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Over-30-months Scheme
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent discussions she has had with the European Commission on the continuation of the OTMS scheme; [14788]
- (2) what time limit has been set for the continuation of the over-30-months cattle scheme. [14792]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 15 November 2001]: It is the Government's intention to review the over-30-month scheme (OTMS) in light of any changes to the over-30- month rule. The rule will be reviewed by the Foods Standard Agency when a sufficient sample of cattle has been tested for BSE and the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) is expected to reconsider existing guidance in the new year. Changes to the scheme would need to be agreed with the European Commission and other member states if amendments to Commission Regulation (EC) No. 716/96, under which the scheme operates, are required.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle were slaughtered under the Over 30 Months Cattle Scheme in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001. [14794]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 16 November 2001]: The total numbers of cattle slaughtered under the scheme for the years in question are shown in the table.
16 Nov 2001 : Column: 975W
| Total scheme throughput | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 847,409 |
| 1998 | 895,278 |
| 1999 | 970,125 |
| 2000 | 972,751 |
| 2001(12) | 459,606 |
(12) To 31 October 2001
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of the over-30-months cattle scheme in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001. [14793]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 15 November 2001]: The total cost of the over-30-months cattle scheme for the years in question are detailed in the table. The second column shows the total amount of compensation paid to producers. The third column shows the total cost of the scheme including compensation payments.
| Year | Total compensation paid to producers | Total cost of the scheme including compensation |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 288 | 432 |
| 1998–99 | 264 | 380 |
| 1999–2000 | 265 | 394 |
| 2000–2001 | 240 | 358 |
| 2001–2002(13) | 44 | 81 |
(13) To 30 September 2001
Border Inspection Posts
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the establishment of border inspection posts in the United Kingdom by the European Commission Food and Veterinary Office. [14812]
Mr. Morley: Community law requires that all products of animal origin from third countries enter through, and are subject to checks at, a border inspection post (BIP).
Before a BIP can operate it has to be approved by officials of the European Commission Food and Veterinary Office (FVO). FVO veterinary experts will inspect the facility to ensure that the layout, structure and procedures comply with Community requirements.
Once approval has been given this must be ratified at the Standing Veterinary Committee who will adopt a decision amending the list of approved BIPs.
Common EU Fisheries Licence
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress made towards a common EU fisheries licence, with respect to communitarisation of national fleets. [14816]
Mr. Morley: There has been no movement in this direction. The belief that this is a likely development is based on a misreading of the Swedish Accession Treaty and has no basis in fact.
16 Nov 2001 : Column: 976W
Fisheries (Derogation)
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the state of negotiations to extend the derogation on six and 12 mile limits. [14819]
Mr. Morley: A decision on the six and 12 mile limits will be taken as part of the CFP review in 2002. Discussions in the Council of Ministers have revealed a very strong consensus among member states in favour of renewing the limits; the Commission is also known to support them. For my part, I shall be making every effort to get the limits made permanent.
Fishing Controls
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1936/2001, laying down control measures applicable to fishing for certain stocks of highly migratory fish, on (a) her Department's activities and (b) Dependent and Associated Territories, with special reference to (i) the Falklands and (ii) Gibraltar. [14796]
Mr. Morley: No assessment has been made of the effect of Council Regulation (EC) No.1939/12001 laying down control measures applicable to fishing for certain stocks of highly migratory fish in any fisheries.
Live Export Refunds
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her policy regarding live export refunds for cattle; and if it is her policy to support their suspension as concerns the European Communities budget. [14813]
Mr. Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Rendel) on 12 November 2001, Official Report, columns 597–98W.
Foot and Mouth
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what percentage of cases livestock owners who resisted an animal culling order were subsequently informed that their animals were infected with foot and mouth disease; and if she will make a statement. [13887]
Mr. Morley: The London headquarters of the Department was involved in or made aware of a total of 127 cases where livestock owners appealed against a cull. At the time of appeal, 104 were contiguous premises, 17 were dangerous contacts, three were 3km cull cases, two were slaughters on suspicion and one was an infected premises. In 15 per cent. of this total number, the owners were subsequently informed that their animals were infected with foot and mouth disease and the status of their premises was amended accordingly.
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations govern (a) the export of game, and (b) compensation for game exporters whose business was affected by foot and mouth. [14308]
16 Nov 2001 : Column: 977W
Mr. Morley: The Import and Export Restrictions (foot and mouth disease) Regulations regulate the export of fresh meat and animal products from animals susceptible to foot and mouth disease (FMD); there is no statutory provision for payment of compensation to farming or other businesses for consequential losses caused by the outbreaks of FMD, and there are no plans to introduce such payments.
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the protocols and guidance for the removal of ash from a foot and mouth disease burn site. [7748]
Mr. Morley: The protocols and guidance for the removal of ash from foot and mouth disease burn sites have been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under what powers the foot and mouth contiguous cull was carried out. [13815]
Mr. Morley: The contiguous cull was carried out using powers contained in schedule 3, paragraph 3 of the Animal Health Act 1981.
Laptop Computers
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many laptop computers held by her Department have been (a) stolen and (b) lost; how many have been recovered; and what is the total cost of replacements since June 2001. [15354]
Mr. Morley: Since June 2001, the Department has had four laptops stolen, and has lost none. None of the stolen laptops has been recovered and none has been replaced to date.
Departmental Plan
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish her departmental plan. [15358]
Mr. Morley: I intend to publish the DEFRA Departmental Report in April 2002 in common with other Government Departments. The report will contain information on progress against the Department's objectives and the challenges ahead for the forthcoming financial year. It will also contain summary expenditure plans for the Department.
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