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Farming (Promotion)
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what initiatives are being pursued to promote entry into farming for young people; and if he will make a statement. [110530]
Ms Quin: The Government believe that the best way to help young people enter farming and to secure the economic viability of UK agriculture is to develop an agricultural industry that is successful, competitive and sustainable. To achieve this, the Government are seeking to create a transparent and stable economic framework within which the industry can operate.
In addition, the £1.6 billion support for rural development, which the Agriculture Minister announced on 7 December 1999, will be of enormous benefit to the farming industry and represents a significant increase in expenditure on rural development measures. In implementing the England Rural Development Plan measures full consideration will be given to the needs of young farmers.
Advertising Budget
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average cost of issuing a media release from his Department in 1999. [110274]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 16 February 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 9 February 2000, Official Report, column 204W.
Live Animal Exports
Mr. Prosser: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to persuade other EU Governments, when undertaking the review of Council Directive 91/628 EEC required by Article 13 of that Directive, to abandon the long distance transport
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of live farm animals through the European Union and replace it with a trade in meat and carcases; and if he will make a statement. [110812]
Mr. Morley: The Government believe that a carcase trade is preferable to long distance transport for slaughter.
The European Commission has begun its review of Council Directive 91/628/EEC. We will continue to press for a carcase trade as part of that review and, most importantly, when the Commission presents its formal report to the Council of Ministers.
TREASURY
Scud Missile Parts
Mr. Maples: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what day, at what time, and how Libyan scud missile parts (a) were shipped from the UK to Malta and (b) were returned to the UK from Malta; [105015]
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Dawn Primarolo: Customs inquiries into the shipment were commenced in May 1999. The parts were shipped in error by the airline to Malta at approximately 0615 on 21 May 1999 and were returned by air to the UK, following further intervention by UK Customs, at approximately 1345 on 2 July 1999. The shipment was inspected by MOD officials on 13 July who confirmed that the contents were consistent with Scud parts.
Departmental Staff
Caroline Flint: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [108831]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to her by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, on 15 February 2000, Official Report, columns 518-19W.
The information requested is in the table.
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| Department/agency | Type of scheme | Number of places | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs and Excise | 5 workplace nurseries and bought-in places elsewhere | About 1,000 children, estimated at 900 parents | Will vary as parents choose own nurseries. Budget allocation of £618,000, representing Departmental subsidy of between 37 per cent. and 47 per cent. for workplace nurseries and 25 per cent. for voucher and other schemes |
| Inland Revenue (including Valuation Office) | 7 IR nurseries 17 IR playschemes 15 external schemes | 182 places 190 places 238 places | Nil subsidy but with basic accommodation, equipment and utilities provided free. (No central record of fees paid, nor number of parents who use the facilities) |
| National Savings | |||
| Glasgow: | Creche | 24 places | £300 per month(21) |
| Holiday playscheme | 44 places | £6 per day(21) | |
| Durham: | Creche | 52 places | £130 per month(21) |
| 70 places | £6 per day(21) | ||
| Blackpool: | Holiday playscheme | 60 places | £6 per day(21) |
| Office for National Statistics | |||
| London: | External playscheme | 16 staff--2 of whom used a different scheme, for which costs are not available | £8.05 per day, rising to £8.40 at Christmas 1998 |
| Southport: | Playscheme | 26 places, currently with 33 registered and 20 non-registered parents | £6.50 per day plus annual registration charge of £10 or £8 per day for non-registered parents |
| Titchfield: | Playscheme | 30 places, used by 57 parents | £8 per day |
| Newport: | Nursery | 28 places | £85 per week for under 2s, £80 per week for over 2s, rising to £90 and £85 respectively in January 1999 |
| Runcorn: | Playscheme(22) | 18 parents (24 children) | £8.50 per day |
| Royal Mint | No provision | -- | -- |
| UK Debt Management Office | No provision | -- | -- |
| Treasury | External playscheme during school holidays | 16 parents used it at least once | Currently £6.70 per day. No provision of nursery places or child care vouchers |
(21) NS subsidise the cost; figures given are average cost to parents, since not all places are taken up at a given time
(22) Co-located with DfEE and use their child care facilities
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Caroline Flint: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provisions are made available to (i) departmental staff and (ii) employees of executive agencies under the control of his Department, for
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(a) maternity leave, (b) maternity pay, (c) paternity leave, (d) parental leave, (e) flexible working hours, (f) part-time work, (g) job sharing, (h) leave to care for sick children, (i) home-working, (j) term-time contracts, (k) annual
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hours contract, (l) child care allowances, (m) careers' leave and (n) career break schemes; and what criteria are used to judge eligibility in each case. [108842]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to her by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, on 15 February 2000, Official Report, columns 519-22W.
