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Exports
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of agricultural products made in the UK are exported; and to which countries. [136613]
Ms Quin: It is not possible to calculate accurately the percentage of agricultural products made in the UK which are exported, as many exports will be in the form of processed food and feed products. Using a broad assumption to value just the raw commodity element of these processed products, it is estimated that approximately 20 per cent. of UK agricultural production in 1999 was exported.
The table lists the main countries to which food and feed products were exported in 1999. The values relate to the actual product value, including the full value of processed products.
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| Irish Republic | 1,158 |
| France | 864 |
| Germany | 482 |
| Spain | 408 |
| Netherlands | 369 |
| Belgium | 304 |
| Italy | 284 |
| USA | 274 |
| Denmark | 117 |
| Portugal | 108 |
| Other | 1,429 |
| Total | 5,797 |
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Beef Exports (France)
Mr. Denzil Davies: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when legal proceedings brought by the EU against France for prohibiting the importation of British beef will be heard by the European Court of Justice. [136196]
Ms Quin: The timing of the various stages in the European Commission's case against the French Government is determined by the European Court of Justice. The case is now entering the final phase of the written procedure and once that is concluded the Court will fix a Hearing date. It is possible, but not certain, that the Hearing could take place by Spring 2001. However, if the French Government, the Commission and the Court all agreed that a Hearing was not necessary, the oral procedure could be dispensed with altogether leaving the Court to begin its deliberations in advance of the Advocate General's Opinion and the Court's Judgment.
Floods (Lewes)
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the report he has commissioned from the Environment Agency into the recent floods in Lewes will consider the workings of the entire river system including the Uck and the Ouse; if he will undertake to fund the recommendations in that report; and if he will make a statement. [136568]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The report I have commissioned will look at the whole Sussex Ouse catchment, including the Uck. It will consider the rainfall/hydrology which caused the flooding, the existing flood defences and the options available to help improve the situation. The report will also link in with the planned Sussex Ouse River strategy, which will consider the management of the Ouse defences in the longer term. Contemplating the strategy will commence in 2001-02 and it is scheduled for completion in 2002-03.
It will be for the Environment Agency to secure funding for any programme of work resulting from these investigations, having regard to available funding and other priorities in the area. MAFF grant is available for any capital works which meet economic, technical and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score. Part of the additional £51 million announced by the Deputy Prime Minister for flood defence measures will be to provide funding for whole catchment area studies.
GM Seeds
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list each application for national seed listing of genetically modified varieties, indicating (a) the application number, (b) the company name, (c) the approximate date for decision, (d) the release consent number, (e) the date consent was granted and (f) if different from the national list applicants, the applicants' names. [136486]
Ms Quin [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The information is set out in the table.
(11) Marketing consent permits seed multiplication only. No proposed decision will be considered until the new Seeds (National List of Varieties) Regulations come into force.
(12) Tests and trials complete, National Listing cannot be considered unless a marketing consent under Directive 90/220 is promulgated.
(13) Subject to promulgation of marketing consents under 90/220 and satisfactory completion of tests and trials.
(14) A proposal to add this variety to the National List has been made. This is currently the subject of written representations and a public hearing.
(15) Subject to satisfactory completion of tests and trials.
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Fishing Vessels (Safety)
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about grant aid to encourage the safe operation of fishing vessels. [137406]
Mr. Morley: The Government wish to see the fishing industry develop a positive safety culture. Former schemes providing grants simply for equipment have not been successful in cutting accident rates. One of the keys to improving safety is good training and that will be our priority. We therefore propose to make up to £0.5 million available in each of the next three financial years to deliver safety training for fishermen in England. These
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payments, to be funded through the EU structural fund for fisheries, will cover the fees to enable courses to be offered to fishermen without charge.
My Department is in discussion with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Fisheries Departments of the devolved Administrations to develop a suitable new package of training measures. These will include courses to update safety awareness among fishermen hitherto exempt from the requirement for safety training; to provide training in accident prevention and risk assessment; and safety training for newcomers to the industry. We will consult the fishing industry on our proposals.
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We also intend that grant aid should be available through FIFG to support the trialling of innovative and experimental equipment to improve vessel safety.
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