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Farmers (Bankruptcies)
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many bankruptcies there have been among farmers in England in each of the last 10 years. [115948]
Ms Quin [holding answer 28 March 2000]: Data on bankruptcies are available only for England and Wales combined as set out in the table.
| Year | Bankruptcies of self-employed individuals | Company (9) insolvencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 142 | 78 | 220 |
| 1990 | 198 | 111 | 309 |
| 1991 | 266 | 135 | 401 |
| 1992 | 313 | 191 | 504 |
| 1993 | 277 | 157 | 434 |
| 1994 | 231 | 166 | 397 |
| 1995 | 218 | 99 | 317 |
| 1996 | 168 | 89 | 257 |
| 1997 | 155 | 51 | 206 |
| 1998 | 157 | 65 | 222 |
| 1999 | (10)149 | (10)52 | (10)201 |
(9) Including partnerships
(10) Not including data for the fourth quarter
Source:
Department of Trade and Industry
Regional Service Centres
Mr. Bradshaw: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the operating costs are of each of his Department's regional service centres; what refurbishment costs have been incurred at each centre in each of the last three years; and on what terms each of the buildings accommodating the regional service centre are secured, indicating which are (a) freehold and (b) leasehold. [115920]
Ms Quin: The data requested are set out in the table. This shows the latest forecast operating costs for the 1999-2000 financial year for each RSC; the expenditure on refurbishments (excluding normal maintenance) for the years from 1997-98 to 1999-2000; and the terms of occupancy at each site.
(11) Pay, non-pay running costs and decentralised capital costs
(12) Newly built office acquired in 1998
(13) Newly built office completed in 1999
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Mr. Ainger:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries from which (a) raw milk and (b) UHT milk was imported into the United Kingdom in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, and (iii) 1999, indicating the quantities in each case. [116573]
Ms Quin:
Total imports of raw (ie untreated) milk are shown in the table. The vast majority of imports of raw milk into the United Kingdom are from the Republic of Ireland. Between 1997 and 1999 small quantities were also imported from Austria, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands.
| Total imports | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 128.2 |
| 1998 | 128.7 |
| 1999 | 112.7 |
Source:
IBEA, DARD
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium and Luxembourg | 14.2 | 10.4 | 6.7 |
| France | 19.7 | 20.3 | 13.2 |
| Germany | 20.6 | 20.4 | 10.2 |
| Ireland | 6.8 | 4.2 | 5.7 |
| Others | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Total imports | 61.6 | 55.4 | 36.0 |
Note:
Due to rounding the totals may differ from the sum of the individual figures
Source:
Overseas Trade Statistics
Forest of Bowland
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the
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Special Area Project for Forest of Bowland; what plans he has to introduce schemes to address the needs of areas in England that contain sites of international importance for wildlife; and if he will make a statement. [116319]
Mr. Morley:
The Forest of Bowland was one of two areas selected in 1999 for a two-year, experimental project to test an integrated approach to environmental and rural economy issues in the uplands. A review of the project (and the experiment in the other areas--Bodmin Moor in Cornwall) will be carried out after an economic evaluation has taken place next year.
The Ministry already operates agri-environment schemes which help to address the needs of areas in England that contain sites of international importance for wildlife. We announced on 7 December 1999 that the funding for these schemes will be increased significantly. By 2007 it is expected to be double its present level.
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to make use of the provisions of the EU Rural Development Regulation allowing support of agricultural production to be conditional on the carrying out of measures to protect wildlife; and if he will make a statement. [116320]
Mr. Morley:
There are already measures in our livestock subsidy schemes to prevent overgrazing and environmentally damaging feeding practices and in our arable payments schemes relating to the management of set-aside land.
Consultation last year on the European Commission's Agenda 2000 reforms revealed numerous suggestions of additional environmental conditions which might be attached to agricultural support payments. These need to be considered very carefully with regard to whether they would be easily understood, their ease of enforcement, the environmental benefits and the cost to farmers. Further work is being done on this. If possible measures are identified, a further round of consultation on detailed proposals would be needed before introducing them.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of (a) organic farms, (b) farms currently in the process of converting into organic farms and (c) farms that have applied for the
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organic farming scheme, in (i) England, (ii) Hampshire, (iii) each local authority in Hampshire and (iv) each constituency in Hampshire. [116478]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 27 March 2000]: Information is currently available only for England. The number of applications to the Organic Farming Scheme that passed the initial validity checks is currently 1,185. A small number of these were either withdrawn or were not accepted onto the Scheme. As at November 1999 in England there were 34,534 hectares of land converted to organic farming and 94,144 hectares in conversion.
Mr. Gill:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what EU funds have been made available to Spanish fishermen to compensate them for the loss of access to Moroccan fisheries waters. [116249]
Mr. Morley:
According to our information, all compensation paid so far to Spanish fishermen, available from 30 November 1999 to 31 May 2000, has come from national funds made available by the Spanish Government.
Under the new Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG), which came into force on 1 January 2000, aid is available for vessel owners and fishermen whose activities are temporarily ended due to the non-renewal of a fisheries agreement. If offered, this aid would count against the allocation for Spain under the new FIFG.
Mr. Moss:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has received from the inshore fishermen at Hastings and Rye with regard to illegal fishing in their traditional waters by boats of over 10 m in length which hold licences for 10 m and under; [116090]
Mr. Morley:
Following representations from inshore fishermen and my hon. Friend for Hastings and Rye (Mr. Foster), the Ministry identified more than 20 vessels, licensed as 10 m and under vessels, whose overall length appeared to have been extended by adding structures (removable or otherwise) and which were effectively operating as over 10 m vessels.
The owners concerned have been advised that they must reduce the overall length of their vessel to 10 m or under, or acquire over 10 m licences by 30 June 2000. If they fail to do so their fishing vessel licences will not be renewed from 1 July 2000. A number of owners have already taken appropriate action and others are planning to do so.
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(2) what assessment he has made of the extent of illegal fishing in inshore waters along the South Coast of England by boats with under 10 m licences but which are above 10 m in length; how many such boats are involved; and what action his Department is taking and planning to take. [116092]
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