The Chancellor's departments and agencies provide a wide range of family friendly options and alternative working patterns. All permanent staff are eligible subject to one year's service in the case of maternity leave, maternity pay and career break schemes.
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Caroline Flint: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the last five years, what proportion of women employees in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies under the control of his Department (a) returned to work after childbirth, (b) returned to work after childbirth before the end of maternity leave, indicating the (1) time-range and (2) mean time, (c) returned to work after childbirth on reduced working hours, indicating the average hours worked and (d) returned to work after childbirth full-time and subsequently reduced their hours. [109232]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to her by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 15 February 2000, Official Report, column 519W.
The available information is given in the table.
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| Office for National Statistics | HM Treasury | Customs and Excise | Inland Revenue (excludes VOA) (23) | Debt Management Office | Royal Mint | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) Percentage of total women employed who returned to work after childbirth | (24)10% | Nil return | ||||
| 1999 | 2.4% | 4% | 896 women | 2.7% | ||
| 1998 | 1.3% | 4.5% | 614 women | 4.7% | ||
| 1997 | 1.8% | 4% | 472 women | 5.4% | ||
| 1996 | 2.2% | 4% | (25)-- | (25)-- | ||
| 1995 | 1.1% | 3.3% | (25)-- | (25)-- | ||
| (b) Percentage of women returning to work after childbirth who returned early. Assumes 'early' means before 52 weeks | (26)90% | (25)-- | (25)-- | (25)-- | Nil return | |
| 1999 | 73% mean | 100% mean 18 weeks, | ||||
| 159 days(27) | range 14-17 weeks | |||||
| 1998 | 97% mean | 86% mean 35 weeks, | ||||
| 188 days | range 14-51 | |||||
| 1997 | 97% mean | 88% mean 15 weeks, | ||||
| 204 days | range 14-35 | |||||
| 1996 | 94% mean | (25)-- | ||||
| 205 days | (25)-- | |||||
| 1995 | 96% mean | (25)-- | ||||
| 203 days | (25)-- | |||||
| (c) Number returning after childbirth on reduced hours | (28)43% | (25)-- | (25)-- | (25)-- | Nil return | (29)53% |
| (d) Percentage of women who returned to work full time who subsequently reduced hours | 0.5% | (25)-- | (25)-- | (25)-- | Nil return | 0% |
| Percentage of women returners currently working full-time: | ||||||
| 1999 | 44% | 26% | 58% | |||
| 1998 | 40% | 49% | 60% | |||
| 1997 | 14% | 45% | 54% | |||
| 1996 | 60% | 46% | (25)-- | |||
| 1995 | 57% | 46% | (25)-- | |||
| Percentage of women returners currently working part-time: | ||||||
| 1999 | 56% | 74% | 42% | |||
| 1998 | 60% | 51% | 40% | |||
| 1997 | 86% | 55% | 46% | |||
| 1996 | 40% | 54% | (25)-- | |||
| 1995 | 43% | 54% | (25)-- | |||
(23) Information has been provided on actual numbers drawn from a small sample of 2,315 records
(24) Based on aggregate of last three years
(25) Unable to supply figures without incurring a disproportionate cost
(26) Average six months early. Range between one and nine months
(27) Includes 2000--104 women still on leave
(28) Average 23 hours
(29) Average 22.2 hours
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