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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

Food Imports

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of (a) organic foods, (b) bottled drinking water, (c) parsnips and (d) yoghurt consumed in the UK are imported. [126323]

Ms Quin [holding answer 19 June 2000]: It is estimated that about (a) 70 per cent. of organic foods, (b) 35 per cent. of mineral water, and (d) 15 per cent. of yoghurt consumed in the UK are imported. Statistics on imports of parsnips are not separately available.

Animal By-products

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to minimise skip lorry movements of animal products for final disposal between farms. [125167]

Ms Quin [holding answer 8 June 2000]: None. The transport and disposal of animal by-products are already controlled by the Animal By-Products Order 1999. The Order is enforced by local authorities.

Confectionery Manufacturing

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the impact on British confectionery manufacturing of the

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European Commission's decision to suspend the payment of refunds payable on the export of non-Annex 1 products. [124769]

Ms Quin [holding answer 14 June 2000]: From 8 May this year the European Commission temporarily suspended the issue of further refund certificates, required for refund payments on the export of non-Annex 1 products. Special provision has been made for small traders to ensure that they are unaffected by the suspension. This suspension reflects the Commission's concern about the value of claims made so far in the current year compared to budgetary limits.

For the British confectionery manufacturing industry this could result in a shortfall in the current budget year of some £4.7 million from the previous year's export refund receipt of £18.5 million, if certificates remain suspended until the end of the budget year in October. The UK confectionery industry exports products worth some £300 million per year to non-EU destinations, and it is these exports that will be affected by suspension.

Discussions with the Commission are continuing at official and at ministerial level to secure a solution that will minimise the impact for all exporting industries affected by the suspension.

Milk

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to promote the consumption of fresh milk in schools. [125790]

Ms Quin: The Government have already taken action via the Intervention Board to draw the attention of schools and local education authorities to the existence of the EU School Milk Subsidy Scheme and to simplify its operations. The Intervention Board has also recently issued a questionnaire to all claimant organisations in England and Wales seeking further suggestions for improvements to the administration of the scheme.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to assist the promotion of the sale of fresh milk. [125791]

Ms Quin: In response to calls from representatives of dairy farmers the Government widened the remit of the Milk Development Council (MDC) to allow it to engage in the generic promotion of milk. The MDC's first marketing campaign for fresh milk, funded jointly by producers and processors, commenced on 19 June.

Mr. Todd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the basis and source of data of the Intervention Board calculations of milk production; and what representations he has received as to their accuracy. [125775]

Ms Quin: The monthly, wholesale, butterfat-adjusted, milk production figures calculated by the Intervention Board are based on monthly returns submitted to the Intervention Board by all approved milk purchasers, as required by regulation 28(2) of the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations 1997, as amended.

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The Intervention Board has received a number of representations over time about the accuracy of the milk production figures and, in response to such inquiries, has explained that the figures are subject to amendment and should not be regarded as definitive. It is made clear in the accompanying notes that the figures are issued only as a guide to trends in milk production and for comparison against a calculated milk quota profile. Those using the figures, particularly in reaching commercial decisions relating to milk quota or milk production, are advised to take account of the limitations, which are set out in some detail.

Farm Diversification

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what (a) advice and (b) financial assistance is available to farmers to help them diversify their work; and if he will make a statement. [125949]

Mr. Morley: We will launch a new Rural Enterprise Scheme which will include grant aid for farm diversification once we receive approval from the European Commission for the England Rural Development Plan.

Under the Action Plan for Farming we will also produce a new booklet on farm diversification and intend to provide free advice on planning to successful applicants to the Rural Enterprise Scheme.

Farm Animal Welfare

Mr. Coaker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to persuade his European Union partners to give a high priority during negotiations to revise WTO rules ensuring that the EU can maintain and improve its standards of farm animal welfare; and if he will make a statement. [126514]

Ms Quin: The conclusions of the EU Agriculture Council on 27 September 1999 and the General Affairs Council on 25 October 1999 committed the EU to taking forward the issue of farm animal welfare in the WTO negotiations. The UK has been a strong support of this commitment, which was reinforced by the Prime Minister in his Action Plan for Farming, published on 30 March 2000, and we will be seeking to take it forward in the negotiations on agriculture which have now started.

Fisheries Council

Mr. Casale: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the outcome was of the Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 16 June; and if he will make a statement. [127182]

Mr. Morley: The Fisheries Council met in Luxembourg on 16 June. I led the UK delegation, accompanied by John Home Robertson, Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs in the Scottish Executive.

The Commission presented its mid-term review of the Multi Annual Guidance Programme (MAGP) IV, which will now go for further study. I made clear that I could not accept the cuts in the UK fleet suggested by the Commission. In particular, effort control must be retained. However, the need to bring capacity into better balance with available stocks remained, and I welcome the Commission's plans for a public consultation this autumn

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on successor arrangements to MAGP IV. Stricter MAGP limits should be applied in member states offering construction grants for new vessels.

The Council adopted a report on the integration of environmental concerns into the Common Fisheries Policy for submission to the European Council and agreed on new arrangements for the collection of biological and economic data on the industry. I, together with German and Belgian colleagues, succeeded in insisting that these should not be unnecessarily burdensome. We raised the issue of unregulated international fishing for haddock off Rockall and with support from a number of member states pressed the Commission to seek early action through the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission.

I welcomed a statement from Commissioner Fischler on the need for member states to take action to reduce cetacean bycatches in EU waters. I also welcomed the Commission's report on the pilot stage of Regional Workshops, which helpfully bring together fishermen, scientists and administrators to consider improvements in the management of particular fisheries.

Commissioner Fischler reported on the latest state of play on negotiations on a new EU-Morocco Agreement. The Council had an initial discussion on responsibility for the enforcement of Regional Fisheries Organisation responsibilities. A revised Total Allowable Catch for anchovies was agreed.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

Free Votes

Mr. Wigley: To ask the President of the Council if she will make it the Government's policy that in each instance where the majority of the House is in favour of legislation and where the Government are neutral on the issue in question, it will put forward appropriate legislation, provide time for debate and permit a free vote on specific issues. [126084]

Mrs. Beckett: Governments are elected on the basis of their Manifestos, which will always contain a number of commitments requiring legislation. It is right that Manifesto commitments should have priority. Other legislative needs are identified by Government and examined on a case-by-case basis. Although parliamentary time is limited, there have always been occasions when the Government has found time for matters on which it is itself neutral.

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