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Farm Subsidies (Wiltshire)
Mr. Key:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total value of approved payments to Wiltshire farmers for (a) the 1998 calendar year and (b) the 1989-99 financial year; and if he will list by value
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to Wiltshire farmers CAP schemes supporting market prices but which do not involve payments made directly to them. [102899]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 20 December 1999]: The total value of approved payments to Wiltshire farmers for the 1998 calendar year and the 1998-99 financial year is as follows:
| 1998 Calendar | 1998-99 Financial | |
|---|---|---|
| Arable Area Payments Scheme | 32,116 | 32,700 |
| Environmentally Sensitive Area | 309 | 376 |
| Sheep Annual Premium Scheme | 1,400 | 1,348 |
| Suckler Cow Premium Scheme | 2,254 | 2,288 |
| Farm Woodland Premium Scheme | 180 | 181 |
| Farm Woodland Scheme | 75 | 75 |
| Organic Aid Scheme | 116 | 140 |
| Nitrate Sensitive Area | 42 | 42 |
| Countryside Stewardship Scheme | 612 | 576 |
| Habitat | 156 | 156 |
| Countryside Access Scheme | 2 | 2 |
| Beef Special Premium Scheme | 3,572 | 3,661 |
| 40,834 | 41,545 |
CAP schemes supporting market prices which benefit UK farmers but do not involve payments made directly to them are as follows. It is not possible to record the impact of these support measures on a county basis.
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| Price | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) The rates for the purchase of intervention commodities for the 1999 marketing year are: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Beef | euro 3,475 per tonne (this is the intervention price but the maximum buying in price is determined by reference to market prices and tenders submitted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cereals | euro 119.5 per tonne (rising by monthly increments between November and May to a maximum of euro 126.9 per tonne) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dairy: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Butter | euro 2,953.8 per tonne (maximum buying in price--amount paid dependent on tender) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Skimmed Milk Powder | euro 2,055.2 per tonne | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) The rates for Private Storage Aid are: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pigmeat | euro 463 per tonne (maximum) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sheepmeat | euro 1,400 per tonne | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (3) In addition farmers also benefit indirectly from the following trader-based schemes designed to support the agriculture market | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liquid Skimmed Milk for Stockfeed | euro 58 per tonne | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Skimmed Milk Powder for Animal Feed | euro 715.1 per tonne | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School Milk Subsidy: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (wholemilk) | euro 29.44 per 100kg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Skimmed Milk) | euro 18.58 per 100 kg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Casein Production Subsidy | euro 6.42 per 100kg of Skimmed Milk | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NPO Butter | euro 105 per 100kg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Butter for Manufacture | rate of aid varies depending on fat content of butter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aid rate for 80% fat butter between | euro 880-920 per tonne | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 82% fat butter | euro 910-950 per tonne | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cream | euro 380-400 per tonne | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flax | euro 815.86 per HA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hemp | euro 662.88 per HA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dehydrated Fodder | euro 68.83 per tonne | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fruit and Vegetable Withdrawals: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cauliflowers | euro 8.38 per 100kg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apples | euro 9.94 per 100kg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pears | euro 9.46 per 100kg
| Fruit and Vegetable Operational Programme
| Assistance is payable at 50 per cent. of actual approved expenditure, subject to an annual ceiling set between 2.5-4.5 per cent. of the producer organisation's marketed production
| Starch | euro 52.66 per tonne
| Grape Must: |
| British Wine | euro 0.2379 per kg
| Home Wine Kits | euro 0.3103 per kg
| Hops | euro 480/hectare
| Seeds |
| Cereals | Range euro 14.37-17.27 per Quintal
| Oilseeds | Range euro 20.53-28.38 per Quintal
| Grasses | Range euro 19.20-83.56 per Quintal
| Leguminous Plants | Range euro 75.11 per Quintal
| Sugar in Chemical |
| Industry | euro 459.16 per tonne
| Sugar Storage Costs | euro 3.30 per tonne
| Cane Refining Scheme | euro 29.20 per tonne
| | |||
Note:
All rates are paid in £ sterling using the Euro Conversion Rate (ECR) in force on the operative date
11 Jan 2000 : Column: 157W
11 Jan 2000 : Column: 157W
Mr. Robertson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the rules which (a) require and (b) allow food manufacturing companies to display the country of origin on their packaging for food sold in supermarkets; and if he will make a statement. [102190]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 13 December 1999]: (a) The Food Labelling Regulations 1996 SI No. 1996 1499 (as amended) require origin marking where failure to provide such information might mislead the purchaser to a material degree as to the food's true origin.
The following measures contain product specific rules on origin marking:
Mr. Andrew George:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the application of public health regulations to imports of chlormequat-sprayed pears into the UK. [103294]
Ms Quin:
The Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (Amendment) Regulations 1997 set a maximum residue level (MRL) from chlormequat in pears of 3.0 Mg/Kg. The MRL originates from an EC Directive. The general provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 also apply.
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Earlier from this year, the Government's routine monitoring programme for pesticide residues in food showed that some imported pears contained residues of chlormequat substantially above MRL. We immediately contacted the authorities in the importing countries and received assurances that they had put measures in place to ensure that future exports complied with MRL. This included a ban on the use of chlormequat in pears grown in Belgium and severe restrictions on its use in the Netherlands. We are continuing to monitor the situation and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many live cattle were exported to European Union member states in 1999. [104255]
Ms Quin:
None. The export of live cattle from the UK is prohibited by European Union legislation.
Mr. Lilley:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the annual expenditure on veterinary and other health care for animals (a) by pet owners, (b) by farmers and (c) in total. [104252]
Ms Quin:
The cost of veterinary medicines and other health care for animals is not controlled by European or UK law and we have made no estimate of annual expenditure in these areas. However, the National Office of Animal Health Ltd. which represents manufacturers of veterinary medicines has estimated that the UK market for animal health products is approximately £370 million in terms of sales by manufacturers and that approximately half the sales by value are of products for the treatment of farm animals. Decisions on pricing of medicinal products are matters for the companies marketing them, taking account of commercial factors such as development and production costs and anticipated volume sales. Similarly, the cost of veterinary treatment is not governed by any statutory rules but is a matter for negotiation between veterinary surgeon and client.
The Common Agricultural Policy (Wine) Regulations 1996 SI No. 696 (as amended).
The Food Safety (Fishery Products and Live Shellfish) (Hygiene) Regulations 1998 SI No. 994.
The Agricultural and Horticultural Act 1964 (as amended).
The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Water Regulations 1999 SI No. 1540.
The Eggs (Marketing Standards) (Amendment) Regulations 1991 SI No. 1396.
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1906/90 laying down the rules on poultry meat.
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1374/98 which relates to imports under GATT.
(b) Voluntary origin labelling must comply with rules controlling false and misleading descriptions (the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Trade Descriptions Act 1968). In the case of beef there are detailed rules in the Beef Labelling (Enforcement) Regulations 1998.