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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Farm Bankruptcies
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farming businesses have (a) closed and (b) gone bankrupt during each of the past five years. [110529]
Ms Quin: There are no statistics on farm business closures. The data requested on bankruptcies are set out in the table.
| Date | Bankruptcies of self-employed individuals | Company (27) insolvencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 231 | 166 | 397 |
| 1995 | 218 | 99 | 317 |
| 1996 | 168 | 89 | 257 |
| 1997 | 155 | 51 | 206 |
| 1998 | 157 | 65 | 222 |
| 1999 | (28)149 | (28)52 | (28)201 |
(27) Including partnerships
(28) Not including data for the fourth quarter
Source:
Department of Trade and Industry
Live Animal Exports
Mr. Prosser: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 25 January, Official Report, column 189W, on live animal exports, how many live sheep were exported from the UK in 1999 for breeding. [110810]
Ms Quin: A total of 2,673 live sheep for breeding were exported from the UK in 1999 to EU member states and to Third Countries.
These figures are derived from the computer system used to issue export health certificates and are subject to updating and amendment.
Mr. Prosser:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many live pigs were exported from the UK in 1999 for (a) slaughter, (b) further fattening and (c) breeding in 1999, broken down by each country of destination. [110811]
Ms Quin:
The total number of live pigs exported from the UK during 1999 for (a) slaughter, (b) further fattening and (c) breeding are shown in the following tables:
| EU member states | Pigs for slaughter | Pigs for fattening | Pigs for breeding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | -- | -- | 12,922 |
| Denmark | -- | -- | 140 |
| France | -- | -- | 5,179 |
| Germany | -- | -- | 52,991 |
| Greece | -- | -- | 829 |
| Ireland | 83,537 | 4,205 | 109 |
| Italy | 260 | -- | 6,000 |
| Luxembourg | -- | -- | 24 |
| Netherlands | -- | -- | 19,180 |
| Portugal | -- | -- | 327 |
| Spain | -- | 50 | 5,214 |
| Total | 83,797 | 4,255 | 102,915 |
6 Mar 2000 : Column: 530W
| Non-EU destinations | Pigs for slaughter | Pigs for fattening | Pigs for breeding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | -- | -- | 300 |
| Croatia | -- | -- | 190 |
| Czech Republic | -- | -- | 273 |
| India | -- | -- | 100 |
| Isle of Man | -- | -- | 2 |
| Japan | -- | -- | 846 |
| Kenya | -- | -- | 10 |
| Latvia | -- | -- | 139 |
| Mexico | -- | -- | 26 |
| Poland | -- | -- | 8 |
| Slovenia | -- | -- | 181 |
| South Korea | -- | -- | 525 |
| St. Helena | -- | -- | 20 |
| Switzerland | -- | -- | 6 |
| Thailand | -- | -- | 146 |
| China | -- | -- | 1,780 |
| U.S.A. | -- | -- | 120 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 4,672 |
These figures are derived from the computer system used to issue export health certificates and are subject to updating and amendment.
Bees
Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what scientific studies he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated regarding the import of bees from New Zealand; what assessment he has made of the probability of such an importation carrying Kashmir Bee virus into the United Kingdom; and what advice he has received concerning the role of varroa mites as vectors for KBV. [110125]
Ms Quin: The Central Science Laboratory's National Bee Unit was requested to undertake a formal qualitative risk analysis on the importation of package bees from New Zealand. This was completed in March 1999. The importation of queen bees from that country which has high bee health standards, has been allowed under licence since 1980 without problem. Germany also allows imports of bee packages from New Zealand. However, the risk of importing Kashmir Bee virus (KBV) cannot be ruled out and the virus may already be present in UK bees. It has not yet been proven that KBV is vectored by varroa. There is certainly no indication from those major honey-producing countries where both varroa and KBV are endemic that the virus is causing concern, or measurable damage, to industry.
BSE (France)
Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the European Commission about the increased incidence of BSE and CJD in France. [109851]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 14 February 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) on 22 February 2000, Official Report, column 969W.
6 Mar 2000 : Column: 531W
Dr. Naysmith:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers flood defence committees have in respect of the exercise by the Environment Agency of its permissive powers. [111586]
Mr. Morley:
Section 106 of the Water Resources Act 1991 sets down the relationship between the Environment Agency and flood defence committees. Section 106(1) requires the Agency to arrange for its flood defence functions (except certain financial functions specified in section 106(2)) to be carried out by Regional Flood Defence Committees.
In practice the committees will decide a forward programme of flood defence works based on Environment Agency proposals. The committees also provide the majority of funding for flood defence, through the levies on constituent councils.
Dr. Naysmith:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Environment Agency has discretionary use of permissive powers under present legislation affecting the Environment Agency flood defence supervisory duty. [111585]
Mr. Morley:
Flood and coastal defence legislation is permissive, empowering the Environment Agency (and the other operating authorities) to carry out works but not requiring them to undertake such works, either at all or to a given standard. The Government nevertheless expect operating authorities to exercise their powers, and respond to flood risks, in a responsible way, and to be ready to explain their policy in this regard.
We have provided operating authorities with guidance to allow them to take prioritised decisions on flood defence provision within a strategic framework. This has been further developed through the Government's High Level Targets for flood and coastal defence, published in November 1999, which include a requirement for all operating authorities to prepare a publicly available policy statement setting out their approach to flood and coastal defence.
The Environment Agency has a duty, under section 6(4) of the Environment Act 1995, to exercise a general supervision over all matters relating to flood defence in England and Wales. The way in which this duty will be exercised acknowledging other operating authorities' responsibilities was elaborated, alongside the High Level Targets, in November 1999.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many farmers in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire received subsidy payments in each £10,000 band in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement; [111410]
Ms Quin:
The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
6 Mar 2000 : Column: 532W
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2000, Official Report, column 289W, if the use of glufosinate ammonia and its effects on the environment is being monitored as part of the trials being undertaken on GM winter oil seed rape. [111364]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 28 February 2000]: Yes.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps would have to be taken to lift the prohibition on winter use of glufosinate ammonia; and in what circumstances the lifting of the ban would be considered. [111354]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 28 February 2000]: The prohibition is contained in the five approvals for the commercial use of glufosinate ammonium products on oil seed rape. Lifting the prohibition would only be considered if an application, accompanied by information to demonstrate that this particular use posed no unacceptable risk to people, wildlife or the wider environment, were received. Experimental approvals, allowing strictly limited use but no sales, may be granted in order for experimental information to be collected to support such an application.
(2) if he will provide a breakdown of the subsidy payments to farmers in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire for each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [111441]
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