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Press Releases
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many press releases have been issued so far this year; and what the total cost of the production and issuing of press releases was in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 to date. [132779]
Mr. Morley: The total number of press releases issued by MAFF since 1 January this year is 350. They are made available to all press and media bodies through the Central Office of Information (COI) managed News Distribution Service and the Internet at an average cost of £92 per press release. Cost data are not available for 1997 and 1998, but this figure represents a significant saving against an average of £244 per press release in 1999 when printed copies were also distributed via the Royal Mail postal service.
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Press Officers
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many press officers were employed in his Department in (a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000; and what the total expenditure on press officers by his Department was in each of the years concerned. [132764]
Mr. Morley: The numbers are as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| May 1997 | 9 |
| January 1998 | 8 |
| January 1999 | 9 |
| January 2000 | 9 |
Pay and running costs for the equivalent financial years are as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 460,000 |
| 1998-99 | 556,000 |
| 1999-2000 | 605,000 |
Farm Profitability
Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list his Department's figures for the profitability of (a) sugar beet production, (b) other arable production and (c) total farm enterprises for each of the years from 1989 to 1999. [132523]
Ms Quin [holding answer 25 September 2000]: Estimates for the profitability of sugar beet and other arable production derived from information collected for farms in the University of Cambridge's province of the Farm Business Survey are shown in the table. Comparable data for 1999 are not yet available.
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| Harvest year | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar Beet | 1,098 | 1,282 | 1,224 | 1,547 | 1,271 | 1,188 | 1,228 | 1,115 | 973 | 951 |
| Winter Wheat | 707 | 739 | 737 | 738 | 779 | 820 | 969 | 792 | 629 | 625 |
| Winter Barley | 667 | 580 | 595 | 647 | 672 | 682 | 866 | 681 | 583 | 524 |
| Spring Barley | 525 | 472 | 609 | 657 | 613 | 634 | 820 | 534 | 548 | 566 |
| Oilseed Rape | 736 | 743 | 572 | 596 | 681 | 629 | 781 | 896 | 766 | 576 |
| Beans | 556 | 434 | 521 | 778 | 666 | 645 | 635 | 596 | 638 | 481 |
| Peas | 603 | 644 | 656 | 712 | 688 | 638 | 745 | 674 | 613 | 439 |
| Potatoes | 3,522 | 2,214 | 2,291 | 1,183 | 2,736 | 5,876 | 4,600 | 1,091 | 2,203 | 5,352 |
| All enterprises(15) | 867 | 604 | 655 | 740 | 777 | 880 | 1,015 | 944 | 815 | 824 |
(14) Deflated by a 1998 input price index
(15) Estimates for all enterprises should not be compared to those for the individual enterprises as they will also reflect profitability of other enterprises on other farms (e. g. livestock).
Source:
Report on Farming in the Eastern Counties of England (University of Cambridge)
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Northallerton Regional Centre
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department's regional centre at Northallerton will continue to take queries in person from local farmers. [133108]
Ms Quin: We will maintain arrangements for face-to-face local contacts with farmers in all regions in the lead up to the establishment of the CAP Payments Agency (CAPPA).
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The substantial investment which we propose to make in modernising CAP administration over the next Spending Review period will transform the way in which we deal with CAP payments. Farmers who submit their claims electronically will benefit from faster payment and the 'intelligent' forms will be significantly easier to complete. We are consulting widely on the best ways of ensuring a smooth transition to the new arrangements and helping our customers to reap the benefits with electronic service delivery offers. We will review the arrangements
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for face-to-face contact with farmers on their CAP subsidy claims when the new IT systems for CAPPA are fully operational and everyone has easy local access to the internet.
In parallel with the establishment of CAPPA, we are restructuring other aspects of our operational activity in the regions to strengthen MAFF's ability to deliver an effective and responsive local service to farmers on the implementation of the England Rural Development Plan.
