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Equal Opportunities
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if an action plan for increasing the representation of women in public life has been (a) prepared by his Department and (b) published since November 1998. [94856]
Mr. Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 October 1999, Official Report, column 682.
Fisheries (Grant Aid)
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of his decision to cut fisheries grant aid on inbound fisheries with particular reference to (a) salmon in the Test and Itchen and (b) sea trout in rivers in the south. [94897]
Mr. Morley: The planned reduction in grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency to fund its work on salmon and freshwater fisheries in England will come into effect in 2001-02. It will be for the Environment Agency to determine its spending priorities for that year in the light of the fall in grant-in-aid. Until it has done this it is not possible to assess the impact of the reduction on individual rivers.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review his decision to cut fisheries grant aid; and if he will make a statement. [94896]
Mr. Morley:
The planned reduction in grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency to fund its work on salmon and freshwater fisheries in England is one of a number of economies made to keep MAFF's expenditure within the limits set by the Comprehensive Spending Review. The reduction will come into effect in 2001-02, and will be reviewed as part of the forthcoming review of Government spending that will determine expenditure plans for the period starting in 2002-03.
27 Oct 1999 : Column: 923
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his position regarding the renegotiation of a fisheries agreement with Morocco; what is the estimated cost of the deal; how many (a) United Kingdom and (b) other EU vessels will be affected; and if he will make a statement. [95294]
Mr. Morley:
The UK will be aiming to ensure that any new agreement that can be negotiated with Morocco offers value for money, contains costs, promotes sustainable stock management and is coherent with developmental policies for Morocco. We would not expect the cost to be more than the cost of the existing agreement (125m euros p.a.).
Around 500 vessels from Spain, Portugal, France and Greece fish in Moroccan waters under the current agreement. No UK vessels are affected.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to counteract ragwort infestation. [95317]
Mr. Morley:
MAFF has policy responsibility for control of injurious weeds, of which ragwort is one, under the Weeds Act 1959. Under its provisions, MAFF may investigate complaints from any occupiers of agricultural land who consider that their land is threatened by ragwort spreading from land nearby. It seeks to resolve disputes between neighbours about control of injurious weeds primarily through persuasion and good advice.
However, where such approaches are ineffective, the Weeds Act empowers MAFF to give occupiers of land formal written notice requiring them to take control measures. If they fail to do so MAFF may enter onto the land with an accompanying agricultural contractor, carry out the controls, and then recover the costs of the work, as a debt due to the Department.
In the case of any persistent offenders, MAFF will continue to give careful consideration to bringing a prosecution under the Act. However, past experience has been that use of the powers of entry and recovery of reasonable costs incurred in taking direct weeds control action is sufficiently effective.
There has been some doubt about the policy for enforcement of the Weeds Act where land is used to graze horses and is threatened by ragwort growing nearby. Each complaint about injurious weeds will be dealt with on its own merits. However, MAFF has policy responsibility for farmland and for farmed animals, rather than animals kept for non-agricultural businesses or for recreation. MAFF will not normally investigate complaints about weeds threatening land used for horses, ponies or donkeys. Higher priority will be given to protecting farm livestock.
MAFF supported the Country Landowners Association national awareness campaign to help eradicate ragwort, which came to an end during August. That campaign helped horse owners understand what they can do to protect their own animals, as well as their neighbours' from this poisonous weed.
27 Oct 1999 : Column: 924
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what advice he has received concerning the Dutch permission for sale in the Netherlands of genetically modified raddicio rosso, containing an antibiotic marker gene; [94866]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 21 October 1999]: The Dutch authorities have confirmed that, contrary to recent reports, they have not granted permission for the sale of genetically modified raddicio rosso in the Netherlands. Applications for approval for the commercial planting and food use of this crop within the Community are still being scrutinised by the EC Commission and member states and no conclusions have yet been reached.
Mr. Robertson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with farmers about the likely cost to them of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Measure; what representations he has made to the EU about the potential impact on British farmers of this measure; and if he will make a statement. [95714]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 26 October 1999]: The National Pig Association raised this issue with the Minister when he and I met them on 5 October; we have also received representations from farming organisations in the context of the Review of Regulatory Burdens on Agriculture announced on 9 September. The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive was adopted by the Environment Council in 1996. Its implementation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, who is also responsible for approving charges set by the Environment Agency to meet its costs in enforcing the relevant regulations. My officials are in contact with him about these charges which will be consistent with the Government's better regulation principles and take full account of the circumstances of industries which have not previously been subject to Integrated Pollution Control regulations.
Mr. Robertson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he is making to the EU regarding the review of the EU Transport Initiative with respect to the transportation of live animals; what representations he has made to the French Government over the Eid-el-nabin festival; and if he will make a statement. [95576]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 26 October 1999]: The Commission is obliged, under the terms of Directive 91/628 on the protection of animals during transit, to bring forward a report during 1999 to enable the Council of Ministers to review the terms of the Directive. We consider it regrettable that there is as yet no sign of this happening, as we consider that the review will be an important opportunity to press for improvements to the rules in this area.
27 Oct 1999 : Column: 925
We deplore the flagrant infringements of EU animal welfare rules and appalling acts of cruelty which take place when sheep are slaughtered at the annual festival outside Paris and which--commendably--have been highlighted by animal welfare organisations. We look to the French government to enforce the law and to the Commission to fulfil its responsibility to make sure that this is done.
We have pressed the Commission and the French government on both these matters, and will continue to do so until suitable action is forthcoming.
Mr. Hood:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 26 October; and if he will make a statement. [96192]
Mr. Morley:
The Fisheries Council met in Luxembourg on 26 October. I represented the UK together with John Home Robertson, Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs in the Scottish Executive.
(2) what steps he is taking to prevent the importation to the United Kingdom of genetically modified raddicio rosso recently licensed in the Netherlands. [94867]
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