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Ministerial Responsibilities
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the division of responsibilities between (a) the Minister for the Cabinet Office and (b) the Secretary to the Cabinet. [69492]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 8 February 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office assists me and Ministerial colleagues in the implementation and co-ordination of Government policy and its effective presentation. He is responsible for co-ordinating the Government's policies against drug misuse; for discharging, on a day-to-day basis, my responsibilities as Minister for the Civil Service; and for delivering the Modernising Government agenda. He oversees the work of the five Cabinet Office Agencies and the Central Office of Information. As Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, he is responsible to Her Majesty the Queen for the general administration of the Duchy.
As under previous Governments, the Secretary of the Cabinet is principal official adviser to the Prime Minister, and supervises official support for the collective decision-making process. He is also Head of the Home Civil Service.
Former Soviet Union (Nuclear Reactors)
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister what assistance the Government are giving to former Soviet Union countries to ensure that their nuclear reactors are millennium compliant. [69789]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 9 February 1999]: Last year, the Department of Trade and Industry commissioned a report specifically with a view to helping Central and Eastern European and former Soviet Union countries achieve millennium compliance in their civil nuclear power reactors. That report, entitled The Millennium Problem--Raising the Awareness of Nuclear Power Station Operators and Regulatory Authorities in Central and Eastern Europe, was translated into Russian and distributed to every nuclear plant and regulatory authority in the region. In addition the DTI has, so far, offered £62,000 towards the International Atomic Energy Agency's extra budgetary activities this year specifically pursuing the international effort to assist the countries concerned in their efforts to avoid Year 2000 problems and to carry out contingency planning.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Risk Material Controls
Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to pass on the costs of specified risk material controls to producers. [68737]
Mr. Rooker:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Blizzard) on 14 January 1999, Official Report, column 291. The charges would be levied at slaughterhouses and cutting plants. The extent to which
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these costs are passed on to primary producers is a commercial matter for the industry. The industry already bears the cost of removal and disposal of Specified Risk Material. We see no reason why the tax payer should bear the cost of enforcing these activities.
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research the Government have commissioned into genetically modified grasses to be used for animal grazing; when the research will be completed; and if the results will be made public. [68772]
Mr. Rooker:
The Ministry has not commissioned any research into the production of genetically modified grasses to be used for grazing. However, the Ministry has commissioned a desk study to assess the possible implications for agriculture should genetically modified grasses and legumes be introduced. The work is due to be completed in July 1999 and we would hope to make the final report available soon afterwards.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for a levy to fund the Food Standards Agency from chain stores or stores over 10,000 sq ft. [69150]
Mr. Rooker:
The proposals that we published for consultation on 27 January envisage a levy that would apply to all food retail and catering premises required to register under the Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991 (as amended), with the exception of premises dealing in wrapped confectionery, soft drinks, crisps and similar wrapped products. While chain stores and stores over 10,000 sq ft. that fall within this definition would be liable for payment, the proposals do not contain any specific provisions relating to these types of premises.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the UK contribution in the current financial year to the FEOGA budget. [69323]
Mr. Rooker:
The UK contributes to the EU budget as a whole and not to one particular part. For the 1999 EU Budget, the UK's gross financing share before abatement is 18.15 per cent. FEOGA accounts for around 47 per cent. of the 1999 EC Budget. Of the FEOGA budget, just over 2 per cent. is spent on tobacco regime.
Jackie Ballard:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the basis for calculating the price to be charged to bed and breakfast outlets for testing green top milk; [70262]
Mr. Rooker:
The objective is to recover the full cost of carrying out this statutory microbiological sample testing work. The charges are expected to cover the costs of
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obtaining representative samples, laboratory analysis, IT and administration including invoicing and any debt recovery.
I have not received any representations about the impact of charging on bed and breakfast outlets.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of farmers have become bankrupt in each of the past five years. [69309]
Mr. Rooker:
The table sets out the number of bankruptcies in the agricultural and horticultural sectors in England and Wales between 1993 and 1998. During this period the total number of farmers, partners and directors in England and Wales has been in excess of 200,000. In each of these years therefore bankruptcies represented less than ½ per cent. of this total.
(2) what representations he has received on the impact of the cost of testing green top milk on small bed and breakfast outlets. [70263]
| Year | Bankruptcies of self-employed individuals | Company (9) Insolvencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 277 | 157 | 434 |
| 1994 | 231 | 166 | 397 |
| 1995 | 218 | 99 | 317 |
| 1996 | 168 | 89 | 257 |
| 1997 | 155 | 51 | 206 |
| 1997(10) (January to June) | 88 | 23 | 111 |
| 1998 (January to June) | 71 | 30 | 101 |
(9) Including partnerships
(10) Last 6 months figures unavailable for 1998. For comparison purposes half yearly figures for 1997 have also been provided
Source:
Department of Trade and Industry
Honeybees
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ban the import of honeybees of the Italian sub-species, apis mellifera ligustica. [69488]
Mr. Rooker [holding answer 8 February 1999]: No. Apis mellifera ligustica is one of the most successful and commonly used honey bee strains in the commercial honey producing world. Since 1955, and probably earlier, thousands of consignments of ligustica have been imported by beekeepers into the UK each year.
Abattoirs
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the impact on small abattoirs of the increased charges for specified risk material audit; and if he will make a statement. [70260]
Mr. Rooker:
A number of representations have been received in response to the consultation document which was issued on 14 January. Final decisions on the proposed arrangements for recovering from industry the cost of enforcement by the Meat Hygiene Service of the controls on specified risk material will be taken once the consultation period ends on 12 February.
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Copies of all the responses received will be available for public scrutiny in the main MAFF Library in Whitehall Place in due course, as is our normal practice.
Mr. David Atkinson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent public consultation on quarantine reform; what changes he proposes; and when they will be introduced. [69373]
Mr. Rooker:
We are considering the results of the public consultation on the recommendations made by the Kennedy Group. There has been a large number of replies (more than 3,700).
Mr. Gill:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much the cost of meat inspection was increased in each 12 month period since the Meat Hygiene Service became operational; and what estimate he has made of cost to the industry for 1999. [68127]
Mr. Rooker:
The total cost of the Meat Hygiene Service to the industry since the launch of the Agency in April 1995 has been:
| Year | Cost (£ million) | Percentage increase/decrease |
|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | (11)28.9 | -- |
| 1996-97 | 26.0 | 11% decrease |
| 1997-98 | 29.8 | 15% increase |
| 1998-99(12) | 33.1 | 11% increase |
(11) The total cost of the MHS in 1995-96 was £31.4 million. However, £2.5 million concerned transitional relief funded by government for the set up of the new Agency.
(12) Latest forecast
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