Fishing (Quota Hopping)
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many Spanish skippers of quota-hopper fishing vessels have been paid compensation for being unable to fish after the passage of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988; how long they were stopped from fishing; and what was the average compensation per skipper; [132819]
- (2) how many British ticket holders working on Spanish quota-hopper vessels under the terms of the Aliens (Amendment) Act 1919 received compensation for being prevented from fishing by the Merchant Shipping Act 1988. [132820]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 27 July 2000]: Payments have been made only to the owners of vessels de-registered under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988.
Merchant Navy Day
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that the Red Ensign is flown from departmental buildings on Merchant Navy Day, 3 September. [132954]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 27 July 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), on 27 July 2000, Official Report, column 895W.
Electronic Communications Act 2000
Mr. Cotter: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what orders he (a) has made and (b) intends to make using section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. [133374]
Ms Quin [holding answer 28 July 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office on 28 July 2000, Official Report, column 905W.
Organic Farming
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the total spending by his Department in support of organic farming will be in 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03. [133479]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 28 July 2000]: In respect of organic conversion aid to farmers, we have set aside £12 million for 2000-01, £18 million for 2001-02 and £20 million for 2002-03. The budget for research and development in the organic sector is £2.1 million for each of the three years.
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Animal Welfare
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many (a) prosecutions and (b) successful prosecutions there were under the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [131983]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 28 July 2000]: My officials are aware of one successful prosecution under this Act in 1992, three successful prosecutions in 1993, and one successful prosecution in 1998. Other authorities may also have been responsible for prosecutions.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many (a) prosecutions and (b) successful prosecutions there were under the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994 in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [131844]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 28 July 2000]: As far as my Department is concerned, there was one successful prosecution in 1995, five successful prosecutions in 1996 and three in 1997. Other authorities may also have conducted prosecutions in this area.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many (a) prosecutions and (b) successful prosecutions there were under the (i) Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Acts 1954 and 1964, (ii) Welfare of Livestock (Prohibited Operations) Regulations 1982, (iii) Docking and Nicking of Horses Act 1949 and (iv) Removal of Antlers in Velvet (Anaesthetics) Order 1988 in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [131985]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 28 July 2000]: My officials are aware of two successful prosecutions and one unsuccessful one under the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Acts in 1995, and one successful prosecution in 1999. They are not aware of any prosecutions under the other listed legislation during the relevant period. Other authorities may also have been responsible for prosecutions.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many (a) prosecutions and (b) successful prosecutions there have been under the (i) Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 and (ii) Slaughterhouses Act 1974 in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [131846]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 28 July 2000]: My officials are aware of one successful prosecution under the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 in 1996, three successful prosecutions in 1997, seven successful prosecutions in 1998 and four in 1999. They are not aware of any prosecutions under the Slaughterhouses Act 1974 during the relevant period. Other authorities may also have been responsible for prosecutions.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many (a) prosecutions and (b) successful prosecutions there were under the (i) Markets, Sales and Lairs Orders 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1970, (ii) Welfare of Animals at Markets Order 1990 and (iii) Welfare of Horses at Markets (and other places of sale) Order 1990 for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [131785]
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Mr. Morley [holding answer 28 July 2000]: My officials are aware of one successful prosecution under the Welfare of Animals at Markets Order 1990 in 1997, and no prosecutions under the other Orders. Other authorities may also have been responsible for prosecutions.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many (a) prosecutions and (b) successful prosecutions there were under the (i) Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 and (ii) Animal Health Act 1981 in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [131843]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 28 July 2000]: My officials are aware of one successful prosecution under the Welfare of Animals (Transport) 1997, in 1999. This Order is primarily for local authorities to enforce. The Ministry conducted two successful prosecutions in 1990, one successful prosecution in 1993 and four successful prosecutions in 1998 under the Animal Health Act 1981. Other authorities may also have been responsible for prosecutions under this Act.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many (a) prosecutions and (b) successful prosecutions there were under the (a) Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932 and (b) Mink (Keeping) Order 1997 in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [131981]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 28 July 2000]: My officials are not aware of any prosecutions under the listed legislation during this period.
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