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Farmers (Suicides and Bankruptcies)
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the latest figures on (a) farming suicides and (b) farm bankruptcies. [145781]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 16 January 2001]: (a) The latest figures on farming suicides were provided in a written response to my hon. Friend on 27 November 2000, Official Report, columns 399-400W.
We are very concerned about the high incidence of stress and suicide among farmers. We are closely involved with a number of organisations working to alleviate the level of stress in rural areas as my previous reply indicated.
(b) Data on bankruptcies in the agricultural and horticultural sector in England and Wales are given in the table. These data correct figures for 1999 previously given in the answer of 13 November 2000, Official Report, column 461W and 20 November 2000, Official Report, column 63W.
Figures for the first two quarters of 2000 show a decrease in total farming bankruptcies of 15 per cent. compared with the same period in 1999. the current level of bankruptcies is 40 per cent. lower than in 1992 and represents 0.1 per cent. of the farming industry 1 . Bankruptcy is a last resort and most farmers leaving the industry as a result of financial pressure do so in an orderly manner by selling up and realising their assets.
| Year | Bankruptcies of self-employed individuals | Company insolvencies(13) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 198 | 111 | 309 |
| 1991 | 266 | 135 | 401 |
| 1992 | 313 | 191 | 504 |
| 1993 | 277 | 157 | 434 |
| 1994 | 231 | 166 | 397 |
| 1995 | 218 | 99 | 317 |
| 1996 | 168 | 89 | 257 |
| 1997 | 155 | 51 | 206 |
| 1998 | 157 | 65 | 222 |
| 1999 | 183 | 75 | 258 |
| 2000 | 88 | 31 | (14),(15)119 |
(11) Based on the number of holdings in the June Agricultural and Horticultural Census
(12) Source--Department of Trade and Industry
(13) Including Partnerships
(14) First two quarters only
(15) Third quarter bankruptcy data will be available on 2 February 2001
Departmental Advertising
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99, (d) 1999-2000 and (e) 2000-01, (i) his Department's total spending on advertising campaigns, (ii) the cost of each individual advertising campaign and (iii) the criteria that were established to gauge the effectiveness of each campaign; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of each campaign based on these criteria. [142715]
18 Jan 2001 : Column: 346W
Ms Quin: Detailed data relating to advertising campaigns, undertaken by MAFF for years since 1996-97 are available only at disproportionate cost. However, the following represents the best available information about apportionment of funding to advertising activity for the years in question. For the year 1999-2000 to date, total media costs are shown as a single figure.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | |
| Rabies | 138,000 |
| Personal imports | 134,000 |
| Total | 272,000 |
| 1997-98 | |
| Cattle passports | 8,000 |
| Personal imports | 102,000 |
| National Science week | 2,000 |
| IACS | 7,000 |
| Sheep scab | 22,000 |
| Livestock markets (animal welfare) | 22,000 |
| Cattle traceability | 54,000 |
| Food safety | 176,000 |
| Miscellaneous | 30,000 |
| Total | 423,000 |
| 1998-99 | |
| Clean livestock | 10,000 |
| Equine viral arthritis | 3,000 |
| TB in badgers | 4,000 |
| Livestock markets (animal welfare) | 40,000 |
| Science in practice | 8,000 |
| Personal imports | 166,000 |
| BSE | 29,000 |
| Cattle passports | 34,000 |
| Food safety | 850,000 |
| Total | 1,144,000 |
| 1999-2000(16) | |
| Recruitment | 4,000 |
| Animal Health | 7,000 |
| Environment | 6,000 |
| Pet travel scheme | 98,000 |
| Miscellaneous | 21,000 |
| Media costs attributable to 1999 campaigns to date | 771,000 |
| Total | 907,000 |
(16) To date
Advertising is usually a limited part of a campaign strategy. It has therefore not been subject to specific evaluation as a general rule. However, the recent Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) campaign was evaluated: to monitor awareness of the scheme; to monitor awareness of the advertising; and to assess whether the campaigns intended messages had been communicated. Overall, those objectives were considered to have been achieved.
Organic Farming
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of farmland was farmed organically in each of the last five years (a) nationally and (b) in the region that includes the Lewes constituency; and
18 Jan 2001 : Column: 347W
what support his Department is giving to support an expansion of organic farming (i) nationally and (ii) in the region that includes the Lewes constituency. [145387]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 16 January 2001]: The percentage of farmland farmed organically in each of the last five years in the UK is as follows:
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.77 |
| 1999 | 0.47 |
| 1998 | 0.32 |
| 1997 | 0.30 |
| 1996 | 0.28 |
Equivalent figures for the English regions are not readily available.
18 Jan 2001 : Column: 348W
The Organic Farming Scheme, which forms part of the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), provides aid to farmers wishing to convert to organic farming. The budget for the scheme over the life of the ERDP is £140 million. In addition, the Organic Conversion Information Service (OCIS), which is funded by MAFF, provides free advice to farmers considering conversion.
Animal Research (Importation Licences)
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the current importation licences which permit the import of non-human primates into the United Kingdom for use in research, indicating for each licence, broken down by species, (a) the number of non-human primates involved, (b) the origin of the primates and (c) the expiry date of the licence; and if he will make a statement. [145376]
Ms Quin [holding answer 16 January 2001]: The figures requested are detailed in the table:
18 Jan 2001 : Column: 347W
| Species of primates | Number of primates(17) | Origin | Expiry date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Licence | Rhesus Macaca Mulatta | 12 | Germany | 5 March 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 100 | Mauritius | 6 March 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 100 | Mauritius | 6 March 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 100 | Mauritius | 6 March 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 100 | Mauritius | 27 May 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 100 | Mauritius | 27 May 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 100 | Mauritius | 27 May 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 100 | Mauritius | 27 May 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 100 | Mauritius | 27 May 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 100 | Mauritius | 27 May 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 100 | Mauritius | 27 May 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 100 | Mauritius | 27 May 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 100 | Mauritius | 27 May 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 100 | Mauritius | 27 May 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 60 | Mauritius | 10 June 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 60 | Mauritius | 10 June 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 60 | Mauritius | 10 June 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 60 | Mauritius | 10 June 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 60 | Mauritius | 10 June 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 2 | China | 24 April 2001 |
| 1 Licence | Cynomolgus Macaca Fascicularis | 60 | China | 1 May 2001 |
(17) Licences for imports are often requested in round numbers. The numbers quoted do not imply the numbers which will actually be imported.
18 Jan 2001 : Column: 347W
Suckler Cow Premium
Mr. Breed: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by when he expects his Department to have distributed all the early payments of the suckler cow premium to farmers. [145920]
Ms Quin: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Totnes (Mr. Steen) on 8 January 2001, Official Report, columns 454-55W.
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