|
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER 1999
[MORNING SITTING]
Members present:
Mr Peter Luff, in the Chair
| Mr David Curry | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mrs Diana Organ |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Paul Marsden |
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round; Marketing of Milk; Sea Fishing; Segregation of GM Foods] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Resolved, That the Committee do visit the European Commission in Brussels in connection with its inquiry into the Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do visit Geneva in connection with its inquiry into the Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That the Chairman do seek the approval of the Liaison Committee for expenditure in connection with the said visit.
The Committee further deliberated.
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into Environmental Regulation and Farming.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the transcript of the evidence taken this day be published uncorrected on the Internet.—(The Chairman.)
Marketing of Milk: Rt. Hon. Stephen Byers, a Member of the House, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, was examined.
Marketing of Milk: Rt. Hon. Nicholas Brown, a Member of the House, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, was examined.
[Adjourned till this day at a quarter past Four o'clock.
TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER 1999
[AFTERNOON SITTING]
Members present:
Mr Peter Luff, in the Chair
|
Mr David Curry | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mrs Diana Organ |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Paul Marsden
|
The Committee deliberated.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 30 November at Ten o'clock.
TUESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 1999
Members present:
Mr Peter Luff, in the Chair
|
Mr David Curry | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mrs Diana Organ |
| Mr Paul Marsden | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Austin Mitchell
|
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Segregation of GM Foods] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into the Food Standards Agency.—(The Chairman.)
Segregation of GM Foods: Dr Roger Turner, Chairman, Dr David Carmichael, Representative from the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales, Mr Paul Rooke, Representative from the United Kingdom Agricultural Supply Trade Association (UKASTA), and Mr Daniel Pearsall, Secretary, Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops (SCIMAC), were examined.
Segregation of GM Foods: Mr Stephen Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Novartis Seeds UK, and Mr Willy de Greef, Head of Regulatory and Government Affairs, Novartis Seeds AG, were examined.
Segregation of GM Foods: Mr Graham Secker, Managing Director, Ms Anne Guttridge, Commercial Director, Grain, Feed & Oilseeds, and Ms Ruth Rawling, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Cargill plc, were examined.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 30 November at Ten o'clock.
TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 1999
Members present:
Mr Peter Luff, in the Chair
|
Mr David Curry | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Paul Marsden | Mr Mark Todd |
|
|
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Segregation of GM Foods] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Draft Report [The Current Crisis in the Livestock Industry], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
(The Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the First Report from the Agriculture Committee, HC 94 (1999-2000), p. xii.)
Segregation of GM Foods: Dr Philip Dale, John Innes Centre, and Professor Alan Gray, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, were examined.
Segregation of GM Foods: Mr Peter Riley, Senior Campaigner, Friends of the Earth, was examined.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 14 December at Ten o'clock.
TUESDAY 14 DECEMBER 1999
Members present:
Mr Peter Luff, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Paul Marsden |
| Mr David Curry | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Mark Todd
|
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round; Marketing of Milk; Segregation of GM Foods] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into the Rural Development Regulation.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That Professor Tim Lang and Professor Ken Thomson be appointed Specialist Advisers to assist the Committee in its inquiry into the Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round.—(The Chairman.)
Segregation of GM Foods: Dr Tom Clayton, Head of Food Technology and External Affairs, and Mr Robert Mitchell, Manager, Food External Affairs, Marks and Spencer plc, were examined.
Segregation of GM Foods: Mr Patrick Holden, Director, Soil Association, was examined.
Segregation of GM Foods: Professor Janet Bainbridge, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes, was examined.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 11 January at half-past Ten o'clock.
TUESDAY 11 JANUARY 2000
Members present:
Mr Peter Luff, in the Chair
|
Mr David Curry | Ms Fiona Jones |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Paul Marsden |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Mark Todd |
The Committee deliberated.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No.135(1) (Witnesses and evidence (select committees)) be applied in connection with the inquiry into Environmental Regulation and Farming.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No.135(1) (Witnesses and evidence (select committees)) be applied in connection with the inquiry into the Rural Development Regulation.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No.135(1) (Witnesses and evidence (select committees)) be applied in connection with memoranda relating to UK Beef Exports.—(The Chairman.)
Several Memoranda [Environmental Regulation and Farming; Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round; Marketing of Milk; Rural Development Regulation; Segregation of GM Foods; UK Beef Exports] were ordered to be reported to the House.
