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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Meat Hygiene Service
Mrs. Fiona Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce training programmes for OVS level staff in the Meat Hygiene Service. [62783]
Mr. Rooker: Official Veterinary Surgeons (OVSs) are qualified veterinary surgeons. The veterinary undergraduate course is approximately five years and is extensive and intensive. It incorporates training in microbiology, pathology, veterinary public health and zoonotic disease. In addition, and before commencing as OVSs, veterinary surgeons are required to undertake the OVS accreditation course. This provides refresher training in meat hygiene and inspection, animal welfare and relevant legislation.
The MHS also launched its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme in April 1997 as a mechanism for addressing the training and professional development needs of OVSs. In partnership with various training providers, the MHS provides at least two days training per year to facilitate CPD to ensure that the skills and knowledge of OVSs are up to date. OVSs must undertake a minimum of a further three days CPD obtained from other sources such as the Veterinary Public Health Association/British Veterinary Association Conferences and other commercially provided CPD.
Training in enforcement, assertiveness and other management skills continues to form part of the MHS's ongoing training programme for OVSs.
Mr. Nigel Jones:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about Crown immunity in relation to the randomised badger culling trial. [67012]
Mr. Rooker:
The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 does not bind the Crown. Therefore, in the context of the trial, the licence requirements contained in the Act do not apply to the Minister. The trial is taking place with the agreement of landowners as part of a wide-ranging approach to dealing with an increasing and urgent bovine TB problem. It is being conducted by Ministry staff in designated areas in accordance with the recommendations of the Independent Scientific Group chaired by Professor Bourne, which take account of welfare concerns.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those (a) schemes and (b) initiatives which have been introduced by the public and the private sector during the last five years that have been aimed at improving quality standards in the horticulture and fruit industry. [66496]
Mr. Rooker:
The reformed fruit and vegetable regime emphasises the importance of maintaining and improving quality. Actions to achieve that objective may attract financial assistance within agreed operational programmes. We expect that such programmes will have received in total some £6.5m in the UK in respect of 1998.
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In addition, the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate continues to assist the sector to achieve the standard required by EU legislation.
I am not responsible for initiatives in the private sector, but I would commend the Assured Produce Scheme which has been set up by the National Farmers Union and which has the strong support of the multiple retailers.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many primates imported to the United Kingdom in 1998 for research purposes from (a) China, (b) Mauritius, (c) Indonesia and (d) the Philippines were (i) found to be dead on arrival and (ii) suffered serious injury during transit. [69283]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 4 February 1999]: All primates imported into the UK are required to undergo six months in quarantine. Following arrival in the quarantine premises, the Veterinary Surgeon or Medical Supervisor appointed to the premises completes reports on the health of the animals on arrival. During 1998, all primates imported from China, Mauritius and the Philippines were reported as being found healthy on arrival. There were no primates imported into the UK from Indonesia during 1998.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what action his Department has taken in the past two years when the rates of (a) food sampling and (b) food analysis by local authorities, in relation to their statutory duties on food law, have fallen; [77512]
Mr. Rooker:
Local authorities whose sampling rates fall below acceptable levels are sent a written reminder of their obligations by the Ministry. To date there have been no occasions when action has been required under section 42 of the Food Safety Act 1990.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how much money was (a) allocated to and (b) spent by each individual local authority in each of the financial years 1989-90 to 1997-98 on the sampling and analysis of food, pursuant to their statutory duty; [77499]
(3) how much was spent, in each of the financial years since 1989-90, by local authorities in relation to (i) food sampling and (ii) food analysis; [77536]
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Mr. Rooker:
Enforcement of Food Law remains with local authorities and we do not hold figures on local authority expenditure on food control centrally.
Mr. Prosser:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation requiring the master of a vessel carrying live farm animals to submit a written return on animals (a) injured and (b) dying during the voyage; and if he will make a statement. [77948]
Mr. Morley:
I have no plans to introduce such a requirement, which would seem to be of minimal value in relation to roll-on/roll-off vessels. On the other hand, a requirement on these lines may be worthy of consideration when negotiations start on the proposals for detailed rules on specialist livestock vessels which the EU Commission is currently drawing up.
Mr. Prosser:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria he applies in deciding whether to use his powers under the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 to prevent a vessel carrying live farm animals from sailing in adverse weather conditions; and if he will make a statement. [77947]
Mr. Morley:
These powers are granted by WATO 1997 to Inspectors appointed as such by the Minister or by the local authority. MAFF Inspectors have comprehensive guidance covering the use of these powers in relation to rough weather sailings. I am placing a copy in the Library.
Mr. Prosser:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons the 'Cap Afrique' was allowed to sail in adverse weather conditions with live farm animals on board on 3 March; and if he will make a statement. [77945]
Mr. Morley:
I presume my hon. Friend is referring to the voyage by the 'Cap Afrique' on 2 March. In the light of prevailing conditions, and after discussion with the master of the vessel, MAFF inspectors at the quayside were of the view that they did not have grounds for serving a notice prohibiting transport under Article 18 of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997. A MAFF veterinarian accompanied the animals on the voyage and concluded that the animals were transported in compliance with the 1997 Order. I am placing a report in the Library.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which meetings he has attended since July 1998 at which the Minister for Science was present where GM foods or crops were discussed. [73125]
Mr. Nick Brown
[holding answer 25 February 1999]: None.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to require segregation of genetically modified crops from other crops imported into the United Kingdom under the WTO rules relating to the right to protect human health and the application of the precautionary principle. [78255]
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Mr. Rooker:
All genetically modified (GM) crops which are permitted to be imported into the UK have been approved following a rigorous assessment of their safety. It is therefore not possible to require segregation under WTO rules.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the agenda for the forthcoming EC Fisheries Council of 30 March. [78395]
Mr. Morley:
The agenda for the Council is expected to cover an orientation debate on proposals for reform of fisheries structural funds; a Commission presentation of its proposals for reform of the common market organisation in fisheries products and on the listing of serious infringements of EU fisheries controls; and adoption of autonomous tariff quotas for fisheries products.
(2) if he will list the occasions on which he has taken action in respect of a local authority which failed to take sufficient or appropriate samples of food in relation to its statutory duties under food law in the last five years. [77952]
(2) how much money was spent in each year between 1989-90 and 1997-98 and in 1998-99 to date by local authorities on their statutory duties in relation to food; and what percentage this was of the total sum provided in the standard spending assessment for each of those financial years for the enforcement of the law in relation to food control; [77522]
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