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Fisheries Inspectors (EU)

Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fisheries inspectors there are in each member state of the European Union. [68591]

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Mr. Morley: Information on the number of inspectors for each Member State, based on the most recent report from the Commission on Monitoring the Common Fisheries Policy in 1995, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House, is set out:

Country	Number
Belgium	6
Denmark	143
Germany	30
Greece	172
Spain	(4)262
France	532
Ireland	18
Italy	(5)--
Netherlands	56
Portugal	12
Finland	890
Sweden	500
United Kingdom	(6)158

(4) In addition to 30 national inspectors based in Madrid this includes a further 232 inspectors who work for the autonomous regions. Since the report was published we have been informed that the number of national inspectors for Spain has increased to 53.

(5) In theory some 5,200 persons are available for inspection work as part of their duties.

(6) The UK currently has 152 inspectors.

Fisheries

Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral statement of 14 January 1999, Official Report, column 544, in what way the industry indicated its agreement not to take the full recommended allocation of cod. [69396]

Mr. Morley: The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea recommended a North Sea cod TAC of 153,000 tonnes for 1998. Following discussion with representatives of the industry, the UK supported a lower TAC of 140,000 tonnes being set in order to help the rebuilding of this stock.

Meat Hygiene Inspectors

Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the charges for inspections under meat hygiene regulations in each of the member states of the European Union in pounds sterling. [69719]

Mr. Rooker [holding answer 10 March 1999]: I am currently seeking information about the level of hygiene inspection charges levied on individual meat plants in other EU Member States. Once I have received this information, I will write to the hon. Member.

Biotechnical Industry

Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the biotechnical companies which have placed staff (a) on secondment and (b) on placement within his Department since 1 May 1997. [74842]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 5 March 1999]: Secondments and attachments are part of the Interchange Initiative which promotes the exchange of people and

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good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: Voluntary, Education, Health, Public and Private.

No biotechnical companies have placed staff (a) on secondment or (b) on placement within this Department since 1 May 1997.

Pig Industry

Mr. Sawford: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that the pig industry in other member states in the European Union is competing with the British pig industry on equal terms in respect of animal welfare. [75894]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 10 March 1999]: Pig producers in all EU member states are required to comply with the minimum welfare standards laid down in EU Directive 91/630/EEC. We will continue to press the Commission to come forward with proposals to update EU welfare standards to at least those currently applying in the UK.

Organic Aid Scheme

Mr. Letwin: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to narrow the definition of unimproved land for the purpose of calculating organic aid scheme entitlements; and what estimate he has made of the effect of such a change on the total grants payable under the organic aid scheme. [76754]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 15 March 1999]: The regulations introducing the Organic Farming Scheme were laid before the House on 11 March. The new scheme, which follows a comprehensive review, includes aid for an 'unimproved land' category. I have no immediate plans to carry out a further review of aid rates.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations Ministers in his Department have received on genetically modified organisms and the biotechnology industry from the US Government. [72760]

Mr. Rooker [holding answer 1 March 1999]: Genetically modified organisms and the biotechnology industry have been discussed on three occasions by Ministers in this Department and representatives of the US Government since May 1997. These discussions took place during meetings between my right hon. Friend the previous Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the US Ambassador to London on 26 November 1997; and between my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and (a) the US Trade Representative, Ambassador Barshefsky, on 23 October 1998 and (b) Mr. Dan Glickman, the US Agriculture Secretary, on 22 January 1999.

TREASURY

Green-field Development

Mr. Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce a tax on the development of green-field land. [68800]

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Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 9 February 1999]: The Government keep under review the scope for using economic instruments to complement the planning system.

Customs and Excise (Plymouth)

Mr. Breed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise units in Plymouth. [75515]

Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 10 March 1999]: Plymouth is a strategic base for Customs work to tackle smuggling and there are currently no plans to change that position.

Mr. Breed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made on the financial saving arising from the closure of the Drug Dog Unit and the Customs Intelligence Unit in Plymouth. [75514]

Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 10 March 1999]: The Customs Drug Dog Unit in Plymouth is still operational. Customs managers in the South West are currently reviewing the position and a number of options is currently being considered. No final decision has yet been taken.

Tobacco Sales (Belgium)

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with tobacco warehouse owners in Belgium about sales to United Kingdom customers; and if he will make a statement. [R] [73283]

Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 26 February 1999]: None.

Select Committee Reports

Mr. Maclean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if (a) he, (b) civil servants in his Department or (c) special advisers in his Department have (i) had sight of drafts of Select Committee reports, in whole or in part, or (ii) been informed of conclusions of select committee reports prior to their publication by the select committees. [75867]

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he or any of his Ministers or his Department's Parliamentary Private Secretaries, advisers or civil servants discussed the contents of the Social Security Committee's report on Child Benefit with any members of the Committee prior to publication of the report; [76079]

(2) if he or any of his Ministers or his Department's parliamentary Private Secretaries, advisers or civil servants received copies of the Social Security Committee's report on Child Benefit prior to its publication; [76077]

(3) if he or any of his Ministers or his Department's parliamentary Private Secretaries, advisers or civil servants received any copies of a draft report of the Social Security Committee on Child Benefit. [76078]

Mr. Gordon Brown [holding answers 10 and 11 March 1999]: Most of the Treasury's business is dealt with by the Treasury Select Committee, and Treasury Ministers have given evidence to the Committee on

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several occasions. I have also given oral evidence to the International Development Committee and to the House of Lords Committees on European Legislation and on the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England. Neither I nor any other Treasury Minister have seen copies or drafts of any report prepared by these Committees prior to their release.

Because the Social Security Committee normally deals with the work of DSS, there have been informal discussions between the Treasury and the Committee on how co-operation can best be achieved. The Committee has been anxious to work with the Treasury in two areas: integration of tax and benefits, and child benefit. To discuss tax and benefits, Treasury and Inland Revenue officials have given oral evidence to the Committee. There was also an informal meeting at 11 Downing Street between the whole Committee and myself. More recently, there have been discussions about how best the Treasury can assist the work of the Committee in matters related to the taxation of child benefit. One issue has been detailed questions about the practicalities of implementing arrangements for taxing child benefit. I have talked to the Chairman of the Committee about Treasury officials and Ministers giving evidence; and Treasury and Inland Revenue officials gave evidence on 24 February 1999. It was agreed that, if requested, a Treasury Minister would appear before the Committee following the Budget. A preliminary draft of a report was given to my Parliamentary Private Secretary, but not the final report. Neither I nor any other Treasury Minister was given or read any copy of reports, draft or otherwise, prior to their release.

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