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HOUSE OF COMMONS
Toilet Facilities
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what access there is to toilet facilities in the House for people who are wheelchair users. [113603]
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Sir Sydney Chapman:
Specially equipped lavatories for wheelchair users are situated off the Lower Waiting Hall, the Committee Corridor, the Upper Committee Corridor and the Centre Curtain Corridor. The hon. Member may wish to note that there is also a specially equipped lavatory off Peers' lobby.
Pay Inequalities
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what data he has collated on current inequalities in pay between men and women in Scotland; and what measures the Government (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to tackle such inequalities. [111346]
Ms Jowell: I have been asked to reply.
Average pay of full-time employees in Scotland and Great Britain, 1999, is as follows:
| Hourly | Weekly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | |||
| Women (£) | 8.03 | 298 | 15,001 |
| Men (£) | 9.83 | 406 | 21,791 |
| Women's pay as a percentage of men's | 82 | (6)73 | (6)69 |
| Great Britain | |||
| Women (£) | 8.70 | 327 | 16,481 |
| Men (£) | 10.75 | 442 | 23,412 |
| Women's pay as a percentage of men's | 81 | (6)74 | (6)70 |
(6) Widening of pay gap for weekly and annual earnings reflects that men work on average 3.9 hours more per week than women, including 1.9 hours more overtime
Source:
New Earnings Survey 1999
Other figures on earnings for men and women in Scotland can be found in "Scottish Economic Statistics" which is available in the Library.
We are tackling the gender pay gap across Great Britain through a range of action to ensure women can reach their full potential, including tackling gender stereotyping in career choices; and encouraging them to take up opportunities in the information and communication technology sector. We will also be consulting on changes to Employment Tribunal procedures to speed up and simplify equal pay claims. This builds on action we have already taken to help women combine work and family responsibilities, including the National Childcare Strategy, parental leave and improved maternity leave.
EU Agrimonetary Compensation
Mr. Simon Thomas:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much European agrimonetary compensation scheme funds have been drawn down to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement. [112230]
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Ms Quin:
A total of £397 million in EU-funded agrimonetary compensation has been paid.
Mr. Breed:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fields with uncropped margins in excess of two metres were recorded in 1999, as a proportion of the total number of the integrated administrative and control system fields inspections during the year. [112818]
Ms Quin:
Of the total number of fields inspected by MAFF in 1999 under the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS), it is estimated that just under 4 per cent. involved claims for arable area payments which were paid on the basis of full Ordnance Survey field areas but which, because the field margins were found to be wider than two metres, would only be payable on the basis of actual cropped areas in 2000.
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the 10 largest recipients of CAP payments made to farms in Herefordshire for the calendar year 1998; and if he will make a statement. [113482]
Ms Quin:
Amount received by each of the 10 largest recipients of CAP payments in Herefordshire during the 1998 calendar year were:
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the estimated acreage of farmland taken out of farming in each of the last five years in the United Kingdom. [111988]
Ms Quin:
The total area on agricultural holdings in the United Kingdom over the last five years is shown in the table.
£236,601.76
£217,922.74
£191,714.98
£172,860.74
£168,856.75
£144,200.16
£136,475.79
£119,918.47
£115,826.01
£115,646.58
| Year | Area | Area difference |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 17,626 | -- |
| 1995 | 17,520 | (-)106 |
| 1996 | 17,527 | (+)7 |
| 1997 | 17,432 | (-)95 |
| 1998 | 17,372 | (-)60 |
| 1999 | 17,351 | (-)21 |
Notes:
Total area includes tillage and grass, rough grazing, woodland, set-aside and other land (paths, buildings etc).
Source:
Agricultural Census Statistics 1998 and June Statistical News Release. Data include minor holdings.
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Seed Lists
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons in the proposed draft Seeds (National Lists of Variations) Regulations 2000 consultation he proposes to abolish statutory measures relating to (a) oral representations at a public hearing, (b) the definition of persons affected, (c) rules of conduct for public hearings and (d) the requirement of fees in respect of such hearing; and replace them with ministerial discretion. [111649]
Ms Quin [holding answer 28 February 2000]: The proposed regulations do not abolish statutory rights to make oral representations about proposed decisions on National Listing. The proposal is to transfer the detail of how such rights are exercised from Regulations to the Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette. It is now more usual to set out such administrative detail separately, rather than include it in legislation. The proposals also provide for all fees associated with National Listing to be set administratively, rather than by regulation, subject to such fees being reasonable. The draft regulatory impact assessment which accompanied the proposals explained that we do not expect them to result in extra costs to industry, citizens or the environment.
Ms Walley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what applications in respect of genetically modified wheat and genetically modified maize (a) have been considered and (b) are currently under consideration in respect of inclusion on the European seed list common register; if such applications will be a matter for joint consideration with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; and if he will make a statement. [111412]
Ms Quin: Prior to February 2000, varieties added to a member state's National List could be included on the Agricultural Common Catalogue provided no member state indicated they intended to seek a derogation prohibiting marketing of the variety in their territory. No Genetically Modified varieties of wheat or maize were added to the Agricultural Common Catalogue under these arrangements.
Under new arrangements which came into effect in February 2000, varieties may progress automatically from member states National Lists to the Common Catalogue. For genetically modified plant varieties, this progression requires a marketing consent under Directive 90/220/EEC on the Deliberate Release into the Environment of Genetically Modified Varieties and, where appropriate, an authorisation under the Novel Foods Regulation No. 97/258/EEC. No genetically modified wheat varieties have either been considered or added to the Common Catalogue under these new arrangements. There are currently three genetically modified maize varieties included in member states' National Lists which the EU Commission is considering for inclusion in the Common Catalogue. These are CHARDON LL, included in the Dutch National List, and COMPA CB and JORDI CB, included in the Spanish National List. The decision on whether to add these varieties to the Common Catalogue is for the Commission to determine on the basis of whether the necessary regulatory requirements have been met.
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The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is not involved in considering whether plant varieties may be added to the Common Catalogue.
Mr. Breed:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent assessment he has made of the cost of BSE to the pig industry. [111706]
Ms Quin:
No official assessment has been made by Government, but industry assessments have been discussed between Government and industry representatives.
Mr. Breed:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations were made to him in January by representatives of the pig industry regarding legal opinion on the feasibility of state aid for the pig sector under European law. [111709]
Ms Quin:
My right hon. Friend the Minister received a letter from a group of solicitors acting on behalf of the British Pig Industry Support Group, threatening to bring a Judicial Review of the Minister's failure to grant state aid to the pig sector.
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