The Committee further deliberated.
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read the first and second time, and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the First Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government's response to the Ninth Report from the Committee in Session 1998-99 [MAFF/Intervention Board Departmental Report 1999] be appended to the Report.—(The Chairman.)
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read the first and second time, and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Second Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government's response to the First Report from the Committee [The Current Crisis in the Livestock Industry] be appended to the Report.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do meet concurrently with the Health Committee to take evidence from the Food Standards Agency.—(The Chairman.)
The Committee further deliberated.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 18 January at Ten o'clock.
TUESDAY 18 JANUARY 2000
[MORNING SITTING]
Members present:
Mr Peter Luff, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Michael Jack |
| Mr David Curry | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Mark Todd |
|
|
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Environmental Regulation and Farming; Segregation of GM Foods; UK Beef Exports] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Segregation of GM Foods: Baroness Hayman, a Member of the House of Lords, Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, was examined.
[Adjourned till this day at Five o'clock.
TUESDAY 18 JANUARY 2000
[AFTERNOON SITTING]
Members present:
Mr Peter Luff, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Michael Jack |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Mark Todd |
|
|
The Committee deliberated.
[Adjourned till Monday 24 January at half-past Three o'clock.
MONDAY 24 JANUARY 2000
Members present:
Mr Peter Luff, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Michael Jack |
| Mr David Curry | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Alan Hurst | |
The Committee deliberated.
Draft Report [The Marketing of Milk], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
(The Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Second Report from the Agriculture Committee, HC 36 (1999-2000), pp. xliv-xlv.)
[Adjourned till Tuesday 25 January at Ten o'clock.
TUESDAY 25 JANUARY 2000
Members present:
Mr Peter Luff, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Paul Marsden |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Mark Todd |
The Committee deliberated.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 1 February at a quarter past Nine o'clock.
TUESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2000
Members present:
Mr Peter Luff, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Michael Jack |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Mark Todd |
|
|
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Environmental Regulation and Farming; Segregation of GM Foods; Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Environmental Regulation and Farming: Mr John Lloyd Jones, Chairman, Parliamentary, Land Use and Environment Committee, Mr James Black, Vice Chairman of the National Pig Association, Mr Roger Sayer, Chairman and Managing Director of Humber Growers Limited, and Mr Jacob Tompkins, Environment Policy Adviser, National Farmers' Union of England and Wales, were examined.
Environmental Regulation and Farming: Mr R J Bansback, Corporate Strategy Director, Meat and Livestock Commission, and Mr M Attenborough, Technical Director, Meat and Livestock Commission, Mr Andrew Jorêt, Deputy Chairman, British Egg Industry Council, and Operations Director, Daylay Foods Limited and Mr Malcolm Sharp, Environmental Consultant to the British Egg Industry Council, and Head, Analytical Services Department, Scottish Agricultural College, Edinburgh, were examined.
Environmental Regulation and Farming: Mr John Evans, Managing Director, H Evans & Sons (Europe) Limited, Mr Adrian Dawes, Finance Director, Blue Prince Mushrooms Ltd, Mr Andrew Cooksey, Managing Director, Hazlewood VHB, and Mr Adrian Moerman, Managing Director, PA Moerman Limited, were examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 9 February at a quarter to Four o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2000
Members present:
|
Mr David Borrow Mr Paul Marsden |
| Mr David Curry Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr David Drew Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Alan Hurst Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Michael Jack |
In the absence of the Chairman, Mr Austin Mitchell was called to the Chair.
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Environmental Regulation and Farming] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round: Professor Alan Swinbank, Head of Department of Agricultural Economics and Management, University of Reading, was examined.
Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round: Mr Martin Wolf, Economics Editor, Financial Times, was examined.
[Adjourned till Monday 14 February at a quarter to Four o'clock.
MONDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2000
Members present:
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Paul Marsden |
| Mr David Curry | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Michael Jack | |
In the absence of the Chairman, Mr Austin Mitchell was called to the Chair.
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Environmental Regulation and Farming; Rural Development Regulation; Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round; Badgers and Bovine Tuberculosis] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Environmental Regulation and Farming: Dr Paul Leinster, Director of Environmental Protection, Mr Nigel Reader, Director of Finance, and Dr Mark Kibblewhite, Head of Land Quality, Environment Agency, were examined.
