head lice, is available free of charge, on prescription to children aged 0-16 and to those aged 16-18 who are in full-time education.
Prescribed medication is available free through the extensive charge exemption and remission arrangements which include those on low incomes. Details are in leaflet Health Circular 11, "Are you entitled to help with health costs", copies of which are available in the Library.
Aricept
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which area health authorities in England and Wales fund the prescription of the drug Aricept to treat Alzheimer's Disease. [68919]
Mr. Denham: Donepezil Hydrochloride (Aricept) was prescribed on the National Health Service in all health authorities in England over the period October 1997 to September 1998. Questions relating to Wales are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
Health Authority Wages
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 1999, Official Report, columns 324-26, on average wages, if he will list the source data used. [68963]
Mr. Denham: The table gives average wages for the 78 New Earnings Survey areas. In my answer of 28 January 1999, Official Report, columns 324-26, the figures for Brent and Harrow and Bedfordshire should have read £388.73 and £364.66 respectively.
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 773
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |