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British Cattle Movement Service

Mr. Todd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the average (a) telephone response time and (b) failure rates were of calls to the British Cattle Movement Service in each month of this year to date. [125674]

Ms Quin: The average amount of time that callers to the BCMS helpline have had to wait between making a call and speaking to a operator, and the number of abandoned calls are as follows:

	Average response time (seconds)	Number of abandoned calls
January	70	3,210
February	42	1,638
March	36	2,132
April	76	2,967
May	99	4,549

The number of abandoned calls equates to about 15 per cent. of all calls received by the helpline. Most of these calls would have been made during peak periods.

The increase in May corresponds with the Spring calving peak. In addition, some experienced call centre staff have recently had to be re-deployed to other priority work and new staff are currently undergoing training.

The BCMS is considering an industry request for changes to the call centre work patterns with a view to increasing the number of staff during peak hours. This would result in off-setting reductions in opening hours at night and weekends.

Vessels Satellite Monitoring

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the compliance rates are of vessels registered in other EU member states which are obliged to carry operational satellite monitoring equipment. [125699]

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Mr. Morley: The Ministry does not have detailed information about the compliance rates of vessels registered in other member states obliged to carry satellite monitoring equipment. Such information would be held by the relevant flag state authorities. However, we understand that the position in other member states is similar to the UK. Compliance by vessels from other member states operating in British Fishery Limits has been good. Action will, and already has been taken against EU vessels fishing in UK waters that are not complying with the directive on satellite monitoring equipment.

Water Level Management

Mr. Brake: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which completed Water Level Management Plans include actions to enhance biodiversity on sites of special scientific interest. [125780]

Mr. Morley: MAFF encourages flood and coastal defence operating authorities to enhance biodiversity where possible when preparing Water Level Management Plans (WLMPs). Operating authorities have not hitherto been required to report biodiversity gains.

MAFF is aware of biodiversity gains at a number of sites where WLMPs have been implemented, but information is not generally available on the sites where there has been a gain.

The High Level Targets issued in November 1999 require operating authorities to report biodiversity losses and gains annually from 1 April 2001. Further information should then be available.

Organophosphates

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) evaluated on the relationship between arhythmic heart conditions and the use of organophosphates in sheep dip. [126822]

Mr. Nick Brown: [holding answer 19 June 2000]: As research relevant to OP sheep dips is published, it is evaluated by the Medical and Scientific Panel, a sub-committee of the Veterinary Products Committee. The Panel considered evidence that exposure to OPs could cause heart problems but concluded that such problems were unlikely to occur at the levels of exposure to OPs experienced during dipping operations. Following a Scientific Workshop on 28 March 2000, which was organised by the Government, we hope shortly to call for proposals for further research which could include the effects of OPs on the heart.

Fur Farming

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what definition he uses of public morality in his policy on banning fur farming in this country. [126862]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 19 June 2000]: "Public morality" is not susceptible to an absolute definition: it inevitably involves subjective judgment. The expression is relevant to consideration of the proposed ban under Community law. The European Court of Justice

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has held that in principle it is for each member state to determine in accordance with its own scale of values the requirements of public morality in its territory.

In the Government's view, fur farming is not consistent with a proper value and respect for animal life. Animal life should not be destroyed in the absence of sufficient justification in terms of public benefit. The Government believe that the rearing of animals solely or primarily for slaughter for their fur fails this test. The position of fur farming is quite distinct from that of food production. Where the primary purpose of keeping an animal is the production of food, that purpose provides a sufficient public benefit to justify breeding the animals for slaughter. This is so even where the production of fur or hide is a secondary purpose of keeping the animal.

For the reasons set out, the Government believe that a total ban on fur farming is justified.

Land Drainage

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on charges for land drainage. [124141]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 5 June 2000]: Within their districts, internal drainage boards require the payment of (a) drainage rates by occupiers of agricultural land (including buildings) and (b) special levies by local authorities in respect of developed areas and other non-agricultural land.

The income from the general drainage charge contributes to the costs of the Agency's flood defence functions in the area concerned.

The Environment Agency charges a fee of £50 to persons applying for land drainage consents under section 109 of the Water Resources Act 1991, the sum being prescribed under section 110 of that Act.

Special Advisers

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions since 31 March 1999 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity. [124110]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 5 June 2000]: Departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity on eighteen occasions since 31 March 1999. There has been no occasion when non-departmental advisers have accompanied me on visits abroad.

Farm Production

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment the Government have made of the relationship between level of production per unit of area and farm size in each of the major livestock and arable sectors. [126864]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 19 June 2000]: The relationship between production per unit area and farm size is monitored through the annual Farm Business Survey. Detailed results of the survey are published in "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom", available on the Internet at www.maff.gov.uk/esg/.

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Interactive Voice Response Systems

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agencies of his Department use interactive voice response systems when dealing with telephone inquiries from the general public. [127121]

Mr. Morley: As far as I am able to ascertain, without an expensive investigation, no agency of this Department uses interactive voice response systems in their dealings with the public.

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many telephone lines to his Department used by the general public are responded to by interactive voice response systems. [127120]

Mr. Morley: As far as I am able to ascertain, without an expensive investigation, none of the telephone lines in the Ministry that are used by the public are equipped with interactive voice response systems.

Fisheries

Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the capacity of EU institutional structures to accommodate regional fisheries councils. [127001]

Mr. Morley: The capacity of the EU institutional structure to accommodate regional fisheries councils will depend on the role and powers envisaged for such bodies.

Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has held with representatives of the European Commission on initiating consideration at EU level of proposals for zonal fisheries management. [126926]

Mr. Morley: My officials and I regularly discuss with the European Commission and colleagues from other member states ways of improving fisheries management at the regional and zonal level. Most recently, I made clear at the Fisheries Council on 16 June that we welcomed recent moves to enhance the regional dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy through, for example, the extension of regional workshops and the regional consultations on the Irish Sea cod recovery programme. These helpfully bring together fishermen, scientists and administrators to consider together improvements in the management of specific stocks in particular areas.

Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has held with the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation on the Hull University report, "Regional Management of European Fisheries". [126924]

Mr. Morley: Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have met the NFFO or SFF to discuss the Hull University report. Officials are to have an initial meeting with the NFFO and SFF on 29 June to discuss their joint document, "Zonal management: a new vision for Europe's fisheries".

Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of zonal fisheries management in relation to (a) overfished stocks, (b) excess fishing capacity and (c) discard. [126927]

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Mr. Morley: The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisation and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (NFFO/SFF) document, "Zonal management: a new vision for Europe's fisheries", is now being studied and officials will be meeting the NFFO and SFF on 29 June to discuss it.

Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further meetings he has planned with (a) the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and Scottish Fishermen's Federation, (b) European Commission officials, and (c) representatives of EU member states to discuss regionalisation of fisheries policy. [126928]

Mr. Morley: Officials will be meeting the NFFO and SFF on 29 June to discuss their joint document, "Zonal management: a new vision for Europe's fisheries".

My right hon. Friend expects to meet Commissioner Fischler shortly to discuss the 2002 CFP review, in the course of which we will make clear the Government's desire to secure a stronger regional dimension for the CFP and to involve fishermen more fully in fisheries management. We will also continue to make the same point in our regular contacts with colleagues in other member states.

Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the state of preparations for the 2002 CFP Review; and if he will identify the key issues for the UK. [126925]

Mr. Morley: The European Commission has indicated that it will shortly begin preparing a Green Paper on the 2002 review, to be issued early in 2001. My right hon. Friend expects to meet Commissioner Fischler in the near future to discuss this matter. He will emphasise that the UK wishes to maintain key features of the present arrangements such as national quotas based on relative stability and access restrictions within national 6/12 mile limits; and that we wish to secure improvements to make the CFP a more effective instrument for conserving fish stocks, including enhancing the regional dimension and integrating environmental considerations more fully.

Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from relevant parties on treaty changes required for

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zonal fisheries management; and if he will publish the external legal opinion he has received in respect of these matters. [126923]

Mr. Morley: Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have received any such representations or external legal opinion.

Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of trends in the fishing industry with regard to (a) recruitment and retention of staff, (b) profitability and (c) employment levels. [126930]

Mr. Morley: The Sea Fish Industry Authority published in 1999 a Labour Market Survey National Report, which evaluates employment trends, skill shortages and training needs. The Authority also publishes periodically data on the costs, earnings and profitability of a number of categories of vessels in the UK fishing fleet. Each year, MAFF publishes the United Kingdom Sea Fisheries Statistics, which contains information on numbers of fishermen.

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