Environmental Regulation and Farming: Rt Hon Michael Meacher, a Member of the House, Minister for the Environment, Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and Mr Stephen Timms, a Member of the House, Financial Secretary to HM Treasury, were examined.
[Adjourned till tomorrow at Ten o'clock.
TUESDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2000
Members present:
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Paul Marsden |
| Mr David Curry | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Michael Jack | |
Resolved, That Mr David Curry do take the Chair of the Committee in the place of Mr Peter Luff.
The Committee deliberated.
[Adjourned till Monday 28 February at half-past Four o'clock.
MONDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Lembit Öpik |
The Committee deliberated.
Draft Report [The Segregation of Genetically Modified Foods], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
(The Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Third Report from the Agriculture Committee, HC 71 (1999-2000), p. xxxi.)
[Adjourned till tomorrow at Ten o'clock.
TUESDAY 29 FEBRUARY 2000
[MORNING SITTING]
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Owen Paterson |
| Mr Michael Jack | |
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Environmental Regulation and Farming; Rural Development Regulation] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into the Government's Proposals for Organophosphate Sheep Dips.—(The Chairman.)
Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round: Mr Ben Gill, President, Mr Martin Haworth, Director of Policy, and Dr Derrick Wilkinson, Senior Economist, National Farmers' Union of England and Wales, were examined.
[Adjourned till this day at a quarter to Four o'clock.
TUESDAY 29 FEBRUARY 2000
[AFTERNOON SITTING]
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Owen Paterson |
| Mr Austin Mitchell | Mr Mark Todd |
The Committee deliberated.
Ordered, That Professor Tim Lang be appointed a Specialist Adviser to assist the Committee in connection with its inquiry into the Food Standards Agency .—(The Chairman.)
Rural Development Regulation: Rt. Hon. Nicholas Brown, a Member of the House, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, was further examined.
[Adjourned till Monday 13 March at half-past Four o'clock.
MONDAY 13 MARCH 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Michael Jack |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Mark Todd |
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Draft Report [Environmental Regulation and Farming], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
(The Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Fourth Report from the Agriculture Committee, HC 212 (1999-2000), p. xxii.)
[Adjourned till Thursday 16 March at a quarter-past Ten o'clock.
THURSDAY 16 MARCH 2000
[The Committee met concurrently with the Health Committee]
Members present:
|
Mr David Curry | Mr Paul Marsden |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Mark Todd |
The following Members of the Health Committee were also present, pursuant to paragraph (4) (e) of Standing Order No. 152 (Select committees related to government departments):
|
Mr David Amess | Mr David Hinchliffe |
| Mr Simon Burns | Dr Howard Stoate |
| Mrs Eileen Gordon | Audrey Wise
|
Mr David Curry was called to the Chair.
The Committees deliberated.
Food Standards Agency: Professor Sir John Krebs, Chairman, and Mr Geoffrey Podger, Chief Executive, Food Standards Agency, were examined.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 21 March at Ten o'clock.
TUESDAY 21 MARCH 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Owen Paterson |
| Mr Paul Marsden | Mr Mark Todd |
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into Food From Britain.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into Horticulture Research International.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into Regional Service Centres.—(The Chairman.)
Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round: Mr Peter Stevenson, Political and Legal Director, Compassion in World Farming, and Mr David Bowles, Head of International Department, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Mr Chris Fisher, Consultant to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and to the Eurogroup for Animal Welfare, were examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 29 March at Eleven o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 29 MARCH 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Michael Jack |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Austin Mitchell |
The Committee deliberated.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No.135(1) (Witnesses and evidence (select committees)) be applied in connection with the inquiry into the Government's Proposals for Organophosphate Sheep Dips.—(The Chairman.)
Several Memoranda [The Government's Proposals for Organophosphate Sheep Dips; Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round; Rural Development Regulation] were ordered to be reported to the House.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 11 April at Ten o'clock.
TUESDAY 11 APRIL 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Owen Paterson |
| Mr Michael Jack | Dr George Turner |
| Mr Austin Mitchell | |
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [The Government's Proposals for Organophosphate Sheep Dips; Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Resolved, That the Committee do visit Crewe and Northallerton in connection with its inquiry into Regional Service Centres.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into the Government's Action Plan for Farming.—(The Chairman.)
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read the first and second time, and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Third Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government's response to the Second Report from the Committee [The Marketing of Milk] be appended to the Report.—(The Chairman.)
