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EU Membership Costs
Mr. Robertson:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the financial cost of the United Kingdom's membership of the EU in (a) gross and (b) net terms for each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the costs for each of the next three years. [110250]
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Miss Melanie Johnson:
Details of the United Kingdom's gross and net contributions to the EC Budget for the years 1993-94 to 1997-98 are given in Table 7A of the 1999 Departmental Report of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments (Cm 4218). The latest forecasts of the UK's net contributions to the EC Budget for the years 1998-99 to 2001-02 are given in the footnote to Table B12 of the November 1999 Pre-Budget Report (Cm 4479).
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Mr. Ruane:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the amount of money saved by those using credit unions in each of the last 10 years; [110244]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
The information requested for Great Britain is as follows:
(2) how many credit unions (a) there were, (b) were established and (c) were closed in each of the last 10 years. [110212]
| Year | Registrations | CUs leaving the Register | CUs at end of year | Shareholding £000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 72 | 0 | 275 | 14,968 |
| 1991 | 55 | 3 | 327 | 20,478 |
| 1992 | 57 | 1 | 383 | 28,505 |
| 1993 | 48 | 4 | 427 | 39,492 |
| 1994 | 53 | 5 | 475 | 53,706 |
| 1995 | 63 | 8 | 530 | 70,012 |
| 1996 | 36 | 16 | 550 | 87,686 |
| 1997 | 51 | 5 | 596 | 107,394 |
| 1998 | 47 | 13 | 630 | 126,721 |
| 1999 | 50 | 14 | 666 | (14)-- |
(14) Not available until end 2000
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Lamb Slaughter Charges
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to take action to reduce lamb slaughter charges to the EU average level; and if he will make a statement. [101147]
Ms Quin [holding answer 7 December 1999]: Since these charges relate to the cost of operating the abattoir and providing a slaughtering service, their level is a commercial matter between slaughter house operators and suppliers of lambs. The Government have, however, frozen MHS hourly inspection charges for 1999-2000 at 1998-99 levels--charges which affect the cost of slaughtering all species, including lamb.
Private Finance Panel
Mr. Jack: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which projects relating to his Department that appeared in the Private Finance Panel's list of 29 November 1995 (a) have been completed, (b) are still pending, (c) have been dropped and (d) are being pursued by means other than a public private partnership. [105867]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 24 January 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 24 January 2000, Official Report, columns 117-18W.
Bovine Somatotropin
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the use of bovine somatotropin in dairy cows this year; and if he will make a statement. [108579]
Ms Quin:
One letter has been received this year. Following advice from the independent Veterinary Products Committee, the Government voted in favour of
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a permanent ban in the EU on the marketing and use of recombinant bovine somatotropin. The ban came into effect on 1 January 2000.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will permit the new pet passport documentation to act as (a) an export certificate, (b) an import permit and (c) a rabies vaccination certificate; and if he will make a statement. [108176]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 3 February 2000]: Export certificates for pets are not a requirement of the UK Government, but may be required by countries to which animals are travelling. Such countries are entitled, as is the UK, to set their own requirements for import documentation. There is no requirement for import permits for pet animals entering England under the Pet Travel Scheme. Each such pet will need to be accompanied by a valid Pet Travel Scheme rabies re-entry certificate. Other certification relates to treatment against ticks and tapeworms and no limitation of the pet's travel outside the UK to permitted countries.
The aim of the Pet Travel Scheme is to permit pet owners to bring their animals back to this country without having to undergo quarantine, while maintaining the protection of public health. The scheme which will commence on 28 February is a pilot: the experience gained from it will be used in framing the full scheme which we are committed to implementing by April 2001.
Ms Shipley:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review his nutritional guidance on packaged processed foods aimed at babies and toddlers. [108585]
Ms Quin:
MAFF guidance for parents on Healthy Diets for Infants and Young Children recommends that parents choose products which are low in salt and sugar, and use nutrition labelling information to identify these foods.
Ms Shipley:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will clarify the guidance in respect of the Food Labelling Regulations for processed foods targeted at babies and small children. [108583]
Ms Quin:
The Food Labelling Regulations 1996 lay down rules for the labelling of foods generally, and this includes foods for babies and young children. MAFF has issued Guidance Notes on the Regulations for use by industry and enforcers and kept them under regular review. Responsibility for this guidance will pass to the Foods Standards Agency.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food where members of the public may (a) consult and (b) purchase the flood risk maps which were disseminated to local planning authorities in September 1999; and if they are available in electronic form. [110146]
Mr. Morley:
These maps may be consulted at the offices of either the local planning authority or the Environment Agency. Paper copies may be obtained from
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the Agency. The Agency is also developing proposals to place the maps on its website to make them freely accessible to the public.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the names and addresses of the Wessex Regional Flood Defence Committee. [110145]
Mr. Morley:
Members of the Wessex Regional Flood Defence Committee are as follows:
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Mr. Peter Atkinson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has consulted the Farm Animal Welfare Council on the impact of the withdrawal of OP sheep dip. [110287]
Mr. Morley:
I understand that the Farm Animal Welfare Council is already preparing to consider the likely impact on farm animal welfare of this decision. I look forward to receiving their advice.
(i) Members appointed by MAFF
G. P. Sturdy--Chairman
J. B. Bush
B. M. Chandler
J. B. Comer
Dr. J. Gething
(ii) Members appointed by Environment Agency
C. R. Rothwell
P. K. Rees
(iii) Members appointed by Local Authorities
A. Massey--Bristol City Council
F. L. Crutchley--North Somerset Council
P. Tyzack--South Gloucestershire Council
Mrs. L. C. S. Bennett--Wiltshire County Council
J. L. Churchouse--Dorset County Council
H. P. N. Temperley--Somerset County Council
H. Prior-Sankey--Somerset County Council
R. E. L. Lelliott--Bournemouth and Poole Borough Councils
Members of the Committee can be contacted c/o The Environment Agency, Manley House, Kestrel Way, Exeter EX2 7LQ.
Medicinal Drug Deaths (Northumberland)
Mr. Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died in Northumberland Health Authority area as the result of the use of medicinal drugs in each of the last five years (a) accidentally, (b) in cases involving (i) suicide and (ii) self-inflicted injury and (c) in other cases; and which drug each death involved. [106824]
Ms Stuart:
The information requested is in the table.
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(15) Accidental = E850-E858
(16) Suicide = E950 (.0 to .5)
(17) Undetermined = E980 (.0 to .5)
Source:
ONS Annual Death Extracts (individual anonymised records based on Death Certificate/any subsequent investigations)
It is not possible to distinguish between 'suicide' and 'self inflicted injury' since the ICD-9 classification has these as a single category
It is not possible to determine the specific drugs used--ICD-9 classification gives only categories of drugs
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