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TB

Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the destruction of a herd of fallow deer at Charlcote Park under tuberculosis regulations. [160672]

Ms Quin [holding answer 9 May 2001]: Though both the red and fallow deer herds at Charlcote Park have been under movement restrictions because of suspect TB since

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1989 at no time has MAFF required the National Trust to cull out either herd. MAFF understand that in early April 2001 the National Trust culled the red deer herd. Any decision to cull the fallow deer herd at Charlcote will be a management decision of the National Trust.

Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what impact the foot and mouth outbreak has had on (a) regular tuberculosis testing of cattle, (b) the culling of badgers for the triplet studies of TB and (c) the validity of the triplet studies of TB. [160671]

Ms Quin [holding answer 9 May 2001]: Almost all routine testing for TB in cattle has been put on hold, with State Veterinary Service (SVS) resources diverted to deal with the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. Some reactor cattle disclosed by testing carried out before the imposition of FMD movement restrictions are still being held on farms. Decisions on re-tests on inconclusive reactors and Short Interval Tests (SITs) are being made on a case-by-case basis according to the FMD situation in different Divisions of the SVS.

The badger culling field trial has been put on hold. The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB has advised MAFF officials that this should not affect the scientific validity of the trial. The Group is developing advice to MAFF on a strategy for the resumption of trial operations after the conclusion of the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

Intervention Board

Mr. Edwards: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) who the key official in the Intervention Board is who deals with Wales; and what his or her contact number is; [160698]

(2) what plans he has to review the operation of the Intervention Board. [160699]

Ms Quin: The Intervention Board administers a number of Common Agricultural Policy schemes in Wales and many of its officials are in contact with farmers and traders. The Chief Executive of the Intervention Board is Johnston McNeill, who can be contacted at the board's office in Reading, for which the telephone number is 0118 958 3626.

The future role of the Intervention Board was recently considered as part of the Department's review of its regional structure. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 24 July 2000, Official Report, column 472W. The work of the board in administering Common Agricultural Policy schemes is being brought together with similar work being done by the Regional Service Centres in the Department to form a new Paying Agency. Johnston McNeill was appointed Chief Executive of the new Agency with effect from 2 April.

BSE

Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those hunt kennels which the state veterinary service found to be unsatisfactory under the BSE enforcement programme in the last six months. [160750]

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Ms Quin: From November 2000 to April 2001, there were five unsatisfactory visits to hunt kennels. Details of unsatisfactory visits are reported in the BSE Enforcement Bulletin which is available on our website.

Meat Imports

Mr. Luff: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if beef over 30 months old from (a) Argentina, (b) Australia, (c) Botswana, (d) Brazil, (e) Mauritius, (f) Namibia, (g) New Zealand, (h) Paraguay, (i) Poland, (j) South Africa, (k) Switzerland, (l) Uruguay, (m) the USA and (n) Zimbabwe is considered safe for importation into and sale in the UK on animal health grounds; and if he will make a statement. [156381]

Ms Quin [holding answer 30 March 2001]: The over-30-months rule relates solely to BSE risks and beef from animals aged over thirty months at slaughter may be imported from the countries listed as it is not considered to represent a BSE risk. The age of animals at slaughter is not relevant in respect of other animal diseases.

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are being taken at border inspection points to ensure that requirements are being met with regard to the importation of meat. [160920]

Ms Quin: Under EU law all meat imported from third countries into the UK must enter at designated UK Border Inspection Posts (BIP) where it is subject to veterinary inspections. The inspection services at the BIP are the responsibility of the local authority. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 20 per cent. of consignments are subject to physical checks in accordance with EU legislation. Each BIP's performance is monitored by MAFF on a regular basis and subject to inspection by the European Commission to ensure these standards are met.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Miners' Compensation

Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much compensation has been paid to miners, ex-miners and miners' families in respect of chronic bronchitis and emphysema in (a) the Glasgow, Pollok constituency and (b) the City of Glasgow. [160833]

Mr. Hain: With regard to compensation for respiratory disease, IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have registered one claimant in the Glasgow, Pollok constituency, as defined by the postcodes G52 and G53. This claim has not been settled as yet.

In the City of Glasgow ¹ , there have been 53 claims initiated. In this region, 37 individual payments have been made, totalling £175,950.

¹ The City of Glasgow is defined by the postcodes, G1, 2, 11, 12, 14, 15, 20, 21, 32, 41, 43, 45, 51, 53, 61, 64, 72, 73, 76, 81 and 82.

Sir John Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many ex-miners in the Aberavon constituency suffering from pneumoconiosis and vibration white finger had been paid compensation on the last date for which figures were available; what the total amount involved was; and what the largest single payment was. [159431]

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Mr. Hain [holding answer 27 April 2001]: IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, advise me that, to date, there have been 1,264 claims registered in the constituency of Aberavon, as defined by the postcodes SA 11-13, CF34 and 42, in respect of vibration white finger (VWF). In this region, there have been 353 individual payments totalling £1.83 million. The highest single payment made to date was £21,250. This does not include claims for services, which have only recently begun to be processed. With regard to pneumoconiosis, figures are only kept nationally.

In relation to claims for coronary obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), IRISC have, to date, registered 3,077 claims in the constituency of Aberavon, as defined above. In this region, there have been 792 individual payments totalling £3.28 million. The single highest payment to date was £51,035.

Sir John Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many ex-miners in the Aberavon constituency suffering from emphysema have been paid compensation at the latest date for which figures are available; what the total amount involved was; and what the largest single payment was. [160845]

Mr. Hain: The present British Coal compensation scheme for respiratory disease covers Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema and asthma in certain circumstances. Until claims are assessed, the type and level of injury suffered by claimants cannot be identified and therefore the number of claimants suffering from emphysema alone in the constituency of Aberavon cannot be determined. IRISC have, to date, registered 3,077 claims in respect of respiratory disease in the constituency of Aberavon, as defined by the postcodes SA 11-13, CF34 and 42. In this region, there have been 792 individual payments totalling £3.28 million. The single highest payment to date was £51,035.

Sellafield MOX Plant

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he has commissioned on the technical modifications necessary to the Sellafield MOX plant to enable the plant to process plutonium for immobilisation. [159784]

Mr. Hain [holding answer 9 May 2001]: None.

British Shipbuilders

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry between which dates of employment and for which firms British Shipbuilders will pay damages for industrial injury in cases where there is an outstanding judgment. [160819]

Mr. Alan Johnson: The information requested is not held centrally and cannot be given in the time required.

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