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Public Service Pensions
Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase public service pensions from April 2000. [102026]
Mr. Andrew Smith: Legislation governing public service pensions requires public service pensions to be increased annually by the same percentage as State earnings related pensions (additional pensions). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced on 9 November 1999, Official Report, column 907W, that benefits such as additional pensions will be increased by 1.1 per cent., in line with the annual increase in the Retail Prices Index up to September 1999. Public service pensions will therefore be increased by 1.1 per cent. from 10 April 2000, except those which have been in payment for less than a year, which will receive a pro-rata increase.
Stock Exchange
Mrs. Lawrence:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes in the arrangements for dissemination of price-sensitive information by officially-listed companies are planned following the proposed transfer of the UK Listing Authority from the London Stock Exchange to the Financial Services Authority. [102027]
7 Dec 1999 : Column: 524W
Miss Melanie Johnson:
Listed companies are currently required under the Listing Rules to submit announcements to the Exchange's Company Announcements Office for distribution to the public through the Regulatory News Service. Although the Listing Rules do allow for simultaneous notification of announcements to other news organisations, we consider it would be inappropriate to retain this requirement other than for a transitional period when, subject to Parliament approving the necessary legislation, the FSA becomes the Competent Authority for listing. I have therefore asked the FSA to undertake a review of the arrangements for the dissemination of price sensitive information by listed companies and to come forward with amendments to the current Listing Rules requirements in this area. The FSA will be launching a consultation exercise with interested parties to devise alternative arrangements.
Mrs. Lawrence:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will introduce pack marks on tobacco products to indicate that UK duty has been paid. [102028]
Mr. Timms:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a pack marking scheme for tobacco products in his Pre-Budget Statement. The scheme will become effective from 1 April 2001.
Pigmeat
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that consumers can determine the country of origin of pigmeat products at the point of sale through correct labelling. [99048]
Ms Quin: We are considering all interested parties on guidance aimed at ensuring that country of origin markings on food labels do not mislead consumers about the true origin of the ingredients that have been used. We also intend to promote changes to European and international rules and advice to ensure that consumers are given accurate information about the true origin of the foods they are buying.
Poultry
Mr. Cox: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many poultry birds were being reared in intensive breeding units in England and Wales on 1 November. [99526]
Ms Quin: The total number of poultry birds reared for meat production in England and Wales, as reported in the Agricultural Census published 1 November, is shown as follows. There is currently no provision to distinguish between the production methods used.
| As at 1 June 1999 | England |
|---|---|
| Broilers | 77,545,000 |
| Turkeys | 9,100,000 |
| All other poultry | 4,944,000 |
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| As at 1 June 1998 | Wales |
|---|---|
| Broilers | 7,087,300 |
| Turkeys | 622,000 |
| All other poultry | 1,834,600 |
Meat Labelling
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that pork imports from countries where standards of animal welfare are lower than in the UK carry information to this effect. [99756]
Ms Quin: We are consulting all interested parties on guidance aimed at ensuring that country of origin markings on food labels do not mislead consumers about the true origin of the ingredients that have been used. We also intend to promote changes to European and international labelling rules and advice to ensure that consumers are given accurate information about the true origin of the foods they are buying. This will provide the necessary choice for consumers. In the meantime we will continue to encourage retailers, caterers and public procurement authorities to source their supplies of pork and pork products to British standards.
Badgers (TB)
Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to recommence badger culling in those TB study areas where activity has been suspended. [100273]
Ms Quin: We announce the general locations of the culling trial areas and have released such information for the five triplets presently enrolled in the trial. But for reasons of staff safety and landowner privacy operational details, including the precise location and timing of operations, are not publicised.
Farmers Markets
Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent advice he has issued to local authorities with regard to the regulation of farmers markets. [100276]
Ms Quin: None, but MAFF officials have held discussions with the National Association of British Market Authorities, who represent local authorities with established markets.
Tallow
Mr. Breed: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total income received to date from the sale of tallow from rendered carcase material under the over-thirty-month scheme; and what estimate he has made of the income in each year for the expected duration of the scheme. [100826]
Ms Quin:
It is not possible to predict with any certainty income from the sale of the 200,000 tonnes of Over-Thirty-Month Scheme (OTMS) tallow held in store,
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as there are costs associated with its removal from store and transport to the point of destruction. Similar costs do not arise in respect of OTMS renderers burning tallow they produce to fuel their processes, thus replacing oil or gas. To date some 83,000 tonnes of OTMS tallow have been sold to renderers generating an income of around £2.7 million. Contracts exist for the sale to renderers of new production OTMS tallow and this is expected to generate an annual income of over £1 million until the end of the scheme.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on (a) the timescale in section 32 of the Cologne Council Conclusions for integrating environmental issues and sustainable development into fisheries matters and (b) current discussions on the discard system. [100997]
Mr. Morley:
The information is as follows:
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries of the European Union which are allowed to fish in British fishing waters. [101043]
Mr. Morley:
Vessels from France, the Republic of Ireland, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium have limited rights to fish within UK six to twelve mile territorial waters. The details of the areas and species for which access is granted are set out in Annexe I of EU Council Regulation 3760/92.
Mr. David Stewart:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to lift the ban on beef on the bone. [101072]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 2 December 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Minister's oral statement to the House on 30 November 1999, Official Report, column 151. Subject to the outcome of the statutory consultation now underway, and Parliamentary approval of the necessary legislative changes, it is the Government's intention to lift the retail ban on beef-on-the bone with effect from Friday 17 December. A copy of the consultation package is available in the Library of the House.
(a) Section 32 of the Cologne European Council Conclusions calls upon the European Commission to report back during 2000 on progress in the integration of environmental issues and sustainable development into fisheries policy. The Government fully supports such integration and will be encouraging the European Commission to meet this commitment.
(b) Discarding remains a significant concern of the Government. A range of research is placed on the extent of discarding. In addition, we are part funding the collaborative international study by Nautilus Consultants, as referred to in the reply given to the hon. Member on 29 October 1999, Official Report, column 1045W. The new EU technical conservation measures that will become operative from 1 January 2000, are designed to reduce discards. We shall be monitoring their impact.
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