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EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Disabled Employees
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for setting a target for employers to take on a specific percentage of disabled employees. [86626]
Ms Hodge: We have no plans to introduce such a target for employers. The 3 per cent. quota scheme, established under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944, was appropriate before there was any specific legislation to give disabled people individual rights not be discriminated against in employment. Under Part II of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 disabled people can now seek redress through Employment Tribunals if they believe they have been discriminated against at work.
We are raising awareness of these rights through our current National Disability Campaign, which was launched on 9 June 1999 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment. The Campaign aims to encourage more understanding of the barriers and discrimination that disabled people face, highlighting that costs can be low and benefits high when employing disabled people. We believe that these measures, along with the proposed establishment of a Disability Rights Commission, will help improve employment opportunities for disabled people.
Women's Organisations (Consultation)
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by his Department during this session; and if their responses have been published. [87186]
Ms Hodge:
The Government are committed to making sure that policies are inclusive and take full account of the needs and experience of all those affected by them. Guidelines on Policy Appraisals for Equal Treatment in November 1998 commit policy makers to assessing how proposals affect different groups of people. Application of the guidance has been the responsibility of individual Departments. Within this Department we are making use of consultation, research projects and disaggregated statistics to identify the impact of policy upon women.
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The Government's proposals for a Disability Rights Commission, the Bill to establish which is currently before this House, have been influenced directly by the views of the Equal Opportunities Commission. They have also been the subject of extensive public consultation. Over 7,000 copies of the White Paper "Promoting disabled people's rights" were issued, including to a number of women's organisations. Five national consultation conferences on the White Paper were held in September and October 1998. An analysis of responses to the White Paper has been placed in the Library.
Ethical Investment Policy
40. Mr. Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what account the ethical investment working group takes of scripture in reviewing the commissioners' ethical investment policy. [86570]
Mr. Stuart Bell: The commissioners' ethical investment policy is exercised in the context of their duty to manage their inherited assets to provide financial support for the clergy of the Church of England, especially in area of need and opportunity.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Agriculture Council
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the latest agenda of the Agriculture Council of 14 to 15 June, prior to the meeting. [86831]
Mr. Nick Brown: The Agenda for the June Agriculture Council covers the following items:
Approval of the list of "A" Items
Contamination of certain foodstuffs by Dioxins--Information by the Commission
Commission proposals on the prices for agricultural products (1999/2000)
Proposal for a Council Regulation supplementing, in respect of livestock production, Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs
Proposal for a Council Directive laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens kept in various systems of rearing
Commission Communication to the Council on Bananas
Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) No 2377/90 laying down a Community procedure for the establishment of maximum residue limits of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin.
Pet Transport Regulations
Mr. Wyatt:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on (a) the new vaccination and identification systems and (b) the process for approving the laboratories in the EU, which will be necessary before the introduction of the new pet transport regulations. [86239]
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Mr. Rooker:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice) on 15 June 1999, Official Report, column 120.
Sir John Stanley:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his assessment is of the consequences of a ban for the time being on the placing of genetically modified seed varieties on the National Seed List. [87022]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 16 June 1999]: The purpose of the National List system is to establish that varieties of agricultural seeds, which are proposed for addition to the List, are distinct, uniform and stable as well as showing an improvement in agronomic performance over varieties already on the List.
The Government's policy is not to accept entry of any genetically modified variety on to the National List unless it has obtained the necessary clearances under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and regulations made under it, relating to environmental and safety aspects. It would, however, be outside the scope of the National List system to introduce a general ban on the addition of genetically modified varieties.
Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he will take to publish as early as possible the results of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission inquiry into the selling of raw milk in Great Britain. [86699]
Mr. Rooker:
The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry alone is responsible for deciding when the MMC report should be published and what the Government's response to any recommendations should be. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) on 6 May 1999, Official Report, column 1069.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies have been undertaken into the possible effects of antibiotic resistance gene markers retained in foods produced by the genetic modification of crops on (a) humans and (b) animals; and if he will make a statement. [86315]
Mr. Rooker:
As well as its two reports on the use of antibiotic resistance markers (ARMs) in foods (published in 1994 and 1996), as part of its rigorous assessment of individual GM foods, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) always looks very carefully at the use of ARMs. It recommends against approval in those circumstances where it considers that there is a theoretical finite risk that their use might give rise to an increase in resistance against clinically important antibiotics. Studies are currently in progress to try to ascertain the exact size of such a risk, although this is expected to be very small.
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Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many (a) cereal, (b) sheep, (c) beef and (d) other livestock producers have gone out of business since 1 May 1997. [86473]
Mr. Rooker:
The information requested is not available. Figures are published in the Digest of Agricultural Census Statistics on the number of holdings undertaking various types of farming. Holdings can continue with the same activities even though they change ownership and conversely can change their activities while continuing in the same farming business.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pig farmers have gone out of business in the United Kingdom since 1 May 1997. [86474]
Mr. Rooker:
Information in the form requested is not available. The available information relates to the number of main holdings with pigs at the June agricultural census, which were estimated to be 14,243 at June 1997 and 14,278 at June 1998. Results from the 1999 June census are not yet available. Holdings can continue with the same activities even though they change ownership and conversely can change their activities while continuing in the same farming business.
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