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National Minimum Wage

Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people in his Department and its associated bodies and agencies have benefited from the introduction of a national minimum wage. [86095]

Mr. Morley: The introduction of a national minimum wage on 1 April 1999, benefited 569 permanent and 263 casual staff in clerical, typing and support grades in my Department. I have asked Chief Executives of my Department's agencies to reply separately with information on their staff.

Letter from Dr. J. M. Rutter to Mr. Ted Rowlands, dated 14 June 1999:



    All staff at the VMD were paid above the national minimum wage on 1 April 1999 and its introduction had no effect.

Letter from Professor P. I. Stanley to Mr. Ted Rowlands, dated 14 June 1999:



    I can confirm that one member of staff in CSL benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage.

Letter from Johnston McNeill to Mr. Ted Rowlands, dated 14 June 1999:



    All MHS staff were on salaries above the national minimum wage prior to its introduction on 1 April 1999. No MHS staff therefore benefited from its introduction.

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Letter from P. W. Greig-Smith to Mr. Ted Rowlands, dated 14 June 1999:



    I can advise you that seven Administrative Assistants benefited from the national minimum wage introduction.


Letter from T. W. A. Little to Mr. Ted Rowlands, dated 14 June 1999:



    All staff in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) were in receipt of a full-time equivalent salary higher than the National Minimum Wage (NMW) before it was introduced. There were, therefore, no staff who benefited from the introduction of NMW at VLA.


Letter from Sarah Nason to Mr. Ted Rowlands, dated 14 June 1999:



    The introduction of a national minimum wage on 1 April 1999 benefited one member of staff (a sandwich course student) in FRCA.


Letter from G. K. Bruce to Mr. Ted Rowlands, dated 14 June 1999:



    I can confirm that 22 staff in PSD benefited from the introduction of the National Minimum Wage.

Cattle Movement Service

Mr. Sawford: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the total costs of the introduction of the British Cattle Movement Service. [85771]

Mr. Rooker: The cost of setting up the BCMS is provisionally estimated at £21.4 million. The total set up costs have been offset by receipts in EC aid and VAT recovery of around £4.2 million.

Cattle (Ear Tagging)

Mr. Woolas: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to propose changes to EU Regulation 820/97 regarding ear tagging of cattle. [85777]

Mr. Rooker: It would be for the European Commission, not the UK, to make formal proposals to change the European legislation on cattle identification (Council Regulation 820/97). I am aware that some--but not all--farmers are suffering high loss rates of plastic cattle eartags. My Department is looking into why this is the case. Such plastic eartags, although relatively new for the UK, have been in use for some time in other European countries.

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Genetically Modified Foods

Mr. Steen: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tests have been conducted in the UK on genetically modified (a) soya, (b) maize and (c) tomatoes; when they were held; by whom were they conducted; where they were held; if any were carried out on mammals; and in which scientific journal the results were published. [86422]

Mr. Rooker: Genetically modified (GM) soya, maize and tomatoes were rigorously assessed for safety by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) under a voluntary scheme, which was in operation prior to the introduction of the Novel Food Regulations in May 1997. The safety assessment for GM soya was conducted in 1994; GM maize was assessed in 1995, 1996 and 1997; and GM tomatoes in 1994, 1995 and 1997. Equivalent bodies in other member states have also assessed these foods.

All the data used in these assessments have been deposited in the British Library and the relevant information to enable this to be consulted together with details of the safety assessments are contained in the respective ACNFP annual reports, copies of which can be found in the Library of the House. In addition, details of the regime operating at that time are contained in the ACNFP Annual Report for 1994. We have no information concerning other places where the data may also be found.

The ACNFP conducts the safety assessment of all novel foods on a case-by-case basis. The Committee require mammalian tests where it judges this is necessary to establish the safety of a particular food. In this context, tests on mammals were reviewed by the ACNFP as part of the safety assessment for GM maize and soya.

Since May 1997, all novel food assessments have been carried out by the ACNFP in accordance with guidance produced by the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Food, which applies to all member states. A copy of this guidance, which does not differ in any significant way from the regime operated under the voluntary scheme, may also be found in the Library of the House.

Mr. Steen: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that all members of the EU are constrained by the same rules and regulations as those in the UK with regard to testing of genetically modified foods. [86423]

Mr. Rooker: All member states are subject to the EC Novel Foods Regulation and are required to conduct safety assessments of all novel, including genetically modified, foods in accordance with the guidance produced by the European Commission's Scientific Committee for Food that supplements this regulation.

Milk (Health Effects)

Mr. Steen: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set up an inquiry into the possible link between the growth factor IGF-1 in milk and breast cancer and prostate and colon cancer; and if he will make a statement. [86424]

Mr. Rooker: A Working Group of the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) has considered human and animal safety aspects of the use of recombinant bovine

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somatotropin in dairy cows, including the effects of IGF-1. The Group has completed its task and is reporting its findings to the VPC. The VPC will advise Ministers when it has considered the report and it is our intention to publish the VPC's advice.

Mr. Steen: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has conducted into the effects on human health of using genetically engineered growth hormones to stimulate the production of milk. [86484]

Mr. Rooker: An applicant wishing to obtain authorisation to market such a product must satisfy statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy under veterinary medicines legislation. It is for the applicant to provide the necessary research data to meet these requirements. There is a moratorium in the European Union on the use of recombinant bovine somatotropin (BST), which is to be reconsidered by the end of this year. The moratorium allows member states to carry out limited practical tests to obtain any further scientific data that might be taken into account by the Council of Ministers when taking a final decision. No such tests have been conducted in the UK.

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