House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 25 Jan 2000 (pt 12)

Beef Imports

Mr. Ainger: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tonnes of beef have been imported into the UK in each year since 1990 from (a) Argentina, (b) Uruguay, (c) Paraguay, (d) Brazil, (e) USA and (f) Canada. [105652]

Ms Quin [holding answer 19 January 2000]: The table shows the volume of beef and veal, beef offal and beef preparations (i.e. corned beef, canned meats, etc.) imported into the UK from (a) Argentina, (b) Uruguay, (c) Paraguay, (d) Brazil, (e) USA and (f) Canada between 1990 and 1998 and January and November 1999 as recorded in the Official Overseas Trade Statistics.

UK imports of beef 1990-99 (7) Tonnes

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 (8)

Imports of beef from Brazil 39,629 54,330 76,114 58,211 41,072 45,342 36,226 41,632 43,062 53,644

of which:

Beef preparations(9) 36,505 50,327 69,249 52,916 37,991 42,181 32,235 36,893 38,146 43,330

Beef and veal 2,985 4,002 6,758 5,181 3,041 3,049 3,809 4,575 4,794 10,156

Beef offal 139 -- 107 114 39 112 183 164 123 159

Imports of beef from Argentina 31,476 18,036 15,565 14,285 14,917 28,289 22,754 23,121 10,636 9,387

of which:

Beef preparations(9) 24,485 15,375 13,932 12,672 12,279 20,043 14,756 15,201 9,228 7,159

Beef and veal 6,815 2,398 1,486 1,425 2,286 7,154 7,455 7,659 1,253 2,000

Beef offal 177 262 148 188 352 1,092 543 260 155 228

Imports of beef from Uruguay 11,633 8,985 8,381 7,708 7,575 13,219 12,127 18,165 12,616 9,303

of which:

Beef preparations(9) 3,720 3,409 3,566 2,980 3,419 4,410 3,851 4,741 4,906 4,780

Beef and veal 7,827 5,503 4,698 4,628 3,780 8,535 8,115 13,364 7,677 4,419

Beef offal 86 73 117 99 376 274 162 61 32 104

Imports of beef from U.S.A. 742 607 1,827 2,260 2,768 4,281 3,992 1,958 1,636 939

of which:

Beef preparations(9) 104 194 329 49 374 866 394 489 40 19

Beef and veal 151 163 566 493 696 1,901 2,847 1,394 1,580 920

Beef offal 487 250 932 1,718 1,698 1,515 752 75 16 0

Imports of beef from Canada 230 20 514 138 115 103 5 3 20 --

of which:

Beef preparations(9) 7 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2 --

Beef and veal 24 -- -- 6 9 8 5 3 17 --

Beef offal 199 20 514 132 106 96 -- -- 0 --

Imports of beef from Paraguay 82 34 133 34 12 150 115 64 13 12

of which:

Beef and veal 82 34 133 34 12 150 115 64 13 12

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999 (8)
Imports of beef from Brazil	39,629	54,330	76,114	58,211	41,072	45,342	36,226	41,632	43,062	53,644
of which:
Beef preparations(9)	36,505	50,327	69,249	52,916	37,991	42,181	32,235	36,893	38,146	43,330
Beef and veal	2,985	4,002	6,758	5,181	3,041	3,049	3,809	4,575	4,794	10,156
Beef offal	139	--	107	114	39	112	183	164	123	159

Imports of beef from Argentina	31,476	18,036	15,565	14,285	14,917	28,289	22,754	23,121	10,636	9,387
of which:
Beef preparations(9)	24,485	15,375	13,932	12,672	12,279	20,043	14,756	15,201	9,228	7,159
Beef and veal	6,815	2,398	1,486	1,425	2,286	7,154	7,455	7,659	1,253	2,000
Beef offal	177	262	148	188	352	1,092	543	260	155	228

Imports of beef from Uruguay	11,633	8,985	8,381	7,708	7,575	13,219	12,127	18,165	12,616	9,303
of which:
Beef preparations(9)	3,720	3,409	3,566	2,980	3,419	4,410	3,851	4,741	4,906	4,780
Beef and veal	7,827	5,503	4,698	4,628	3,780	8,535	8,115	13,364	7,677	4,419
Beef offal	86	73	117	99	376	274	162	61	32	104

Imports of beef from U.S.A.	742	607	1,827	2,260	2,768	4,281	3,992	1,958	1,636	939
of which:
Beef preparations(9)	104	194	329	49	374	866	394	489	40	19
Beef and veal	151	163	566	493	696	1,901	2,847	1,394	1,580	920
Beef offal	487	250	932	1,718	1,698	1,515	752	75	16	0

Imports of beef from Canada	230	20	514	138	115	103	5	3	20	--
of which:
Beef preparations(9)	7	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	2	--
Beef and veal	24	--	--	6	9	8	5	3	17	--
Beef offal	199	20	514	132	106	96	--	--	0	--

Imports of beef from Paraguay	82	34	133	34	12	150	115	64	13	12
of which:
Beef and veal	82	34	133	34	12	150	115	64	13	12

(7) Overseas trade statistics are subject to a degree of error. Although the overall level of errors is low, small values are affected disproportionately. Care should therefore be taken when interpreting such data.

