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Sheep Exports
Mr. Prosser: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion by value of the UK's sheep exports are in the form of meat and carcases; and if he will make a statement. [74320]
Mr. Rooker: It is estimated that in the year ending 30 September 1998, UK exports of sheep carcase meat represented 74 per cent. of total sheep exports by value. This figure, however, is distorted by the inclusion of exports of live sheep from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland. The comparable figure for all other destinations is estimated to be 90 per cent.
Exchange Rates
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to his answer of 22 February 1999, Official Report, column 188, on exchange rates, what form compensation will take for market support payments adversely affected by a decline in the euro; and what will be the source of such compensation. [74317]
Mr. Rooker: The new agri-monetary regulations for market support payments are of two kinds.
The first is a one-off arrangement to deal with the effects of the ending of the green rates on 1 January 1999. Compensation is payable only if the rate on 1 January
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1999 was less favourable than the rates applying over the two previous years. This was not the case in the UK, so no compensation is payable.
The second deals with appreciable revaluations in the Pre-Ins currencies occurring after 1 January 1999 and before January 2002. Compensation would apply to the amount of the revaluation exceeding 2.6 per cent. The Member State and the European Union would each pay 50 per cent. of this compensation. It is too soon to say whether the UK would be eligible for such compensation.
Even if the possibility of compensation exists, payment remains optional for Member States; the EU contribution would be made only if the Member State paid its half. Decisions on paying compensation will need to take account of circumstances prevailing at the time, including the effects on the national contribution of the UK budget abatement.
Mr. Moss:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many businesses in North-East Cambridgeshire were assessed by the Government to be exceptionally vulnerable to the effects of the proposed levy to fund the Food Standards Agency. [73932]
Mr. Rooker:
The purpose of the current public consultation exercise is to elicit views on, among other things, the implications of the proposed levy for food businesses. My officials are also holding direct discussions with small business representatives on the proposals. We will consider carefully the likely effects of the levy on businesses in the light of the responses we receive.
Mr. Moss:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many businesses in North-East Cambridgeshire will be liable for the proposed Food Standards Agency levy, broken down by businesses employing (a) under 10 people, (b) 11 to 50 people, (c) 51 to 100 people and (d) over 101 people. [73930]
Mr. Rooker:
This information is not available for the categories and area requested. The proposed levy applies to food retail and catering premises that are required to register with the local authority under the Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991, except for those on which the only food sales are wrapped confectionery, soft drinks, crisps and similar wrapped products. Each local authority is required to maintain a register of food premises in their area, covering the name, address and nature of the business, but excluding details of the number of employees. The registers are open to inspection by the public.
Mr. Moss:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the percentage of the money collected in North-East Cambridgeshire from the proposed levy to fund the Food Standards Agency will come from small businesses. [73931]
Mr. Rooker:
This information is not available. The answer would in any case depend upon how one defined small businesses.
Mr. Moss:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the number of businesses in North-East Cambridgeshire which will come under regulatory control of the proposed Food
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Standards Agency, broken down into those which employ (a) under 10, (b) 11 to 50, (c) 51 to 100 and (d) over 101 people. [73945]
Mr. Rooker:
Data on businesses are not collected for the categories and area requested. Regulatory control over most food businesses at the local level, will generally remain the responsibility of local enforcement authorities.
Mr. Moss:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the proposed levy to fund the Food Standards Agency will apply to food vendors at local markets. [73933]
Mr. Rooker:
It is proposed that the levy will apply to food retail and catering premises that are required to be registered with the local authority under the terms of the Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991 (except for premises on which the only food sales are wrapped confectionery, soft drinks, crisps and similar wrapped products). This will include some food vendors at local markets.
Mr. Marshall-Andrews:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what further budget review for the Millennium Experience he has received since October 1998; and if he will place a copy in the Library; [74904]
(3) what plans he has to advance further public finance, whether from Government or the Millennium Commission, to the Millennium Experience (a) as predicted in section six of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the Account of the Millennium Commission for 1997-98: Financial Control of Expenditure relating to the Millennium Experience (HC 1128) and (b) otherwise; [74986]
(4) what steps have been taken by himself or his Department in response to paragraph 6 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the Accounts of the Millennium Commission for 1997-98: Financial Control of Expenditure relating to the Millennium Experience (HC 1128) to identify the potential source of supplementary finance. [74985]
Janet Anderson:
The decision to proceed with the Millennium Experience was made on the basis of five key commitments, one of which was that it must not result in any extra burden on the public purse. That remains the Government's position.
The Millennium Commission's accounts cover the period to 31 March 1998. Since then, the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) costs have remained within budget and the Company has announced that £142 million of sponsorship has been achieved--nearly 95 per cent. of its target and the largest amount of sponsorship ever raised for any single event. The
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Comptroller and Auditor General's Report did not suggest that the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) would not raise the money needed and did not qualify the Accounts in any way.
As a matter of normal business practice and commercial prudence, the NMEC itself undertakes regular, planned reviews of its budget. Under the terms of the Millennium Commission's grant, the NMEC consults the Commission on the outcome of these reviews. The Commission has endorsed the NMEC's budget and the NMEC's approach to its reviews. The NMEC and the Millennium Commission's budget documents and business plans are commercially confidential.
The NMEC is required to meet all the normal requirements that are placed on a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) including the publication of its Annual Report and audited Accounts. The NMEC Accounts for 12 February 1997 to 31 March 1998 were laid before Parliament in July 1998 and the Company will be publishing its next Report and Accounts this summer.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the subject areas within his Department's responsibilities which will be covered by the information campaign on Britain's membership of a single currency. [73670]
Janet Anderson:
The Treasury will continue its dialogue with key external bodies to determine what information the public and business would need at each stage of the changeover process. Any information campaign would cover key concerns that the public and business may have. Chapter eight of the Treasury's "Outline National Changeover Plan" provides further information. Copies of the plan are available in the House Library.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to issue information from his Department to help the public make an informed decision when they vote on the single currency. [73586]
Janet Anderson:
Any plans by the Government to issue information during a referendum campaign on whether or not the UK should join the single currency would be made in light of the Government's response to the recommendations from the Neill Committee on the conduct of referendums. The Government will announce their conclusions on those recommendations when my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary publishes a White Paper and draft Bill before the summer recess.
(2) if he will make a statement on the matters raised in paragraph 6 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the accounts of the Millennium Commission for 1997-98; Financial Control of Expenditure, relating to the Millennium Experience (HC 1128); [74905]
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