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County Courts

Mr. Edwards: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received concerning the proposed closure of Chepstow and Monmouth county courts. [96534]

Jane Kennedy: To date, 31 representations have been received on the proposal to close Monmouth county court, of which 29 objected to the proposal. There have been 22 representations received on the proposal to close Chepstow county court, of which 20 objected to the proposal.

Public Record Office

Mr. John M. Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what statutory duties the Keeper of Public Records has in respect of facilities for inspecting and obtaining copies of records in the Public Record Office; how many applications the Keeper has received since May 1997 from members of the public to inspect and copy the decennial census returns for England and Wales for (a) 1901 and (b) 1911; and how she responded to those applications. [96457]

Mr. Lock: The statutory duties of the Keeper of Public Records in respect of facilities for inspecting and obtaining copies of records in the Public Record Office are laid down in section 5 of the Public Records Act, 1958, as amended. Subsection 3 of that section provides that, subject to certain exceptions,

"it shall be the duty of the Keeper of Public Records to arrange that reasonable facilities are available to the public for inspecting and obtaining copies of public records in the Public Record Office."

The Public Record Office does not keep a record of applications from members of the public to inspect and copy the decennial census returns for England and Wales for 1901 and 1911. Such applications are referred to the Office for National Statistics, which has custody of the 1901 and 1911 census returns.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the planned time-scale for implementation of the EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive on uncultivated land and semi-natural areas in England; [93735]

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(2) what measures he plans to prevent pre-emptive ploughing of uncultivated and semi-natural land prior to the implementation of the EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive; and if he will make a statement. [93734]

Mr. Morley: The Government are fully aware of the need to meet EU obligations arising from the EIA Directive. However, important questions which seek to clarify the exact nature of those obligations are currently being addressed by the European Court of Justice. These may well affect the preparatory work already carried out in close consultation with the statutory environmental agencies and other Agriculture Departments.

I share concern about the risk that some pre-emptive action might be taken during the necessary public consultation period. However, there can be no question of introducing an implementation regime without consulting representatives of those who will be directly affected by it, as well as conservation and other important public interests.

Beef (School Menus)

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to encourage local education authorities to provide British beef on school menus; and if he will make a statement. [93716]

Ms Quin: Ultimately it is for Local Authorities themselves to decide whether or not to have beef, or indeed any other food products, on school menus. Nevertheless, my right hon. Friend the Minister has recently written to all Local Education Authorities setting out the case for British beef. A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

Oral Statements

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list (a) the reports published by his Department and its associated bodies, (b) the reports received from bodies set up by his Department, (c) the decisions his Department has taken and (d) events in the UK and elsewhere, since 27 July, which satisfied the criteria he uses for deciding whether to apply to make oral statements to the House when the House is sitting. [93977]

Mr. Nick Brown: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Council on 19 October 1999, Official Report, column 429.

On 20 September I announced a support package for farmers. The full text of my announcement was made available by MAFF news release.

Glyphosate

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what data he has collated on the effects of glyphosate used as a herbicide; what assessment he has made of recent research studies carried out by EU advisors; and if he will make a statement. [94830]

Ms Quin: All pesticides, including those herbicides with glyphosate as their active substance, used here must be approved for the purpose by Ministers in the

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Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Department of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. We only approve a pesticide after rigorous evaluation of scientific data to show that it is both efficacious and can be used safely with regard to human health and the environment.

Glyphosate is currently being reviewed by the EU Commission as part of a programme to ensure that all agricultural pesticides currently on the market in the EU meet current standards. An initial assessment of the human and environmental safety of glyphosate undertaken by the German authorities on behalf of the Commission is currently being peer-reviewed by experts from a number of other Member States.

Animal Exports

Mr. Loughton: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to report progress on regulations dealing with the treatment of live animals on the Continent after export from the United Kingdom. [93257]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 21 October 1999]: The rules governing conditions for animals in transit within the EU are set out in Directive 91/628, as amended in 1995.

We have carried out a public consultation on our proposals to review the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997, which implements the Directive on our territory. The deadline for comment was 8 October, and we are carefully considering the responses made before deciding how to proceed.

Any amendment to the fundamental requirements about the conditions to be provided for animals in transit within the EU will require an amendment to the Directive itself. The Directive contains a requirement for the European Commission to initiate a review during 1999 and, if necessary, to bring forward proposals to revise the Directive. We attach importance to this review, and look to the Commission to bring it forward.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to revise the regulations for animal exports relating to conditions in transit during overland transport in Europe. [96527]

Mr. Morley: The rules governing conditions for animals in transit within the EU are set out in Directive 91/628, as amended in 1995.

We have carried out a public consultation on our proposals to review the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997, which implements the Directive on our territory. The deadline for comment was 8 October, and we are carefully considering the responses made before deciding how to proceed.

Any amendment of the fundamental requirements about the conditions to be provided for animals in transit within the EU will require an amendment to the Directive itself. The Directive contains a requirement for the European Commission to initiate a review during 1999 and, if necessary, to bring forward proposals to revise the Directive. We attach importance to this review, and look to the Commission to bring it forward.

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Milk Marque

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will permit Milk Marque to continue to sell surplus produce to (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Netherlands. [95788]

Ms Quin: Following publication of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply in Great Britain of raw cows' milk, this is a matter for the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the competition authorities. I have no locus in this matter. Trade within the EU is allowed subject to compliance with competition and other rules.

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the impact of his proposals regarding Milk Marque on the price paid to farmers for the milk they produce; and if he will make a statement. [96603]

Ms Quin [holding answer 1 November 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Minister has made no proposals regarding Milk Marque. There should not be an adverse effect on prices of Milk Marque's own action taken in response to the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's response to it.

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