(8) January to November

(9) Principally corned beef

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Hedges

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which European laws set out the dimensions of field margins of cultivation adjacent to hedges. [103132]

Ms Quin: The European Community legislation which is relevant to this issue is that governing the farm-based arable and livestock aid schemes introduced as part of the 1992 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Under the rules of Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS), farmers in the United Kingdom are allowed to use the full field areas which are shown on Ordnance Survey maps as the basis of their claims, provided that their fields are fully utilised. If this condition is not fulfilled, then only that part of the total area which is actually cropped can be claimed. The use of total field areas is of considerable benefit to our farmers but it can only be justified if the extent of uncropped areas around field margins, including the area occupied by any hedges which may be present, is kept within reasonable limits. AAPS applicants have recently been notified about new guidance from the European Commission about the maximum width of field margins that is consistent with the use of full Ordnance Survey areas in aid applications. They have also been urged to seek advice about minimising the environmental impact of any action they may need to take in order to comply with the new guidance.

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Intervention Board

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what weighting was given to the journey time of livestock in recent award of contracts to abattoirs by the Intervention Board under the over 30 month scheme. [102359]

Ms Quin: The Intervention Board, which is responsible for the administration of the over thirty month scheme (OTMS), attaches considerable importance to ensuring that sufficient slaughtering capacity is available in the right areas to minimise the travelling time for animals entering the scheme, consistent with the need to protect the public purse and ensure a good quality service. Tenders were grouped and evaluated by region to ensure that all areas received a reasonable level of service. East Anglia and South East England were grouped as a single region in view of the relatively small number of cattle coming forward from these areas for slaughter. As a result of the changes being introduced following the tender, some journey times will, inevitably, increase, but in no case will journey times exceed those laid down in animal welfare guidelines. Some journey times will decrease. Farmers will continue to be able to access the scheme through the network of 170 markets registered to collect OTMS cattle.

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will rank in order of importance the criteria (a) past trade record, (b) location, (c) quality of service, (d) ability to offer a dedicated service, (e) ease

25 Jan 2000 : Column: 185W

of supervision, (f) throughput and (g) price used for evaluating bids in the recent award of contracts to abattoirs by the Intervention Board under the over 30 month scheme. [102356]

Ms Quin: Tenders were considered on a regional basis to ensure that sufficient capacity was contracted for the number of animals coming forward for slaughter in the region. Within this regional approach, under which East Anglia and South East England were grouped as a single region, the ranking (highest to lowest) of the criteria for evaluating bids received for OTMS slaughter services were: quality of service, price, ability to offer a dedicated service, ease of supervision and throughput (equal ranking), location.

BSE

Dr. Brand: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the incidence of new cases of BSE for each of the last five years. [102352]

Ms Quin: Numbers of cattle notified as BSE suspects to Agriculture Departments in Great Britain for each of the last five complete years are given in the table. Figures for those subsequently confirmed as BSE cases are also shown.

Year Suspects restricted Suspects in which BSE confirmed

1994 30,259 23,943

1995 17,945 14,301

1996 10,697 8,013

1997 5,604 4,309

1998 4,291 3,178

Year	Suspects restricted	Suspects in which BSE confirmed
1994	30,259	23,943
1995	17,945	14,301
1996	10,697	8,013
1997	5,604	4,309
1998	4,291	3,178

For 1999, the latest figures up to 3 December show that 2,824 cattle have been restricted as BSE suspects. Of these, 1,904 have been confirmed as BSE cases and 247 results are still pending. No confirmed cases have been found in animals born after August 1996.

Farming (Leicestershire)

Mr. Reed: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people were employed in the farming sector in Leicestershire in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99 and (d) 1999-2000; and how many he projects will be employed in 2000-01. [101060]

Ms Quin: The information requested is as follows:

People employed in the farming sector in Leicestershire

Farmers, partners, directors and spouses working on the holding Salaried managers and all other workers (10) Total workforce (11)

(a) June 1996 3,884 3,003 6,887

(b) June 1997 3,833 3,003 6,836

(c) June 1998 3,837 2,974 6,811

June 1999 3,805 2,725 6,530

	Farmers, partners, directors and spouses working on the holding	Salaried managers and all other workers (10)	Total workforce (11)
(a) June 1996	3,884	3,003	6,887
(b) June 1997	3,833	3,003	6,836
(c) June 1998	3,837	2,974	6,811
June 1999	3,805	2,725	6,530

(10) Including hired, family and casual workers working on 1 June

(11) Excludes youth training

Notes:

1. The figures have been taken from the annual June Agricultural and Horticultural Census. These data relate to main holdings only.

2. In 1998 fundamental changes were introduced to the labour questions. It appears that this change may have led to the recording of additional labour who were not previously included in the returns. The change in questions has also led to a redistribution of labour between the various categories, most notably for salaried managers. Caution is therefore advised when comparing the 1998 and 1999 results with previous years.

MAFF does not have any projections for the year 2000-01.

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