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Farmers (Marketing)
16. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department is taking to help farmers in marketing and product development. [103789]
Ms Quin:
Many. For instance, £2 million was made available at the end of last year to support projects designed to help farmers improve their marketing. Over the next seven years I am providing £44 million for marketing and processing grants and additional expenditure for the marketing of quality agricultural products under the new Rural Enterprise Scheme.
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17. Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to improve the labelling of food to enable consumers to make better-informed choices. [103791]
Ms Quin:
We are committed to promoting informed consumer choice. Because of the key importance of good labelling, the Government will shortly be announcing an initiative aimed at stimulating public debate and identifying the needs and priorities of ordinary consumers.
18. Dr. Ladyman:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the December Fisheries Council. [103792]
Mr. Morley:
The outcome respected the scientific advice while maximising catching opportunities for the UK industry. Cuts in UK quotas worth £30 million were avoided. The Council and Commission also committed themselves to introduce a recovery programme for Irish Sea cod.
19. Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent assessment he has made of the environmental advantages of organic farming. [103793]
Mr. Morley:
Evaluation of the environmental impact of organic farming is one of the three objectives of the Ministry's organic R&D programme, for which £2.1 million has been allocated for 1999-2000. Field studies on biodiversity and soil fertility on organic farms, following up earlier desk studies, and a study of nutrient recycling are in progress. Work on nitrates and ammonia emissions has recently been completed.
22. Jean Corston:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers entered into organic conversion in 1999. [103796]
Mr. Morley:
Around 1,100 farmers applied for aid under the Organic Farming Scheme in 1999.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further plans he has to support organic farming. [103774]
Mr. Morley:
On 7 December 1999, Official Report, columns 701-02W, my right hon. Friend the Minister announced the Government's plans for spending on the Rural Development Programme for England. Under these plans, £140 million will be available over the life of the Programme for aid for conversion to organic farming.
20. Fiona Mactaggart:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual cost for the typical family of the common agricultural policy. [103794]
Ms Quin:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (Mr. Borrow) on 25 November 1999, Official Report, column 748W.
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23. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive relating to the current French ban on British beef. [103797]
Mr. Nick Brown:
My ministerial colleagues, my officials and I have been in regular contact with our counterparts in the Scottish Executive on the French import ban on UK beef.
25. Dr. Gibson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he plans to carry out on the effects of organophosphates. [103799]
Ms Quin:
I refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 446W.
26. Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the availability of monetary compensation to British farmers for the value of sterling. [103800]
Ms Quin:
Up to £88 million in compulsory agrimonetary compensation will be paid to livestock and arable farmers this year, and a further £44 million next year. Optional compensation is available this year; figures are not yet confirmed. No decision has been taken on whether to pay any of this.
Mr. Edwards:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will name the areas of Forestry Commission land which he has approved for sale since May 1997 and give the acreage of each area. [102633]
Mr. Morley:
The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by Forest Enterprise. I have asked its Chief Executive, Dr. Bob McIntosh, to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Bob McIntosh to Mr. Huw Edwards, dated 13 January 2000:
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I have been asked to reply to your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food asking for the names of areas of Forestry Commission land approved for sale since May 1997.
Firstly, I should explain that the Forestry Commission is responsible for deciding which areas to sell, in accordance with the policy and guidance laid down by Ministers. The Minister, therefore, does not approve individual areas for sale.
I enclose a list of the woods in England which have been offered for sale since May 1997, including the area and Grid Reference.
| Wood | Area (Hectares) | NGR |
|---|---|---|
| Land at Dryderdale | 6.0 | SE 655 719 |
| Gravel Pit and Broomhill Woods | 6.0 | SE 703 458 |
| Dalby Bush | 36.0 | SE 640 715 |
| Mill Wood, Terrington (pt) | 24.0 | SE 644 735 |
| Foulshaw Moss | 220.0 | SD 458 825 |
| Ulpha Park | 29.0 | SD 191 912 |
| Simpsons Wood | 6.0 | NY 179 337 |
| Foulshaw and Wilderness | 57.0 | SD 458 825 |
| Barthorps Folly | 6.0 | TM 348 459 |
| Top Clump and West Belt | 4.5 | TG 145 211 |
| Oakhill Wood | 33.3 | SP 813 357 |
| College Wood | 51.0 | SP 791 331 |
| Gatten Plantation | 34.0 | SO 372 986 |
| Land at Oversley Wood | 0.6 | SJ 110 567 |
| Bishops Wood | 2.5 | SX 001 697 |
| Penny Wood | 1.0 | ST 985 442 |
| Staple Hill | 11.0 | SX 836 740 |
| Greens Wood | 1.5 | TL 277 170 |
| Friston Forest | 10.2 | TQ 535 018 |
| Channers Wood | 15.0 | SU 818 814 |
| Beech and Howlets Wood | 7.0 | SP 958 005 |
| Hoo Wood | 18.0 | TL 033 125 |
| Shabbington Wood | 2.6 | SP 632 106 |
| Deershill Wood | 11.0 | SS 520 172 |
| Priest Wood | 28.0 | TL 301 160 |
| Pt Fleming Estate | 20.8 | SU 420 175 |
| Stanley Cottages Wood | 31.0 | SZ 168 390 |
| Worsall Gill and Fox Covert | 30.0 | NZ 381 070 |
| Hugset Wood | 34.0 | SE 305 068 |
| Seaton Old Wood | 30.5 | SE 785 389 |
| Goss Hall | 4.2 | SK 344 620 |
| Black and New Plantation | 14.0 | SE 793 367 |
| Brandon Wood | 72.0 | SP 395 765 |
| Bedpark | 8.0 | SX 584 538 |
| Challock Benacre Wood | 25.0 | TQ 945 440 |
| Redcap/Catham etc. | 14.0 | SU 785 421 |
| Kennel Wood | 6.0 | SK 322 533 |
| Millerhill and Wigfield | 5.0 | SE 341 021 |
| Blackbrooks, Park Wood (Exchange) | 76.7 | SO 660 220 |
| Chilworth Common North | 12.0 | SU 410 182 |
| The Wilton Estate (Exchange) | 51.0 | SU 045 346 |
| Knowle Wood | 8.0 | SX 533 641 |
| Widow Bushes | 11.0 | TL 305 176 |
| Samgarth Woods | 71.0 | SD 132 945 |
| Intake Wood | 20.0 | SK 594 638 |
| Sawpit Copse | 9.6 | SU 527 103 |
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