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Rainsford School, Chelmsford

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 5 March 1999, Official Report, column 951, on Rainsford School, Chelmsford, when he expects to reach a decision on the appeal from Rainsford School, Chelmsford against the direction made by Essex County Council to admit a pupil, whose name has been sent to him, to that school. [81069]

Ms Estelle Morris: We asked Essex Local Education Authority to provide details on this pupil and their handling of the direction process, along with full information about alternative local schools, by Monday 15 March. The information requested was necessarily full and complex, and Essex LEA were not in a position to respond before Monday 12 April. Officials are now giving urgent consideration to the material provided to enable my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to make a decision as soon as possible.

19 Apr 1999 : Column: 445

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what guidance he has given to the Ad Hoc Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals on those sections of the Agriculture Committee's Fifth report of Session 1997-98 (HC 753) on Vitamin B6 which deal with the distinction between good and bad science; [80637]

Mr. Rooker [holding answer 13 April 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South East (Dr. Iddon) on 15 April 1999, Official Report, column 320.

Government-funded Research

Ms Drown: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much the Government spent in 1998-99 on research into (a) organic farming and (b) biotechnology. [80791]

Mr. Rooker: In 1998-99 the Government spent (a) £1.7 million on research into organic farming and (b) £52 million on agricultural biotechnology research. "Biotechnology" is defined by Government as the use of biological organisms, systems and processes to manufacturing and service industries.

Meat Hygiene Service

Mr. Tyler: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the proposed Meat Hygiene Service charges; which organisations have expressed concern about their impact; and if he will make a statement. [81366]

Mr. Rooker: I have received a great many representations from within and outside of the meat industry on the proposed level of Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) charges for 1999-2000. The level of MHS charges to apply in 1999-2000 for hygiene/welfare inspection and for the enforcement of Specified Risk Material controls has yet to be decided. Ministers are still carefully considering proposals made by the MHS to ensure that they are fully cost justified. They will then be subject to full consultation with all plant operators. The results of the consultation will be reported back to Ministers who will then take final decisions on the level of rates to apply and their operative date.

Suckler Cow Quota

Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria are used to award suckler cow quota to (a) new entrants to suckler production, (b) existing producers wanting extra quota and (c) dairy farmers seeking to convert to suckler production; and what rules exist regarding minimum and maximum amounts which may be awarded. [81373]

19 Apr 1999 : Column: 446

Mr. Rooker: Producers who meet strictly defined criteria may apply to the appropriate category of the Suckler Cow Quota national reserve for a quota allocation. Some of the categories cover new entrants and other existing producers wanting extra quota. There is no category which specifically covers dairy farmers seeking to convert to suckler production, although such producers may qualify under a category for first-time claimants. In addition, both new and existing producers are free to buy or lease quota from other producers.

The maximum amount of quota which may be allocated varies depending on the category applied to, the circumstances of the applicant and the availability of quota in the reserve. There are no rules governing the minimum amounts which may be allocated to a producer, but it is not possible to allocate less than 0.1 of a quota.

Further information is contained in the documents "Explanatory Guide to Suckler Cow Premium Scheme Quotas" and "Application for Quota from the National Reserve" which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Minister for Science

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which companies the Minister for Science has met (a) in his Department and (b) elsewhere since becoming a Minister to discuss genetically modified foods. [70440]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 11 February 1999]: In his capacity as Science Minister my noble Friend has met many companies inside and outside the Department. None of these meetings has specifically discussed genetically modified food policy.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if the Minister for Science has left the room on each occasion that genetically modified foods and crops have been discussed at meetings since his appointment; [73127]

19 Apr 1999 : Column: 447

Mr. Byers [holding answer 25 February 1999]: I refer the right hon. Member to the statements made by my noble Friend Lord Sainsbury on 31 July 1998 and 16 February 1999, copies of which I have placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place the itinerary for the Minister for Science's visit to China and Korea in the Library; if he will list the (i) universities, (ii) scientific institutions, (iii) laboratories and (iv) companies which he visited; and what was the cost of the visit. [73021]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 25 February 1999]: My Noble Friend Lord Sainsbury visited Korea from 12-16 September 1998 and China from 16-18 September. The cost of his visit was £6,570.

In Korea, Lord Sainsbury co-chaired the Third UK-Korea Science and Technology Round-table with Minister Kang of the Ministry of Science and Technology. He held discussions with Minister Bae of the Ministry for Information and Communications and also with Kim Tae-dong the Presidential Secretary for Policy and Planning and with Chung Se-yung, Honorary Chairman of Hyundai Motors. In addition, Lord Sainsbury opened a seminar on Technology Transfer and Innovation in UK industry, attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Korean Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, and made visits to the LG Corporate Institute of Technology, the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology and to Yonsei University.

In China, Lord Sainsbury held discussions and signed a new Protocol on Scientific and Technological co-operation between the UK and China with Vice Minister Xu Guanhua of the Ministry of Science and Technology. He also signed a DTI/MOFTEC Memorandum of Understanding on Cleaner Coal Technology Research and Development with Vice Minister Long Yongtu and attended the signing of a co-operation agreement between the Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Chinese Mechanical Engineers Society. In addition, Lord Sainsbury spoke at a China-UK Technology Foresight Colloqium and at a seminar at Tsinghua University to launch co-operation on micro- satellites between the Surrey and Tsinghua Universities. He opened a Renewable Energy Seminar sponsored by DTI and the State Economic and Trade Commission; and launched the Sino-British Science and Technology Festival in the presence of Vice Minister Xu.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions since becoming a Minister, the Minister for Science has in his official capacity met (a) Judith Portrait and (b) Christopher Skie. [74222]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 2 March 1999]: None.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times the Minister for Science has met Mr. Christopher Stone, Director of Floranova, Innotech Investments and Gatsby Plant Science Innovations Ltd., since becoming a Minister. [75708]

Mr. Byers: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave on 18 March 1999, Official Report, column 712.

19 Apr 1999 : Column: 448

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if any company, foundation or trust with which Lord Sainsbury is, or has formerly been, associated is planning to be involved in the commercial exploiting of genome research. [76076]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 11 March 1999]: All Lord Sainsbury's commercial interests were placed in the blind trust established when he was appointed as Minister for Science.

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements Lord Sainsbury has made to insulate himself from his former interests in the Gatsby Foundation. [76074]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 11 March 1999]: My noble Friend Lord Sainsbury has no financial interest in the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, which is a registered charity. He wrote to the trustees on 31 July asking them not to divulge to him any information about the Foundation's investments while he is in Government. He has chosen to take no part in the Foundation's grant decisions in this period.

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Lord Sainsbury participates in discussions in the Cabinet Committee on Biotechnology in respect of the Human Genome Project. [76073]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 11 March 1999]: He does.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Minister for Science discussed biotechnology issues with Mr. Christopher Stone in his capacity as a board member of the Gatsby Trust. [78590]

Mr. Byers: No such discussions have taken place.

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