Mr Owen Paterson declared a non-pecuniary interest as a member of the Council of the British Leather Confederation and Vice President of the European Confederation of Tanners and Leather Dressers.
The Government's Proposals for Organophosphate Sheep Dips: Mr Ray Anderson, Director of Policy, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Professor Ian Aitken, Chairman, Veterinary Products Committee, were examined; Baroness Hayman, a Member of the House of Lords, Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, was further examined.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 18 April at Ten o'clock.
TUESDAY 18 APRIL 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Paul Marsden |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Owen Paterson |
The Committee deliberated.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 3 May at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 3 MAY 2000
[MORNING SITTING]
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Owen Paterson |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Mark Todd |
The Committee deliberated.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No.135(1) (Witnesses and evidence (select committees)) be applied in connection with the inquiry into Food From Britain.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No.135(1) (Witnesses and evidence (select committees)) be applied in connection with the inquiry into Regional Service Centres.—(The Chairman.)
Several Memoranda [Food From Britain; The Government's Proposals for Organophosphate Sheep Dips; Regional Service Centres] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into Organic Farming.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do visit Eastbrook Farm in Bishopstone and Duchy Home Farm in Tetbury in connection with its inquiry into Organic Farming.—(The Chairman.)
Food From Britain: Mr Gordon Summerfield, Chairman, and Mr David McNair, Chief Executive, Food From Britain, were examined.
[Adjourned till this day at a quarter past Four o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 3 MAY 2000
[AFTERNOON SITTING]
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Owen Paterson |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Alan Hurst | |
The Committee deliberated.
Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round: Rt Hon Joyce Quin, a Member of the House, Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, was examined.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 9 May at half-past Two o'clock.
TUESDAY 9 MAY 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| | Mr Michael Jack |
Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Paul Marsden | Dr George Turner |
The Committee deliberated.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No.135(1) (Witnesses and evidence (select committees)) be applied in connection with the inquiry into Horticulture Research International.—(The Chairman.)
Several Memoranda [The Government's Proposals for Organophosphate Sheep Dips; Horticulture Research International; Regional Service Centres] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Draft Special Report [The Committee's Work, Session 1998-99], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 13 read and agreed to.
Annex agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Fourth Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government's memorandum on implementation of the Committee's recommendations be appended to the Report.
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read the first and second time, and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Fifth Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government's response to the Third Report from the Committee [The Segregation of Genetically Modified Foods] be appended to the Report.—(The Chairman.)
[Adjourned till to-morrow at half past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 10 MAY 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Paul Marsden | Dr George Turner |
The Committee deliberated.
Horticulture Research International: Professor Michael Wilson, Chief Executive, Mr Peter Siddall, Chairman, and Mr David Temperley, Director of Finance, Horticulture Research International, were examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 17 May at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 17 MAY 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Owen Paterson |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Paul Marsden | Dr George Turner |
| Mr Austin Mitchell |
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Regional Service Centres] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Draft Report [The Government's Proposals for Organophosphate Sheep Dips], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
(The Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Fifth Report from the Agriculture Committee, HC 425 (1999-2000), p. xix.)
Regional Service Centres: Mr Reg Haydon, National Chairman, and Mr George Dunn, Chief Executive, Tenant Farmers Association, were examined.
Regional Service Centres: Mr Mark Thomasin-Foster, Chairman, Agriculture and Rural Economy Committee, Mrs Frances Beatty, Regional Director for Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire, and Miss Lucy Morgan Edwards, Agricultural Land Use Adviser, Country Landowners' Association, were examined.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 23 May at ten minutes to Two o'clock.
TUESDAY 23 MAY 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Owen Paterson |
| Mr Paul Marsden | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Austin Mitchell | Dr George Turner |
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Food From Britain; Regional Service Centres] were ordered to be reported to the House.
The Government's Action Plan for Farming: Rt. Hon. Nicholas Brown, a Member of the House, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, was further examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 14 June at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 14 JUNE 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Paul Marsden |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Mark Todd |
The Committee deliberated.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No.135(1) (Witnesses and evidence (select committees)) be applied in connection with the inquiry into Organic Farming.—(The Chairman.)
Several Memoranda [Horticulture Research International; Organic Farming; Regional Service Centres] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission.—(The Chairman.)
Regional Service Centres: Mr Ian Gardiner, Deputy Director General, National Farmers' Union of England and Wales, was examined; Mr Ben Gill, President, National Farmers' Union of England and Wales, was further examined.
