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Sheep Scab
Mr. Tyler: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish the results of the research projects into (a) alternatives to organophosphate sheep dips for the control of scab, with the aim of producing a vaccine and (b) the factors that influence the spread of sheep scab. [109531]
Ms Quin [holding answer 11 February 2000]: Following earlier published work funded at the Royal Veterinary College, my Department has since 1996 been funding projects to explore non-chemical methods as alternative approaches to sheep scab control. The issues involved are complex but not intractable. The programme is focusing on the possible immunological basis for control methods as well as the means of measuring the effectiveness of potential vaccines. The projects which also include sheep welfare are ongoing and funding is being continued at £450,000 a year for a further three years. Some work of a basic nature has been published but the key results of this work will be available at the end of that period or earlier depending on progress.
Flood Defence
Mr. Key: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each of the past five years the budgets of the Wessex Regional Flood Defence Committee, indicating (a) the levy on each component local authority with the percentage rise or fall year on year, (b) the standard spending assessment for flood defence paid to each local authority with the percentage rise or fall year on year, (c) the difference between local
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authority SSA and actual levies paid and (d) MAFF flood defence grants (i) available and (ii) paid; and if he will make a statement. [110144]
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Mr. Morley [holding answer 15 February 2000]: The information requested in relation to (a) to (c) is as follows:
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(20) Less than £500
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It is important to note the following points:
- some local authorities pay levies to Regional Flood Defence Committees (RFDCs) other than Wessex;
- flood defence Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs) reflect a range of flood defence costs falling on different classes of local authority i.e. levies paid to RFDCs, special levies to internal drainage boards and local authorities' "own spend" as a flood defence operating authority;
- local government reorganisation caused adjustments to be made to the SSA and levy figures as between the affected county councils and new unitary authorities.
| £ million | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset | Bristol/Avon | Avon/Dorset | ||||
| Year | (i) | (ii) | (i) | (ii) | (i) | (ii) |
| 1994-95 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 2.0 |
| 1995-96 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 4.9 | 3.3 |
| 1996-97 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 1.7 |
| 1997-98 | 3.2 | 4.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 |
| 1998-99 | 2.7 | 4.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.0 |
Internet
Mr. Luff: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of farmers in England and Wales who have access to the internet. [110179]
Ms Quin [holding answer 15 February 2000]: Precise figures are not available. However, based on information provided by farmers completing June 1999 agricultural
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census forms and a survey conducted by ADAS in 1998, it is estimated that between 5 per cent. and 25 per cent. of farmers have access to the internet.
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