Antibiotics
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his policy is on legislation at EU level on prevention of use of antibiotics in animal food. [147454]
Ms Quin:
The Government are aware of concerns about the development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria affecting humans as a result of antibiotic use in farm-animal production. We supported an EU ban on the use of four antimicrobial growth promoters which were authorised as feed additives, which came into effect on 1 July 1999. We will continue to be guided by the principles established in the report of the Joint Committee on the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry and veterinary medicines (the Swann report) 1969. This report proposed that antibiotics authorised for growth promotion should be restricted to those which have little or no application as therapeutic agents in man or animals, and which will not impair the efficacy of prescribed therapeutic drugs through the development of resistant strains of organisms.
Inspectors
Mr. Kilfoyle:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many inspectors were employed within his Department and its agencies in each year from 1992 to 2000. [145247]
Ms Quin:
The number of staff with powers to enter or inspect property at 1 April in each of the years in question are set out in the table.
Inspectors in MAFF 1992-2000 as at 1 April
Department/agency | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000
|
Core MAFF(1) | 1,019 | 1,083 | 1,101 | 1,066 | 927 | 1,021 | 1,029 | 1,018 | 1,080
|
Farming and Rural Conservation Agency(2) | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 49 | 54 | 55 | 55
|
Pesticides Safety Directorate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
|
Veterinary Medicine Directorate | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3
|
Veterinary Laboratories Agency | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
|
Central Science Laboratory(3) | n/a | n/a | 33 | 34 | 46 | 43 | 42 | 46 | 47
|
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science(4) | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 19 | 18 | 13 | 15
|
Meat Hygiene Service(5) | n/a | n/a | n/a | 811 | 775 | 940 | 1,098 | 1,089 | n/a
|
|
Total | 1,026 | 1,090 | 1,141 | 1,916 | 1,755 | 2,078 | 2,245 | 2,225 | 1,200
|
(1) The figures for core-MAFF include staff, in the following functions, who have statutory powers to enter or inspect property:
Plant Health and Seed Inspectorate; Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate; Egg Marketing Inspectorate; Sea Fisheries Inspectorate; Fisheries Officers; Field Officers; Veterinary Officers, advisers and managers; Animal Health Officers; Scientific Officers (Nuclear specialists)--with FSA from 1 April 2000.
(2) FRCA was formed as a MAFF agency on 1 April 1997
(3) CSL was formed from MAFF as an agency on 1 April 1994
(4) CEFAS was formed from MAFF as an agency on 1 April 1997
(5) MHS was a MAFF agency from 1 April 1995 to 31 March 2000
5 Feb 2001 : Column: 373W
5 Feb 2001 : Column: 373W
Flooding
Mrs. Fiona Jones:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to compensate farmers for the losses caused by recent flooding. [147473]
Ms Quin:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on 30 January 2001, Official Report, column 137W.
Departmental Projects
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the projects undertaken for his Department by (a) outside consultants, (b) academic researchers and (c) university departments since 1 May 1997, giving the total expenditure incurred in each category. [144072]
Ms Quin:
From information held centrally, outside consultants have undertaken projects to the value of £41,894,360 in the Department since 1 May 1997. A list of these projects is shown.
In respect of (b) and (c), I regret that a full reply is not possible without incurring disproportionate cost. As far as research projects are concerned, the Department funds over 1,000 of these each year, many of which are placed with academic researchers/universities. A list of all current research projects can be found on the Department's website at http://www.maff.gov.uk.
"Managed set back" research
360 degree feedback training
ADAS study on losses to farmers following TB
ADAS consultancy work arising from the privatisation
Advice from experts on Flood Defence research
Advice on countryside stewardship project
Advice on the selection of a new member of Food from Britain Council
Animal Health Service Papers Filing Exercise
Animal Health Service Heads of Divisions Business Plan Workshop
5 Feb 2001 : Column: 374W
Arable Area Payments Scheme
Annual Staff Reports markings
Assessment of Radioactive Waste Dumpings at Sea
Audit of analytical services
Audit of catering services
Barrister (including Pupil and Expenses) in connection with GM Hearing on variety Charndon LL
Benchmarking against the European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model
British survey of fertiliser practice
BSE Consultants for Chief Veterinary Officer Group
British Cattle Movement Service Building
Selection of deputy chairman for Home Grown Cereals authority
British Cattle Movement Service Charging
Charter and Service Standards
Chief Veterinary Officer Group Filing
Cattle Herd Registration (AIT)
Consultancy on GIS data capture
Consultancy work on the overgrazing MoU
Consultant's contract as Chairman of the UNECE ammonia panel
Consultants for new research vessel
Contract with ATB-Landbase
Customer satisfaction surveys
British Cattle Movement Service Data Capture
Design and Supply software for the Agricultural Minimum Wage Helpline
Development of a module on the food chain for a CD-ROM for schools
5 Feb 2001 : Column: 375W
Ensuring Millennium Bug preparedness in the food chain
Enteleca (Research into tourist attitudes towards regional and local foods)
Environmentally Sensitive Areas contract for bird surveys
Evaluation of Processing and Marketing Grant scheme
Evaluation of the LEADER+ programme for England
Financial advice on tender applicants for new research vessel
Financial consultancy to set up Capital database
Fishing Vessel Decommissioning Scheme
Flood Defence Management services
Forensic accountancy advice prior to defence of Factortame claims
FPS and AFQ Link Programmes
General Financial Ledger set-up consultancy
Global Benchmarking study
Global Competitiveness study
Government Secure Internet Implementation Project
Habitat Scheme monitoring
Health and Safety initiative
British Cattle Movement Service Call Logging
Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
Horticultural Development Council
British Cattle Movement Service Image Retrieval
Independent assessor for the appointment of Board Members to the Wine Standards Board
Information Age Government Support
Investors in People assessment (PSD)
British Cattle Movement Service ISO
Ispra Wine Sampling Exercise
British Cattle Movement Service IT
IT Consultancy for Fishing Vessel Register problem with Cardiff RSS lin
JEGS 2000 (Job Evaluation and Grading System)
MAFF's Energy Efficiency Policy
Maiden 2000 (MAFF Intranet)
Management Structures consultancy
British Cattle Movement Service Millennium Cover
Monitoring of environmentally sensitive areas
British Cattle Movement Service New Building
British Cattle Movement Service Numeric Tagging
5 Feb 2001 : Column: 376W
Organisation of a two-month study visit for Bosnian students
Pay and Grading consultancy
Pesticide Register launch
Pilot training workshops for primary producers
British Cattle Movement Service Post Go Live Review
Post Implementation Review of Doc Management
Preparation of reports for Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees
Preparation of Risk and Approval Guidance for Flood Defence projects
Produce Studies (Poll Consultants)
Provision of legal advice to Agricultural Wages Board
Provision of meteorological data
Provision of scientific advice during Branch Head's secondment to the EA
Report on aquifer response times
Risk assessment and analysis of ash from small animal incinerators licensed to burn SRM
Sea Fish Management Development
Development and technical support for R&D database and work on e-Science projects
Staff Attitude surveys (PSD)
British Cattle Movement Service Start-up and Testing
Study into fishing vessel engine power ratings
Surveys of UK foodstocks and Food Vulnerability database
Systems Review and upgrade
Technical advice on methods of sampling and analysis for fertilisers
Technical support to Quality Wine and Vine Variety Classification Committees
Training (Personnel Division)
Triad Group (software development)
Unix-Lan Operation Continuity