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Cattle Passports
Mr. Opik: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of cattle passports issued in 1999 contained herd number errors; and if he will make a statement. [112429]
Ms Quin: Of the 3,026,837 cattle passports issued in 1999, 0.007 per cent. contained herd number errors.
Mr. Opik: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of cattle passports needed to be corrected after their initial issue in 1999; and if he will make a statement. [112428]
Ms Quin: Of the 3,026,837 cattle passports issued in 1999, 5.44 per cent. needed to be corrected after their initial issue.
Hop Producers
Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent advice he has received from the European Commission with regard to payments to hop producers under special temporary measures under Regulation 1098/98; and when he expects such payments to be made. [113504]
Ms Quin [holding answer 7 March 2000]: We have received various advice from the Commission since the special temporary measures for hops were introduced in 1998. The Intervention Board Executive Agency, which administers the scheme in the UK, made payments to producer groups in respect of the 1999 harvest by end December last.
8 Mar 2000 : Column: 721W
Day-old Chicks
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his policy on the methods used for slaughtering day-old chicks; and if he will make a statement; [112638]
- (2) how many male day-old chicks were destroyed in the last year for which figures are available; what method was used for killing; and if he will take action to end the use of the present method and level of slaughtering. [112637]
Mr. Morley: The methods permitted for the killing of surplus chicks and embryos in hatchery waste are specified in EU Council Directive 93/119/EC and "the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter and Killing) Regulations 1995". The following methods are permitted in the UK: (a) the use of a mechanical apparatus producing immediate death; (b) exposure to gas mixtures; and (c) dislocation of the neck. The majority of surplus chicks are killed using one of the first two methods listed above, but no figures on the total numbers killed, or the method used, are available centrally.
These methods were approved after careful consideration. The Farm Animal Welfare Council assessed the mechanical destruction method, and recommended its use in preference to 100 per cent. carbon dioxide. There are currently no plans to change the permitted methods for disposing of surplus chicks.
The number of surplus male chicks disposed of annually is largely dependent on the demand for laying hens: being market-led, it is not a matter on which the Government would wish to legislate. However, research is continuing into the possibility of producing single sex eggs to help reduce the number of unwanted chicks.
Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 3 February 2000, Official Report, column 721W, on day-old chicks, if he will list each of the countries within and outside the EU from which day-old chicks were imported in 1999, and the numbers imported from each country. [113186]
Ms Quin [holding answer 6 March 2000]: The following table list the import of day-old chicks into the United Kingdom from countries within and outside the EU in 1999.
| 1999 | Number of chicks imported |
|---|---|
| EU Countries | |
| Austria | 9,270 |
| Belgium | 45,121 |
| Germany | 34,816,225 |
| Denmark | 411,000 |
| France | 4,633,625 |
| Republic of Ireland | 58,025,730 |
| Netherlands | 1,073,968 |
| 99,014,939 | |
| Non-EU Countries | |
| USA | 174,328 |
| Canada | 17,798 |
| Total | 192,126 |
The total for imports from other member states has been revised and therefore varies from the figure given in my reply of 3 February. The figures given in the table are still provisional and subject to further validation.
8 Mar 2000 : Column: 722W
Genetically Modified Maize Products
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those members of the Food Advisory Committee whose participation was limited in its consideration of the labelling of genetically modified maize products placed on the market by Agrevo (T25), Monsanto (Mon 810), Novartis (Bt 11) and Pioneer (MON 809), indicating the manner in which it was limited. [113354]
Ms Quin [holding answer 6 March 2000]: No members were limited in their participation.
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library a copy of the (a) scientific information which the Food Advisory Committee considered before coming to its view in respect of the labelling of genetically modified maize products placed on the market by Agrevo (T25), Monsanto (Mon 810), Novartis (Bt 11) and Pioneer (MON 809), and (b) correspondence in respect thereof passing between the Food Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes. [113356]
Ms Quin [holding answer 6 March 2000]: (a) Summaries of the scientific information considered by the Food Advisory Committee are available in the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes Annual Report for 1996, which is lodged in the Library of the House.
(b) I have arranged for these papers to be placed in the Library of the House.
Fisheries
Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the reduction in grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency for fisheries work. [112554]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 6 March 2000]: 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.
Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the grant-in-aid from his Department for fisheries work by the Environment Agency for each of the last three years in (a) current prices and (b) constant prices. [112553]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 6 March 2000]: Grant-in-aid paid by MAFF to the Environment Agency
8 Mar 2000 : Column: 723W
for salmon and freshwater fisheries work (all figures in £ million) are as follows:
| (a) Current | (b) Constant | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 7.4 | 7.4 | (England and Wales) |
| 1998-99 | (19)22.1 | (19)21.6 | (England and Wales) |
| 1999-2000 | 4.8 | 4.6 | (England only) |
(19) In 1998-1999 there was a temporary change in the rules whereby all revenue from licence fees was returned to Treasury but with an equivalent increase in grant-in-aid. The underlying figure for MAFF grant-in-aid is £7.9 million, which included a one-off additional payment of £0.5 million to assist with the enforcement of the salmon conservation byelaws.
Tree Felling Licences
Mr. Chope: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in each of the last five years breaches of tree felling licences have been brought to the notice of the Forestry Commission; and what enforcement or remedial action has resulted. [113034]
Mr. Morley: The Forestry Commission has investigated 13 breaches of felling licences in the last five years, as set out in the table.
| Year ending 31 March | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 (20) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of breaches | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Successful prosecution and restocking notice | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- |
| Successful prosecution only | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- |
| Unsuccessful prosecution | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Warning letter sent | 2 | 1 | 1 | -- | 2 |
| Advice given or no further action | 1 | -- | 1 | 1 | -- |
(20) Year to date
Mr. Chope: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what tree felling licences have been granted in respect of Avon Heath Country Park; how many trees are affected; how many trees have been felled; and how many have been felled in breach of the licence; [113033]
- (2) what action the Forestry Commission is taking in response to reports that the RSPB is in breach of a tree felling licence granted in respect of Avon Heath Country Park in Dorset; and if he will make a statement. [113035]
Mr. Morley: The Forestry Commission has granted one felling licence in respect of Avon Health Country Park. This allows the owner to fell 86,000 trees by selectively felling and thinning 78 hectares of woodland. The Commission is currently investigating reports that the RSPB has felled trees which were not included in the licence.
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