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European Centre for Organic Fruit and Nursery Stock
Mr. Luff: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the likely location of the European Centre for organic fruit and nursery stock. [117688]
Ms Quin: As announced jointly by HM Treasury and the Ministry on 30 March 2000, this new Centre will be at Horticulture Research International, East Malling.
Regional Service Centres
Mr. Luff: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reason the "Action Plan for Farming" published on 30 March contains no commitment to the maintenance of his Department's regional service centres; and if he will make a statement. [117698]
Mr. Morley: The action plan for farming makes clear the Government's commitment to minimise administrative and cost burdens, to simplify bureaucracy, and to improve the use of information and communication technologies in farming communities.
The recent review of Common Agricultural policy (CAP) scheme administration was commissioned to help us identify the best way to improve the service currently provided to farmers and traders by MAFF's Regional Service Centres (RSCs) and the Intervention Board Executive Agency taking full advantage of the benefits of modern technology.
No decisions have yet been taken on the future of the RSCs following this review. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) on 27 March 2000, Official Report, column 37W, which sets out the latest position.
Mr. Luff:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to reduce the costs of implementation of agri-environment schemes including Countryside Stewardship. [117686]
Mr. Morley:
We have already achieved some reduction in the costs of implementing agri-environment schemes as a proportion of payments to farmers. Between 1996-97 and 1999-2000, the costs for scheme monitoring and the provision of technical advice rose from £12.3 million to just over £14 million, while payments to farmers almost doubled.
In addition, in order to cope with the anticipated doubling of applications for Countryside Stewardship this year, we have introduced a number of steps to help streamline the application process.
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In the medium terms we plan to carry out a major review of agri-environment schemes to consider reshaping and simplifying them in time to feed in to the mid-term evaluation of the England Rural Development Plan in 2003.
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to use the provision under article 13(b) of EU Rural Development Regulations to introduce schemes of management for areas where environmental restrictions apply. [117593]
Mr. Morley:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 4 April 2000, Official Report, columns 457-58W.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been spent on (a) the upkeep and (b) the purchase of works of art in his Department for each financial year since 1992. [117478]
Mr. Morley:
This Department borrows works of art from the Government Art Collection, which is funded and maintained by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts on 4 April 2000, Official Report, columns 392-93W. The Department has not bought any works of art since 1992.
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to extend the provisions of the Special Area Project for the Forest of Bowland to other areas within England that contain sites of international importance for wildlife. [117611]
Mr. Morley:
We intend to carry out an economic evaluation of the project at the end of its two-year pilot phase in March 2001. We will wish to consider the results of that evaluation before deciding whether to extend the project's provisions to other areas within England.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress on the flood defence programme for Edgware and Burnt Oak. [117216]
Mr. Morley:
I understand that the Environment Agency are aiming to consult on an Environment Statement for the Silk Stream flood alleviation scheme in the next few weeks, with a view to making a planning application for the works in August.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) which countries exported gelatine to the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and what quantity of gelatine each of those countries exported; [117007]
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Mr. Nick Brown
[holding answer 30 March 2000]: UK imports of gelatine in 1995-99 (tonnes) were as follows:
(2) from which countries gelatine (a) used and (b) sold in food outlets operated by his Ministry (i) as part of a food product and (ii) as a separate ingredient is imported. [117024]
| Country | 1995(21) | 1996(21) | 1997(21) | 1998 | 1999(22) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | -- | -- | -- | 2,605 | 3,886 |
| Belgium-Luxembourg | -- | -- | -- | 2,216 | 1,737 |
| Sweden | -- | -- | -- | 1,617 | 1,570 |
| Brazil | -- | -- | -- | 1,454 | 1,602 |
| Germany | -- | -- | -- | 1,227 | 1,538 |
| USA | -- | -- | -- | 1,207 | 1,529 |
| China | -- | -- | -- | 1,001 | 681 |
| Netherlands | -- | -- | -- | 875 | 705 |
| Italy | -- | -- | -- | 679 | 424 |
| India | -- | -- | -- | 491 | 604 |
| South Korea | -- | -- | -- | 361 | 396 |
| Colombia | -- | -- | -- | 344 | 307 |
| Spain | -- | -- | -- | 514 | 113 |
| Irish Republic | -- | -- | -- | 218 | 68 |
| Switzerland | -- | -- | -- | 102 | 169 |
| Taiwan | -- | -- | -- | 91 | 86 |
| Argentina | -- | -- | -- | 66 | 103 |
| Others | -- | -- | -- | 176 | 253 |
| Grand total | 14,753 | 16,405 | 14,997 | 15,242 | 15,773 |
(21) Import data is not available at country level prior to 1998
(22) Provisional
Source:
HM Customs and Excise
As for foodstuffs, gelatine is used as an ingredient in a very wide range of foodstuffs and it would not be possible to identify separately from which countries such foodstuffs are imported.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when he last met representatives of the Gelatine Manufacturers of Europe to discuss the safety of gelatine (a) as part of a food product and (b) a separate ingredient imported into the United Kingdom; [117005]
Mr. Nick Brown
[holding answers 30 March 2000]: I have held no discussions with the Gelatine Manufacturers of Europe. My officials are however in regular contact with UK gelatine manufacturers.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food recent discussions (a) he and (b) his Department has had with (i) the European Commission, (ii) the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (iii) the French Government, (iv) the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee and (v) the World Health Organisation concerning the safety of gelatine (1) as part of a food product and (2) as a separate ingredient imported in to the United Kingdom. [117006]
Mr. Nick Brown
[holding answer 30 March 2000]: My Department has held discussions with officials of the European Commission and the French Government on various aspects of the safety of gelatine. Discussions with the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the
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Secretary of State for Health. The role of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) is to give independent, scientific advice to Ministers on all aspects of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies. SEAC last advised on the safety of gelatine in 1997.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much gelatine was produced in the United Kingdom in the last five years. [117008]
Mr. Nick Brown
[holding answer 30 March 2000]: The only readily available information is that published by the Gelatine Manufacturers of Europe (GME). The GME estimates that in 1998 the United Kingdom produced 10,000 tonnes of gelatine for all purposes for edible, pharmaceutical, photographic and technical uses. The sources are listed by the GME as pigskin, hide, bone and other raw materials. A breakdown by country of figures for earlier years is not available.
(2) when he last met representatives of the Gelatine Manufacturers of Europe; and what was discussed. [117004]
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