Regional Service Centres: Mr Richard Cork, MAFF Group President, and Mr Tom Farnhill, MAFF Group Assistant Secretary, Public and Commercial Services Union, were examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 21 June at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 21 JUNE 2000
[MORNING SITTING]
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Michael Jack | Dr George Turner |
| Mr Paul Marsden | |
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Organic Farming] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into Genetically Modified Organisms and Seed Segregation.—(The Chairman.)
Regional Service Centres: Ms Jane Brown, Head of Regional Services and Defence, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, was examined.
Regional Service Centres: Rt Hon Joyce Quin, a Member of the House, Minister of State. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, was further examined.
[Adjourned till this day at a quarter past Four o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 21 JUNE 2000
[AFTERNOON SITTING]
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Paul Marsden |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Owen Paterson |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Dr George Turner |
The Committee deliberated.
MAFF/Intervention Board Departmental Report 2000: Mr Brian Bender, Permanent Secretary, and Mr Richard Carden, Former Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Mr George Trevelyan, Chief Executive, Intervention Board, were examined.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 27 June at half-past Nine o'clock.
TUESDAY 27 JUNE 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Owen Paterson |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Austin Mitchell | Dr George Turner |
| Mr Lembit Öpik |
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Organic Farming; Regional Service Centres] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Ordered, That Professor Michael Haines and Professor Sir Colin Spedding be appointed Specialist Advisers to assist the Committee in its inquiry into Organic Farming.—(The Chairman.)
Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission: Professor Malcolm Grant, Chairman, Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission, was examined.
[Adjourned till tomorrow at Ten o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Owen Paterson |
| Mr Paul Marsden | Mr Mark Todd |
The Committee deliberated.
Draft Report [The Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
(The Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Sixth Report from the Agriculture Committee, HC 246 (1999-2000), p xlvi.)
[Adjourned till Wednesday 5 July at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 5 JULY 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Michael Jack | Dr George Turner |
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [The Government's Proposals for Organophosphate Sheep Dips; Organic Farming] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Draft Report [Horticulture Research International], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
(The Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Seventh Report from the Agriculture Committee, HC 484 (1999-2000), p viii.)
Organic Farming: Professor Sir John Marsh CBE, Emeritus Professor, Former Head of the Centre for Agricultural Strategy, University of Reading, was examined.
Organic Farming: Professor William McKelvey, Vice-Principal, Corporate Operations, Scottish Agricultural College, was examined.
Organic Farming: Dr Nicolas Lampkin, Director, Organic Farming Centre for Wales, University of Wales, was examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 12 July at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 12 JULY 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Paul Marsden | Dr George Turner |
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Organic Farming] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Resolved, That the Committee do visit the Co-operative Wholesale Society Farm in Stoughton in connection with its inquiry into Organic Farming.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into Badgers and Bovine Tuberculosis: Follow-up.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into the Work of the Forestry Commission.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into the Implementation of IACS in the European Union.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do visit Paris and Poitiers in connection with its inquiry into the Implementation of IACS in the European Union.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do visit Belfast and Dublin in connection with its inquiry into the Implementation of IACS in the European Union.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That the Chairman do seek the approval of the Liaison Committee for expenditure in connection with the said visits.
Organic Farming: Mr Tim Bennett, Deputy President, Mr Oliver Dowding, Chairman, National Farmers' Union's Organic Farming Working Group, and Ms Angela Brett, Farm Marketing Adviser, National Farmers' Union of England and Wales, were examined; Mr Ian Gardiner, Deputy Director General, National Farmers' Union of England and Wales, was further examined.
Organic Farming: Mr Nick Bradley, Mrs Joanna Comley, and Mr Oliver Watson (individual farmers) were examined.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 18 July at half-past Nine o'clock.
TUESDAY 18 JULY 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Austin Mitchell | Dr George Turner |
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Genetically Modified Organisms and Seed Segregation; Organic Farming] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Genetically Modified Organisms and Seed Segregation: Dr David Buckeridge, Director, Advanta BV, and Mr Mike Ruthven, General Manager, Advanta Seeds UK Ltd, were examined.
