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Farm Repossessions

Mr. Waterson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers in the last three years have lost their businesses because of repossession of their farms by lenders. [110444]

Ms Quin: There are no statistics on farm repossessions but I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 6 March 2000, Official Report, column 528W.

Primate Exports

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries to which the UK exports primates; and what species of primates are imported to the UK other than macaques. [111150]

Ms Quin: During 1999 my Department issued health certification for the export of primates to the following countries:


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In 1999 import licences were issued for the following species of primates:






Agriculture (Somerset)

Mr. Ashdown: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many (a) pig units, (b) dairy units and (c) poultry units there were in Somerset in (i) 1990-91, (ii) 1996-97, (iii) 1997-98, (iv) 1998-99 and (v) 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement. [111962]

Ms Quin [holding answer 28 February 2000]: The table shows the number of main holdings in Somerset with (a) pigs, (b) dairy cattle and (c) poultry.

Holdings with pigsHoldings with dairy cattleHoldings with poultry (18)
19904731,724950
19914631,685927
19963501,422n/a
19973711,371n/a
19983821,326815
19993721,289851

(18) Fowls including layers and broilers

Source:

Agricultural and Horticultural Census


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Pig Industry

Mr. Breed: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what recent informal discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss state aid for the UK pig industry; [111719]

Ms Quin: My right hon. Friends the Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer discuss many issues, both formally and informally. The Government are well aware of the current market conditions in the UK pig sector and of the representations which have been made for the introduction of some form of aid to compensate for the costs of BSE control measures falling on the pig sector. The scope for providing state aid is an issue which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has looked at very closely and will continue to do so. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear, any investment by Government must be linked to the long-term strengthening of the industry as part of an agreed overall strategy. To this end, my officials are in close touch with the National Pig Association and others.

Mr. Breed: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he had with representatives of the pig industry in January regarding schemes to compensate pig farmers for BSE-related costs. [111708]

Ms Quin: We have had a number of meetings with representatives of the pig industry in recent months which have included BSE-related costs. This is an issue which my right hon. Friend the Minister has looked at very closely and will continue to do so. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear, any investment by Government must be linked to the long-term strengthening of the industry as part of an agreed overall strategy. To this end, my officials are in close touch with the National Pig Association and others.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what progress his Department has made in respect of state aid to restructure the UK pig industry; [113162]

Ms Quin: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 1 February, any investment by Government must be linked to long-term change in the structure of the industry. It must also be part of an agreed overall strategy; to this end, my officials are in discussion with the National Pig

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Association and others. Discussions on this topic are also taking place with the European Commission, including direct contacts between my right hon. Friend the Minister and the Agriculture Commissioner.

BSE Inquiry (Costs)

Dr. Cable: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the estimated public costs of the BSE Inquiry up to the date of expected reporting of the inquiry; of those costs, what has been spent during the inquiry (a) by the inquiry team and its staff and (b) within (i) the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, (ii) the Department of Health and (iii) other departments and in support of their current and ex-civil servants, (c) supporting current or previous external Government advisers and (d) supporting the relatives of people with vCJD. [112441]

Ms Quin: The estimated public cost of the BSE Inquiry, including the costs of liaison units and legal support for witnesses from the main departments involved, up to the date of expected reporting is about £27 million. This includes:








Dr. Cable: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total amount of public money spent to date in the BSE Inquiry on fees for lawyers not directly employed by the Civil Service; and of these how much has been spent (a) on fees for (i) the Inquiry Chair, (ii) the solicitor to the inquiry and (iii) the main counsel to the inquiry, (b) in support of external Government advisers, (c) in support of employees or ex-employees of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and (d) in support of employees or ex-employees of the Department of Health. [112442]

Ms Quin: The total amount of public money spent to date on the BSE Inquiry for lawyers not directly employed by the Civil Service is about £9.1 million. Further costs are still being incurred.



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Dr. Cable: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the direct and opportunity costs met by (a) witnesses to the BSE inquiry and (b) their employers; and what level of reimbursement for such costs has been made from public funds. [112439]

Ms Quin: We are not in a position to estimate the direct and opportunity costs to witnesses or their employers of the Inquiry. Serving civil servants have participated in the Inquiry as part of their employment and relevant direct costs--travel and subsistence--are met from local budgets. Reimbursement from public funds of direct costs incurred by witnesses, who are no longer serving officials, in preparing and giving evidence to the Inquiry which have been paid by the Inquiry, MAFF, DH and other sponsoring departments, amounts to about £60,000.

Dr. Cable: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to evaluate the relationship between the costs and outcome of the BSE Inquiry. [112438]

Ms Quin: Questions about the relationship between the costs and outcome of a public inquiry can only be addressed once the Report has been received by the Government and assessed by all the parties concerned.


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