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Farmers (Low Interest Loans)
Dan Norris: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce low interest rate loans for farmers. [110236]
Ms Quin: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on 24 January 2000, Official Report, column 13W.
Bees
Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers are available to him to control the importation of bees from New Zealand. [110122]
Ms Quin: Importation of bees into the UK is subject to the Importation of Bees Order 1997, which was made under the Bees Act 1980.
Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many consignments of bees from New Zealand have come to the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and what authorisations he has issued for the importation of bees from New Zealand during 2000. [110123]
Ms Quin: Figures on the number of consignments are not available. However, the numbers of queen bees imported into the United Kingdom from New Zealand in the past three years are 1,305, 977 and 883 respectively. There have as yet been no imports of bees from New Zealand in 2000.
Genetic Modification
Mr. Webb: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to place genetically modified seeds on the National Seeds List; if any seeds so listed could thereby be used legally in animal feed; and if he will make it his policy not to list any GM seeds until the current programme of safety research has been completed. [109593]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 11 February 2000]: Ministers are required by the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982 (as amended) to consider
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applications for the entry of plant varieties to the UK National List. Such applications are considered against the requirements of these regulations: namely that a variety is distinct, uniform and stable (DUS) and has a value for cultivation and use (VCU) over those varieties already on the National List. Where the statutory criteria are met, a variety may be proposed for addition to the National List, and where they are not, it is proposed for refusal for addition to the National List. People affected by the proposed decision may make representations and be heard before the decision is taken.
In addition, before a GM plant variety may be proposed for addition to the National List, a marketing consent must have been promulgated under Directive 90/220/EEC, and where appropriate, clearance obtained under the Novel Foods Regulation No.258/97/EEC. Where all of these criteria have been met, a proposal may be made for addition of a plant variety to the National List.A GM forage maize variety (CHARDON LL) has completed National List tests and trials. The trait involved has a marketing clearance under Directive 90/220/EEC, including use for animal feed. It also has clearance under the Novel Foods Regulation. The application for the addition of this variety to the National List is being considered and a decision is likely to be taken shortly about whether to propose the variety for addition to the National List.
The UK's farm scale evaluation programme is additional to the environmental and health assessments of GM crops referred to above. The recent agreement between Government and SCIMAC precludes the general commercialisation of GM maize until 2003 at the earliest--subject to the results of the farm-scale evaluation programme. The programme is intended to provide objective evidence of the effect of growing of these GM crops on a farm scale on biodiversity.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the antibiotic marker genes, and the antibiotics to which they convey resistance, that have been used in the genetic modification of crops which are used as animal feed in the United Kingdom. [109594]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 11 February 2000]: Kanamycin and ampicillin resistance marker genes, in either complete or disrupted form, have been used in crops which could be used principally in the form of processed by-products in animal feed. These crops are not grown commercially in this country.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers there were in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire in (i) 1997 and (ii) 1998. [110127]
| Category | 1997 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Total labour force | 2,092 | 2,164 |
| Total farmers, partners and spouses | 1,275 | 1,281 |
| Total all other workers | 817 | 883 |
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| Category | 1997 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Total labour force | 11,782 | 12,069 |
| Total farmers, partners and spouses | 7,156 | 7,338 |
| Total all other workers | 4,626 | 4,731 |
Source:
Agricultural and Horticultural Census
In 1998 fundamental changes were introduced to the labour questions on the census. It appears that this change may have led to the recording of additional labour that was not previously included on the returns. The change on questions has also led to a redistribution of labour between the various categories. Caution is therefore advised when comparing the 1998 results with previous years.
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Mr. Breed:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to support the establishment of a national network of farmers' markets. [109807]
Ms Quin:
We support the establishment of a national network of farmers' markets and we are working closely with the National Association of Farmers' Markets who have been set up to promote the development of farmers' markets.
Mr. Collins:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the latest figures for the incidence of BSE in Holstein cattle in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [105225]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 18 January 2000]: From the start of the BSE epidemic until 1 January 2000, the numbers of BSE cases confirmed in the United Kingdom for Holstein cattle, Holstein cross cattle and similar breeds are given in the table.
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| Breed | pre | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | |||||||
| Canadian Holstein | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Dutch Holstein | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- |
| Friesian | 414 | 1,859 | 5,958 | 11,641 | 20,885 | 29,326 | 26,308 |
| Friesian X | 50 | 98 | 204 | 408 | 713 | 1,172 | 1,393 |
| Holstein | 16 | 51 | 146 | 274 | 469 | 472 | 394 |
| Holstein X | -- | -- | -- | 9 | 45 | 132 | 107 |
| Red Friesian | -- | 2 | 8 | 28 | 50 | 72 | 46 |
| Red Friesian X | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- |
| Red Holstein | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Red Holstein X | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- |
| Total | 480 | 2,010 | 6,316 | 12,360 | 22,163 | 31,181 | 28,250 |
| Northern Ireland | |||||||
| Friesian | -- | 4 | 25 | 93 | 138 | 293 | 367 |
| Friesian X | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 4 | 12 | 12 |
| Friesian/Holstein | -- | -- | 1 | 3 | 2 | -- | -- |
| Holstein | -- | -- | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Total | -- | 4 | 28 | 100 | 145 | 308 | 384 |
| Total United Kingdom | 480 | 2,014 | 6,344 | 12,460 | 22,308 | 31,489 | 28,634 |
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Note:
Includes data from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man
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