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Genetically Modified Seed

Mr. Breed: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the length of the consultation period prior to the addition of Chardon LL maize to the national seed list; and what considerations he took into account in determining the length of the period; [122778]

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(2) what steps his Department took to publicise the consultation on the addition of Chardon LL maize to the national seed list; [122777]

(3) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) the publicity given to the consultation and (b) the length of the consultation period on the addition of genetically modified seed types to the national seed list. [122775]

Ms Quin: The Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982 (as amended) require Ministers to publish in the Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette, a notice indicating their proposed decision, and the arrangements and timing (not being less than 14 days) for making written representations or applying to be heard by a person appointed by them. The Gazette was published on 3 April and gave until 21 April--a period of 18 days--for such submissions to be made. This was subsequently extended administratively to 25 April to allow for delays in making submissions because of the Easter break. These arrangements reflected the normal practice for dealing with National List proposed decisions.

Given the wide interest in, and the publicity surrounding, the proposed decision, in addition to publication of the statutory notice in the Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette, Ministers also issued a press notice announcing their decision. Some 4,000 letters were also sent out to those individuals and organisations who had been corresponding with MAFF about GM National List matters, advising them individually of the proposed decision and the procedures for making written representations or requesting a hearing. Information about the proposed decision, including the tests and trials data on which the decision was based, and the arrangements for making representations and requesting a hearing, were also placed on the MAFF internet website.

EU Agriculture Council

Mr. Casale: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 16 to 17 May; and if he will make a statement. [122768]

Mr. Nick Brown: 1. I represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture Council in Brussels on 16 May.

2. The Council held a brief discussion of the Commission's proposal setting certain CAP prices and amounts for the 2000-01 marketing year, without reaching a conclusion. The Council will consider it further at its June meeting.

3. The Council discussed EU enlargement on the basis of a report from Commissioner Fischler on current preparations of the agriculture chapter. All Ministers stressed the importance they attached to making enlargement a success, recognising the key role of agriculture, including its veterinary, phytosanitary and food safety elements, in ensuring this. I welcomed the Commission's measured and methodical approach aimed at securing the opening of negotiations with the "Luxembourg Six" countries next month. Along with several other Ministers, I emphasised that a successful enlargement would require action not only by the applicant countries in aligning their legislation and administrative capacity with EU requirements, but also by the present EU in further adapting the CAP as provided for in the Agenda 2000 agreement of March 1999.

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4. Under Other Business I supported the Swedish Minister's call for a discussion at next month's meeting on evidence gathered by Compassion in World Farming of unsatisfactory implementation of the welfare of animals in transport Directive, an issue I have previously raised myself in correspondence with the responsible Commissioner, David Byrne.

Hounds (Feed)

Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the controls on the materials that hunts may feed their animals, with particular reference to specified risk material. [123137]

Ms Quin [holding answer 22 May 2000]: Specified risk material (SRM) may not be fed to animals. EU-wide specified risk material controls are currently being considered in the Standing Veterinary Committee of the Commission. Any redefinition of SRM is unlikely to result in an exemption to enable SRM to be fed to hounds.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the advice his Department offers to hunts on the dead stock that can be fed to packs of hounds. [123168]

Ms Quin [holding answer 22 May 2000]: In Great Britain the rules governing the feeding of animal by-products (which includes dead stock) to packs of hounds are laid down in the Animal By-Products Order 1999. The Order permits only certain categories of material to be fed to recognised packs of hounds in registered premises.

Rural Development Plan

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what details he has received of the rural development plans of other EU member states, with particular reference to their level of funding. [122961]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 22 May 2000]: The European Commission has so far produced only a summary of the Rural Development Plan for Finland, which makes full use of their EU allocation.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the projected increase in expenditure on the England rural development plan takes into account official estimates of inflation over the period involved. [122966]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 22 May 2000]: No. The projected increase in expenditure derives from modulation receipts which will be matched pound for pound, subject to the Spending Review.

Farm Summit

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the individuals who (a) were invited to and (b) attended the Downing street farm summit on 30 March. [122969]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 22 May 2000]: The Prime Minister invited a number of representatives of key stakeholders in the food chain to attend the summit on 30 March. All organisations invited to the farm summit attended. A list of names is provided.

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List of attendees at meeting with farming and food industry leaders, at No. 10 Downing street on 30 March
Peter Barr, Chairman, IGD Food Project, Hazelwood Foods plc
Peter Blackburn, President, Food and Drink Federation
Anthony Bosanquet, President, Countryside Landowners Association
Right hon. Nick Brown, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Sir Ross Buckland, Unigate plc
Ewen Cameron, Countryside Agency
Mike Coupe, Trading Director, ASDA Stores Ltd.
Donald Curry, Chairman, Meat and Livestock Commission
Sir Peter Davis, Chief Executive, J. Sainsbury plc
Ross Finnie, Minister for Rural Affairs, Scotland
Ben Gill, President, National Farmers Union
Janet Godfrey, Chairperson, Women's Farmers Union
John Godfrey, National Pig Association
Christine Gwyther, Secretary for Agriculture and the Rural Economy, Wales
David Hanson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office
Sir John Harman, Chairman of Environment Agency
Kevin Hawkins, Chief Executive, Safeways Stores plc
Reg Haydon, National Chairman, Tenant Farmers Association
Right hon. Adam Ingram, Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office
Terry Leahy, Chief Executive, Tesco plc
Lord Lindsay, Chairman of Assured British Meat
Micael McCoy, President, NI Agricultural Producers Association
Richard MacDonald, National Farmers Union
Sir Kenneth Morrison, W. M. Morrisons Supermarkets plc
Bob Parry, President, Farmers Union Wales
Nick Raynsford, Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Right hon. Dr. John Reid, Secretary of State for Scotland
Hugh Richards, Chairman, National Farmers Union Wales
Peter Small, Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Northern Ireland
Will Taylor, President, Ulster Farmers Union
Jim Walker, National Farmers Union Scotland.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral statement of 11 May 2000, Official Report, column 1024, if he will list the points of the 62 point action plan launched during the Prime Minister's summit in March. [122957]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 22 May 2000]: All 62 points are contained in the "Action Plan for Farming" launched at the Downing street farm summit on 30 March. Copies of the Action Plan have been placed in the House Library.

Apple Growers

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the decision by the French Government to compensate apple growers for the effect of consumer boycotts in Britain. [122993]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 22 May 2000]: I am aware that the French Government are providing aid for the horticulture sector but their Press Releases indicate that it is for restructuring, not compensation for the effects of any consumer boycott of French apples. My officials

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are seeking further information. There are strict rules governing the granting of state aids by member states. It is the responsibility of the European Commission to assess whether state aids comply with these rules. However if there is evidence that the French are paying an illegal state aid we will raise this with the Commission.

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