Genetically Modified Organisms and Seed Segregation: Ms Sarah Hendry, Head of GM Co-ordination Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Dr Linda Smith, Head of Biotechnology Safety Unit, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, were examined; Baroness Hayman, a Member of the House of Lords, Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Rt Hon Michael Meacher, a Member of the House, Minister for the Environment, Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, were further examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 26 July at Ten o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 26 JULY 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Owen Paterson |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Austin Mitchell | Dr George Turner |
The Committee deliberated.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No.135(1) (Witnesses and evidence (select committees)) be applied in connection with the inquiry into Genetically Modified Organisms and Seed Segregation.—(The Chairman.)
Several Memoranda [Genetically Modified Organisms and Seed Segregation; Organic Farming] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read the first and second time, and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Sixth Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government's response to the Fifth Report from the Committee [The Government's Proposals for Organophosphate Sheep Dips] be appended to the Report.—(The Chairman.)
Draft Report [Genetically Modified Organisms and Seed Segregation], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
(The Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Eighth Report from the Agriculture Committee, HC 812 (1999-2000), p vii.)
Draft Report [MAFF/Intervention Board Departmental Report 2000], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
(The Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Ninth Report from the Agriculture Committee, HC 610 (1999-2000), p xv.)
[Adjourned till tomorrow at half-past Nine o'clock.
THURSDAY 27 JULY 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Owen Paterson |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Michael Jack | Dr George Turner |
| Mr Austin Mitchell |
The Committee deliberated.
A Memorandum [Genetically Modified Organisms and Seed Segregation] was ordered to be reported to the House.
Draft Report [Regional Service Centres], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
(The Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Tenth Report from the Agriculture Committee, HC 509 (1999-2000), pp ix-x.)
[Adjourned till Monday 2 October at 12 noon.
MONDAY 2 OCTOBER 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Paul Marsden | Dr George Turner |
The Committee deliberated.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 25 October at Ten o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 25 OCTOBER 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Mark Todd |
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Horticulture Research International; Organic Farming; Regional Service Centres] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read the first and second time, and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Seventh Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government's response to the Sixth Report from the Committee [The Implications for UK Agriculture and EU Agricultural Policy of Trade Liberalisation and the WTO Round] be appended to the Report.—(The Chairman.)
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read the first and second time, and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Eighth Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government's response to the Seventh Report from the Committee [Horticulture Research International] be appended to the Report.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into Horticulture Research International.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into the UK Pig Industry.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do visit the European Commission in Brussels in connection with its inquiry into the Implementation of IACS in the European Union.—(The Chairman.)
Organic Farming: Mr Ron Green, Managing Director, Congelow Produce Ltd, and Mr Graham Keating, Managing Director, and Mr Karl Tucker, Business Development Manager, Yeo Valley Organic Co. Ltd, were examined.
Organic Farming: Mr Bill Wadsworth, Technical Director, Iceland Frozen Foods Ltd, and Mr Ian Merton, Director of Primary Agriculture, and Mr Robert Duxbury, Organic Technical Manager, J Sainsbury plc, were examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 1 November at a quarter to Ten o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Paul Marsden | Dr George Turner |
The Committee deliberated.
Several Memoranda [Organic Farming] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Mr Michael Jack declared a pecuniary interest as a director and shareholder of The Food Chain Expo Ltd (and its subsidiary The Food Chain NEC Ltd) and as an adviser to Hartington Group Ltd, and a non-pecuniary interest as a member of a consortium developing TFC.
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into the Phillips Report and the Food Standards Agency.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do meet concurrently with the Health Committee to take further evidence from the Food Standards Agency.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into Flood and Coastal Defence: Follow-up.—(The Chairman.)
Organic Farming: Ms Helen Browning, Chairman, Soil Association, and Mr Charles Peers, Chairman, and Mr John Dalby, Chief Certification Officer, Organic Farmers and Growers Ltd, were examined; Mr Patrick Holden, Director General, Soil Association, was further examined.
Organic Farming: Professor Roy Ward, Chairman of Board, Mr Christopher Stopes, Member of Board and Chairman of the Certification Committee, Mr Andrew Jedwell, Member of Board and Chairman of the Technical Committee, and Mr Peter Crofts, Secretary, United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS), were examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 8 November at Ten o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2000
[MORNING SITTING]
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Dr George Turner |
| Mr Austin Mitchell | |
The Committee deliberated.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No.135(1) (Witnesses and evidence (select committees)) be applied in connection with the inquiry into Badgers and Bovine Tuberculosis: Follow-up.—(The Chairman.)
