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Equal Treatment Directive
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his policy on the proposed Commission directive on equal treatment, as set out in COM (1999) 566, with particular reference to (a) gender mainstreaming, (b) minimum entitlement to redress, (c) burden of proof, (d) indirect discrimination, (e) definition of harassment and (f) positive discrimination. [112350]
Ms Hodge: The Government welcome the European Commission's proposal for a directive covering discrimination on the grounds of race (COM (1999) 566) as an important contribution to combating racial discrimination throughout member states and accession countries. The proposal raises a number of issues including those mentioned by the hon. Member in his question and we will be considering the full implications of these during the course of negotiations. Negotiations are still at an early stage within the Working Group of the Social Affairs Council and adoption will require unanimous agreement by the member states.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Fisheries Protection Work
Mr. Burden: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of the review of MAFF grant in aid on fisheries work undertaken by the Environment Agency and other fisheries protection work. [113343]
Mr. Morley:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) on 27 October 1999, Official Report, column 922W.
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Dr. Naysmith:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if a definition of the developed environment exists allowing flood defence committees to ensure that the risk of flooding is minimised. [111584]
Mr. Morley:
The Government's policy is to
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In prioritising funding for flood and coastal defence works one factor which the Government takes into account is whether schemes will protect "urban" or "rural" areas. A scheme will be classified as "urban" only where 50 per cent. or more of the calculated direct benefits relate to industrial, commercial or domestic property, or major infrastructure.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many suicides amongst farmers have been recorded in each of the past five years. [110528]
Mr. Morley:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 7 February 2000, Official Report, column 77W.
In addition, the hon. Member may be interested in the information given in the table:
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reduce the risk to people and the developed and natural environment from flooding and erosion.
The phrase "developed and natural environment" is intended to embrace all of the country's assets. No firm definition of the term "developed environment" exists for the purposes of flood and coastal defence but we generally regard it as land on which development has taken place, for example buildings and roads, as compared with the natural environment which would generally be undeveloped land.
| Occupation (5) | PMR | Confidence interval Lower/Upper | Number of suicides |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982-87 | |||
| Veterinarians | 349 | (203-559) | 17 |
| Farmers, horticulturists, farm managers | 202 | (180-226) | 311 |
| Librarians, Information officers | 226 | (140-345) | 21 |
| Pharmacists | 214 | (140-313) | 26 |
| Medical practitioners | 175 | (138-218) | 78 |
| Dental practitioners | 192 | (117-296) | 20 |
| Deck, engine-room hands, bargemen, lightermen, boatmen | 144 | (117-176) | 95 |
| Teachers (not elsewhere classified) | 132 | (116-150) | 233 |
| Gardeners, groundsmen | 134 | (116-154) | 197 |
| Hotel porters | 171 | (113-249) | 27 |
| Other domestic and school helpers | 175 | (111-262) | 23 |
| Forestry workers | 173 | (107-264) | 21 |
| Shop salesmen and assistants | 123 | (106-141) | 196 |
| Driving instructors (not HGV) | 152 | (106-213) | 34 |
| Chemical scientists | 153 | (105-215) | 33 |
| Sales representatives | 116 | (101-134) | 203 |
| Farm workers | 120 | (101-141) | 142 |
| 1991-96 | |||
| Dental practitioners | 249 | (161-367) | 25 |
| Veterinarians | 324 | (148-615) | 9 |
| Farmers, horticulturists, farm managers | 144 | (124-166) | 190 |
| Sales representatives--property and services | 151 | (122-184) | 97 |
| Medical practitioners | 147 | (115-185) | 71 |
| Garage proprietors | 155 | (112-208) | 43 |
| Pharmacists | 171 | (111-252) | 25 |
| Other motor drivers | 124 | (108-141) | 221 |
| Painters and decorators, french polishers | 119 | (108-132) | 389 |
| Publicans | 128 | (107-152) | 129 |
| Builders | 119 | (106-132) | 332 |
| Cleaners, window cleaners, road sweepers | 122 | (105-139) | 204 |
| Shop salesmen and assistants | 118 | (105-133) | 296 |
| Carpenters and joiners | 115 | (103-127) | 384 |
| Gardeners, groundsmen | 117 | (102-133) | 234 |
(4) 95 per cent. confidence interval does not include 100
(5) Occupations listed in descending order of lower confidence interval
Source:
Office for National Statistics--series, Population Trends, Number 92, Summer 1998.
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Euro
Mr. Portillo:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money has been spent to date by his Department and by bodies funded by his Department
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in connection with the National Changeover Plan; on what headings this money has been spent; and how much his Department plans to spend on implementing the plan over the next 12 months. [112139]
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Mr. Morley
[holding answer 29 February 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer that my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary gave on 29 February 2000, Official Report, column 233W.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the European Commission on further action against discrimination in the awarding of fishing quotas, with reference to OJ C354/67, vol 42, 7.12.99; and if he will make a statement. [112648]
Mr. Morley:
As OJ 354/67 states on 14 January 1998 the United Kingdom received a reasoned opinion in respect of the procedures adopted in the UK for allocating quotas. We have responded to that opinion. No further representations have been received from the Commission.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the new public bodies established by his Department since May 1997. [112658]
Mr. Morley:
The following public bodies have been established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food since May 1997:
Bodies listed in the Cabinet Office publication 'Public Bodies 1999'.
Mr. Denis Murphy:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the (a) starting date, (b) finishing date and (c) the duration of this year's drift net salmon fishing season for the sea area from the River Tyne to the River Tweed. [113177]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 6 March 2000]: Under current byelaws the drift net salmon fishing season in the sea area from the River Tyne to the River Tweed will for this year, (a) start on 1 June; (b) finish on 31 August and (c) be for a period of 92 days.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tree felling licences have been granted by the Forestry Commission to the RSPB in each of the last five years; and how many trees have been felled as a result. [113115]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 6 March 2000]: The number of licences issued to the RSPB in each of the last five years and the number of trees licensed for felling are given in the table. The Forestry Commission does not keep records of the number of trees actually felled after licences have been issued.
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British Potato Council
Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals.
Bodies recently classified as Non-Departmental Public Bodies and yet to be published in the Cabinet Office publication.
Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs
Beef Assurance Scheme Panel.
| Year ending 31 March | Number of licences granted | Number of trees licensed for felling |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 | 390 |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 4 | 3,860 |
| 1999 | 2 | 86,015 |
| 2000 (to date) | 1 | 210 |
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