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Serco Contracts
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the contracts that exist between SERCO and the Department, its executive agencies and associated public bodies; and if he will list those which have existed in the last three years. [151343]
Ms Quin: For the last three years, the Department's expenditure profile with the SERCO group of companies has been as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1998-99 | 17,818.55 |
| 1999-2000 | 27,270.50 |
| 2000-01 | 30,399.42 |
This expenditure comprises a total 139 individual transactions concerned with the supply of photographic film, fuel and vehicle maintenance. From records held centrally, the Department's Executive Agencies and Associated Public Bodies have had no dealings with the SERCO Group over the last three years.
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EU Sugar Programme
Mr. Denzil Davies: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the total cost to the EU Budget was of the EU's sugar programme in the latest year for which figures are available. [153984]
Ms Quin: Total expenditure on the sugar chapter for the 1999 EAGGF year was 2.113 billion euro. This was offset to some extent by sugar levies of 1.204 billion euro.
Aquaculture Scientists
Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of his Department's and its relevant agencies' fish disease scientists dealing with aquaculture hold qualifications from an internationally recognised professional body; if he will list the bodies with which they are qualified; and if he will make a statement. [154061]
Ms Quin: At the Weymouth Laboratory of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, there are nine scientists working on aspects of fish disease in aquaculture who hold a qualification from an internationally recognised professional body. These bodies are:
- The Institute of Biology
- The Zoological Society of London
- The Royal College of Science
- The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
- The Panhellenic Veterinary Association (Greece)
- Universite de Medecine (France).
BSE
Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the total UK stocks of rendered over 30 month scheme material were at the latest available date; and for what sum of money the Government are eligible for reimbursement by the European Union when those stocks are incinerated. [153921]
Ms Quin [holding answer 16 March 2001]: The total UK stocks of rendered material as at 4 March 2001 were 426,474 tonnes of MBM and 215,442 tonnes of tallow.
The total amount of reimbursement represented by these stocks, claimable at incineration, is approximately £150 million.
Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is being undertaken into the survival of M.bovis in (a) soil, (b) dust, (c) water and (d) other materials. [154034]
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Ms Quin [holding answer 16 March 2001]: The current research programme is designed to improve knowledge of the epidemiology, modes of transmission, pathogenesis and risk factors associated with bovine TB.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what account his Department is taking of the threat of increased genetic susceptibility to bovine TB of cattle. [154033]
Ms Quin [holding answer 16 March 2001]: The Government have accepted the advice of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) that research into the genetic base of disease resistance in cattle is not a priority at present, given the major practical difficulties the ISG has identified in pursuing research, and given that any genetic differences seem likely to affect mainly the severity of the disease in cattle, whereas current control policies are based on the removal of all infected animals identified through an immune response.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what methods his Department uses to restrict the spread of bovine TB during the foot and mouth epidemic. [154035]
Ms Quin [holding answer 16 March 2001]: All cattle movements in Great Britain are prohibited under the current foot and mouth disease control measures, except when conducted under special MAFF licences.
Organophosphates
Mr. Tyler: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the plant protection products containing organophosphate pesticides which have had approval revoked since September 1998, giving the reason for revocation in each case. [154252]
Ms Quin [holding answer 19 March 2001]: 85 plant protection products containing organophosphate pesticides have had their approvals revoked by Ministers since September 1998. A further 61 products are in the process of being revoked. A list of all the products is available in the Libraries of the House, with the reasons for revocation for each product.
Mr. Tyler: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the plant protection products containing organophosphate pesticides which have been granted approval under Regulation 5 of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 since September 1998. [154251]
Ms Quin [holding answer 19 March 2001]: 41 plant protection products containing organophosphate pesticides have been granted approval by Ministers since September 1998. A list of all the 41 products which have gained approval is provided in the table.
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Mr. Tyler: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the plant protection products containing the active ingredient chlorpyrifos which have been granted approval under Regulation 5 of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 in the last 12 months. [154250]
Ms Quin [holding answer 19 March 2001]: Two plant protection products containing chlorpyrifos have been granted approval by Ministers in the last 12 months to 13 March 2001. These are:
| Reg. Number | Product name | Marketing company |
|---|---|---|
| M09153 | Dursban WG | Dow AgroSciences Ltd. |
| M10139 | Lorsban WG | Dow AgroSciences Ltd. |
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