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Over-thirty-months Scheme
Mr. Robertson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he plans to have with EU agriculture ministers about the Over-thirty-months Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [102219]
Ms Quin [holding answer 13 December 1999]: No such discussions are planned. In due course it may be appropriate to discuss the Over-thirty-month Scheme with European partners following advice from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee on the over-thirty- month rule.
Agricultural Wages Board
Mr. Livsey: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the Government's consultation paper concerning the future of the Agricultural Wages Board. [102564]
Ms Quin [holding answer 13 December 1999]: As part of the Government's quinquennial review programme, a Consultation Paper on the Future Rationale for statutory Wage and Other Controls in Agriculture and the Operation of the Agricultural Wages Board and the Agricultural Wages Committee was published on 6 December. Copies have been placed in the Library of both Houses. Comments are required by 31 March 2000.
Departmental Meat Supplies
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the country of origin of meat sold in his Department's buildings in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [102457]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 13 December 1999]: All my Department's catering facilities are run by contractors. Where they source their purchases is a matter for them. We have urged them wherever possible to buy British meat which we and they know makes commercial sense.
Plant Health Guide
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department will publish a revised plant health guide for importers. [101733]
Ms Quin: The current edition of the Guide was published in October 1998. A revised edition will be published when required to reflect significant changes in plant health legislation.
Thatching Reeds
Sir Peter Emery:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance his Department gives to encourage the production and harvesting of the reeds required for thatching roofs. [101893]
14 Dec 1999 : Column: 182W
Ms Quin:
This Department provides some payments under its agri-environment schemes for the creation, restoration and management of reedbeds as a habitat. This is not confined to reeds used for thatching. The Countryside Stewardship Scheme, Avalon Marshes Special Project, however, specifically targets the creation of reedbeds to be used for thatching.
MAFF, along with EU, The Broads Authority, English Nature, Anglian water and the RSPB, are involved in funding a research and development project aimed at establishing and demonstrating new machinery and techniques for managing wetland reedbeds and fens. The result of this work may provide techniques which benefit the production of reeds for thatching.
The Rural Enterprise Scheme, part of the package of measures under the Rural Development regulation announced by the Minister on 7 December, will provide support for a range of rural activities including renovation and development of villages and protection and conservation of the rural heritage; and encouragement for tourism and craft activities. The detailed operation of this scheme has yet to be finalised but the support provided might include various aspects of the production, harvesting and use of reeds.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many abattoirs are equipped to deal with the slaughter of organically reared animals; and what are their locations. [101146]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 7 December 1999]: 29 abattoirs in England are registered with approved organic inspection bodies to slaughter organically reared animals. They are distributed widely throughout the country.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many operating abattoirs there were in each year from 1 May 1969 to 1 May 1999 inclusive. [101148]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 4 December 1999]: At 1 May 1999 there were 477 licensed slaughterhouses in England (350 red meat and 127 poultry meat). The table gives end year figures of licensed red meat slaughterhouses for each year from 1975 to 1998. Also shown are the end year figures of licensed poultry meat slaughterhouses from 1983 to 1998. Prior to 1993, slaughterhouses in England were not licensed by MAFF, but by local authorities. The figures for 1975 to 1992 have therefore been derived from records of State Veterinary Service visits during each year and are approximate. No figures are available prior to 1975. For poultry meat slaughterhouses, no figures are available prior to 1983. It is not possible to identify how many of the licensed slaughterhouses detailed were operating at any given period.
(30) As at 31 December
(31) As at 31 May
14 Dec 1999 : Column: 183W
Petsmart
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the trading practices of Petsmart; and what response he has made. [102759]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has to date not received any representations on the trading practices of Petsmart.
Cardboard Egg Boxes
Mr. Gray: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the re-use of cardboard egg boxes; and if he will make a statement. [101701]
Ms Quin [holding answer 7 December 1999]: EU egg marketing regulations cover the labelling and use of egg boxes. To ensure the consumer is not misled the regulations do not permit the re-use of small packs because of the difficulty of ensuring the obliteration and re-printing of the information they are required to carry.
BSE
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the research into the causes of BSE in cattle that has been published by Professor Alan Ebringer and Professor John Pirt of King's College, London. [101700]
Mr. Nick Brown
[holding answer 7 December 1999]: Professors Ebringer, Pirt and others have published two papers postulating a possible alternative theory of autoimmunity for BSE in cattle and multiple sclerosis in man. In the third and latest paper, from a small study funded by MAFF, they report elevated levels of antibodies against brain components in the sera of BSE-affected cattle. Professor Ebringer claims that this supports his alternative theory for BSE. The work funded by MAFF should go some way to provide scientifically based information either to support or refute this theory.
14 Dec 1999 : Column: 184W
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the recent reports he has received about welfare standards in the Dutch pig industry; and if he will make a statement. [101699]
Mr. Nick Brown
[holding answer 7 December 1999]: I am aware both of a survey report on the website of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture about compliance levels with Dutch pig welfare rules and of a booklet setting out new Dutch welfare rules for pigs. Publication of both the booklet and the material on the website is a matter for the Dutch authorities. I have not formally been sent copies of these documents but both the Prime Minister and I have received letters from the Dutch Meat Board about their pork quality assurance scheme.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the budget for the promotion campaign of British beef abroad being led by the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin). [102061]
Mr. Nick Brown
[holding answer 9 December 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State will lead a team to target several key markets to try to agree the export health certification necessary to allow imports of British beef. The cost of this will be met from existing budgets, as part of our ongoing activities to get import bans lifted around the world.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the meat and meat offal of bovine animals exported in 1995 would be eligible for export under the Date-Based Export Scheme. [102060]
Mr. Nick Brown
[holding answer 9 December 1999]: None. It is a fundamental condition of the Date Based Export Scheme that among other things the animals from which beef for export is derived must have been born after 1 August 1996.
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