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EU Structural Funds
Mr. Breed:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if farmers in Objective 1 areas are eligible to apply for rural development regulation money; and if he will make a statement. [108747]
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Mr. Morley:
Farmers in Objective 1 areas will be eligible to apply for the Rural Development Regulation measures which the Government proposes to use. Those proposals are set out in the England Rural Development Plan and the Single Programming Document for Cornwall and the Scilly Isles. Both documents are subject to approval from the European Commission. Funding arrangements are subject to the Spending Review 2000.
Caroline Flint:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what child care provision was made available in the financial year 1998-99 for use by (i) his departmental staff and (ii) employees of executive agencies under the control of his Department; what was the cost to parents of this child care; and how many parents used the facilities. [108834]
Mr. Morley:
Departmental and agency staff had access to 130 nursery places at six sites during 1998-99 and the subsidised cost to parents was £56 to £85 per week depending upon location. Due to shared use of some places by part-time staff, at some sites the number of users was higher than the number of places available.
During the same period, holiday playscheme places were available to departmental and agency staff working at 10 sites and the subsidised cost to parents was £3.50 to £9 per day depending upon location. The number of users varied at each site and for each school holiday period.
It is not possible to give separate figures for departmental and agency staff: facilities are used by both, and uptake fluctuates.
Mr. Neil Turner:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evaluation he has made of the environmental benefits of energy crops. [107885]
Ms Quin:
When used instead of fossil fuels energy crops can bring about significant reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gases. Studies have also indicated a range of other positive effects including benefits to biodiversity.
Mr. Gill:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received on compliance with EU directives regarding abattoirs in Italy; and if he will make a statement. [R] [107474]
Ms Quin:
It is for the European Commission to monitor individual member States' compliance with EU Directives. The Commission's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) carries out regular programmes of inspection visits to all member states, including visits to abattoirs and other meat plants. The last mission to Italy to check on controls in fresh meat establishments took place from 4 to 8 May 1998.
We do not receive copies of FVO reports, on inspection visits, other than those to the UK, but have access to them on the European Commission's website on the Internet in the same way as anyone else. The index for the Commission's inspection mission reports is:
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Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which European Commission measures relate to sheep in respect of the regulations that require the removal of specified risk material. [107239]
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Mr. Nick Brown
[holding answer 27 January 2000]: No such measures are in force. A Commission Decision has been adopted (97/534 of 30 July 1997, on the prohibition of the use of material presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies), which defines certain sheep tissues as specified risk material. Its date of application has however been repeatedly postponed and it is not currently due to enter into force until 30 June 2000.
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We publicise the availability of such reports in our monthly Meat Hygiene Enforcement Report.