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Animal Import Licences
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the current importation licences which permit the importation of cynomolgus monkeys and wild-caught baboons into the UK for xenotransplantation research, indicating for each licence (a) the number of non-human primates involved, (b) the origin of the primates and (c) the expiry date of the licence; and if he will make a statement. [125302]
Ms Quin [holding answer 9 June 2000]: A list of the current import licences for cynomolgus monkeys (macaca fascicularis, otherwise known as crab-eating macaques), with expiry dates, is as follows. The animals are intended for research purposes but this Department does not require the type of research to be specified on the licence application. There are no current import licences for the importation of baboons.
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Agricultural Workers
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of agricultural/horticultural workers in Cheshire are in (a) part-time and (b) full-time employment; how many receive the national minimum wage; how many of the part-time employees are female; and if he will make a statement on the retention of the Agricultural Wages Board. [124785]
Ms Quin: The 1999 June Agricultural and Horticultural Census recorded 3,938 agricultural and horticultural workers in Cheshire (excluding farmers and managers). Of this total 23 per cent. were in part-time employment and 77 per cent. were in full-time employment. The agricultural work force in Cheshire included 868 regular part-time workers of which 408 were female. In addition 300 casual or seasonal workers were employed on a part-time basis. We have no information on the gender of these workers or any data on rates of pay on a county basis.
All agricultural workers should receive at least the Agricultural Minimum Wage set under the Agricultural Wages Order. All such rates are above the national minimum wage.
The review of the operation of the Agricultural Wages Board--one of the regular, standard reviews--is ongoing. The consultation period closed on 31 March and the responses which were received are being considered.
Frozen Beef Imports
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish an assessment of the animal health and safety welfare standards in countries from which the United Kingdom imports frozen beef. [124675]
Ms Quin [holding answer 5 June 2000]: All consignments of fresh or frozen beef meat imported into the UK, whether from other EU member states or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with the harmonised Community rules laid down in Council Directive 64/433/EEC. Ensuring that these rules are adhered to is the responsibility of the European Commission and reports of their veterinary inspection visits to a number of these countries are available on their website at the following address:
- http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/health/vi/reports/index--en.html
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the European Commission to submit a report on the comparison between animal welfare provisions in the Community and in non-member countries which supply the Community. We await the findings of this report with interest.
EU Beef Labelling
Mr. Gill: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the meat industry on the compulsory EU beef labelling scheme; and if he will make a statement. [123297]
Ms Quin: At its meeting in Luxembourg on 17 April the Agriculture Council reached a political agreement on the adoption of a common position on a Commission proposal for a Regulation laying down general rules for a compulsory beef labelling system in the EU. Since then we have received representations from a number of organisations involved in the beef supply chain expressing concerns about the compliance costs, the value of the proposed compulsory indications to consumers and the timescale for implementation.
Particular concern has been expressed about the requirement for beef to be labelled with the category of animal from which it is derived. We fully appreciate these concerns. The requirements may be amended following consideration of the proposed Regulation by the European Parliament.
Farmers
Mr. Ruane: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have left farming in each of the past 10 years. [123462]
Ms Quin [holding answer 23 May 2000]: Information in the form requested is not available. The overall number of main holdings in the agricultural census in the United Kingdom has declined from 256,700 at June 1989 to 239,600 at June 1999. These are net figures, which include holdings coming into, as well as leaving agriculture and will, in many cases, take no account of changes in ownership.
GM Maize (Chardon LL)
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in respect of the proposed decision to add the genetically-modified maize variety Chardon LL to the United Kingdom National List, how much money those making representations have in total paid him for so doing. [121514]
Ms Quin: To date £6,810 has been received in respect of written representations, and £40,280 for requests to be heard by a person appointed by Ministers.
Pig Industry
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a scheme to compensate pig farmers for the disposal of specified material on the same basis as that which exists for beef farmers. [121769]
Ms Quin: There is no scheme in place which compensates beef farmers or slaughterers for the disposal of specified material. The additional veterinary inspection
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cost of overseeing the removal and destruction of specified risk material (SRM) from cattle is not presently passed on to cattle slaughterhouse operators but as there are no SRMs in pigs no additional veterinary inspection costs apply.
Sheep Dips
Mr. Curry: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information was provided to regional service centres in December 1999 to assist them in responding to inquiries about the withdrawal of organophosphate sheep dips; and on what date the advice was received by each centre. [120074]
Ms Quin: The withdrawal of organophosphorus sheep dips was announced to Parliament by written answer on 20 December 1999, when a MAFF News Release was also published and was made available on the MAFF website to which all Regional Service Centres have access. Regional Directors were informed of developments at their regular monthly meeting on 20 January and were subsequently provided with further briefing.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
General Affairs Council
Mr. Jim Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 22 and 23 May; and if he will make a statement. [123722]
Mr. Vaz: I wrote to the Chairman of the European Select Committee on 7 June to explain the outcome of the 22-23 May General Affairs Council held in Brussels. Copies of my letter have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
Charities (Forms)
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the net change in each year since May 1997 in the number of forms issued by his Department which (a) charities and (b) other voluntary organisations are required to complete. [123947]
Mr. Robin Cook: Although the FCO has contact with many charities and other voluntary organisation, no central record is kept of those contacts and the information sought could be collected only at disproportionate cost.
It is FCO policy, as far as possible, to minimise the administrative burdens it places on the charities and voluntary organisations with which it has dealings.
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