Several Memoranda [Badgers and Bovine Tuberculosis: Follow-up; Organic Farming] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Organic Farming: Mr Elliot Morley, a Member of the House, Minister for Fisheries and the Countryside, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, was examined.
[Adjourned till this day at Two o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2000
[AFTERNOON SITTING]
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Austin Mitchell | Dr George Turner |
| Mr Lembit Öpik | |
The Committee deliberated.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 15 November at Ten o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Drew | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Austin Mitchell | Dr George Turner |
The Committee deliberated.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No.135(1) (Witnesses and evidence (select committees)) be applied in connection with the inquiry into the Work of the Forestry Commission.—(The Chairman.)
Several Memoranda [Badgers and Bovine Tuberculosis: Follow-up; Work of the Forestry Commission] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Badgers and Bovine Tuberculosis: Follow-up: Professor John Bourne, Chairman, Dr Christl Donnelly, Deputy Chairman, and Dr Rosie Woodroffe, member, Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, were examined.
Badgers and Bovine Tuberculosis: Follow-up: Mr Roy Hathaway, Head of Animal Disease Control Division, and Dr Debby Reynolds, Veterinary Head of Endemic Animal Diseases and Zoonoses Team, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, were examined; Baroness Hayman, a Member of the House of Lords, Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, was further examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 22 November at Ten o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Lembit Öpik | Dr George Turner |
The Committee deliberated.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No.135(1) (Witnesses and evidence (select committees)) be applied in connection with the inquiry into the Implementation of IACS in the European Union.—(The Chairman.)
Several Memoranda [Implementation of IACS in the European Union; Organic Farming; Work of the Forestry Commission] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into Government Research into Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and Intensive Farming.—(The Chairman.)
Work of the Forestry Commission: Mr David Bills, Director General, and Mr Paul Hill-Tout, Chief Conservator, National Office for England, Forestry Commission, and Dr Bob McIntosh, Chief Executive, Forest Enterprise, were examined.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 28 November at twenty-five minutes past Four o'clock.
TUESDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Alan Hurst | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Michael Jack | Dr George Turner |
| Mr Paul Marsden
|
The Committee deliberated.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No.135(1) (Witnesses and evidence (select committees)) be applied in connection with the inquiry into Flood and Coastal Defence: Follow-up.—(The Chairman.)
Several Memoranda [Badgers and Bovine Tuberculosis: Follow-up; Flood and Coastal Defence: Follow-up; Horticulture Research International; Implementation of IACS in the European Union; Organic Farming;] were ordered to be reported to the House.
Flood and Coastal Defence: Follow-up: Dr Geoff Mance, Director of Water Management, Mr Bryan Utteridge, Head of Flood Defence, and Mr Brian Empson, Flood Defence Policy Manager, Environment Agency, were examined.
Flood and Coastal Defence: Follow-up: Mr Elliot Morley, a Member of the House, Minister for Fisheries and the Countryside, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, was further examined.
[Adjourned till tomorrow at Ten o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2000
Members present:
Mr David Curry, in the Chair
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr Michael Jack | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Paul Marsden | Dr George Turner |
The Committee deliberated.
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read the first and second time, and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Ninth Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government's response to the Tenth Report from the Committee [Regional Service Centres] be appended to the Report.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That Mr Graham Kerr and Professor Alan Swinbank be appointed Specialist Advisers to assist the Committee in its inquiry into the Implementation of IACS in the European Union.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into Market Access for Least-developed Countries and the Sugar Regime.—(The Chairman.)
The Committee met concurrently with the Health Committee
Members present:
|
Mr David Borrow | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| Mr David Curry | Mr Lembit Öpik |
| Mr David Drew | Mr Mark Todd |
| Mr Michael Jack | Dr George Turner |
| Mr Paul Marsden |
The following Members of the Health Committee were also present, pursuant to paragraph (4) (e) of Standing Order No. 152 (Select committees related to government departments):
|
Mr David Amess | Mrs Marion Roe |
| Dr Peter Brand | Dr Howard Stoate |
| Mr David Hinchliffe |
Mr David Curry was called to the Chair.
The Committees deliberated.
The Phillips Report and the Food Standards Agency: Professor Sir John Krebs, Chairman, and Mr Geoffrey Podger, Chief Executive, Food Standards Agency, were further examined.
[Adjourned till Monday 11 December at a quarter to Four o'clock.
| 
