| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Correspondence
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the question, ref 22779, tabled on 10 December, for what reason replies to letters from the hon. Member for the Vale of York were not received by 19 December. [25322]
Mr. Morley: The hon. Member has been sent responses to all the letters detailed in her question, ref 22779, tabled on 10 December, except the letter dated 21 June on behalf of Mrs. P. Crosby of Thirsk about FMD, which will be sent out as soon as possible.
Organic Farming
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further steps the Government are taking to encourage the growth of organic farming. [23969]
9 Jan 2002 : Column: 911W
Mr. Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 30 November, Official Report, column 1174W.
Animal Experiments
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which household chemicals have been permitted to be tested on animals in live experiments in the UK in the next two years. [19423]
Mr. Morley: EU legislation requires testing, including animal testing, of all industrial chemicals produced in high volume (greater than 1,000 tons per manufacturer per year) and below this level, the generation of data on new chemicals according to the amount produced. Other chemicals may be required to be tested if there are justifiable concerns. Chemicals used for particular purposes, for example pesticides and biocides (including garden pesticides and household disinfectants) and pharmaceuticals, are also required to be tested before they are put on the market. We have no information about which chemicals will be coming forward for testing in future years. Animal tests are regulated by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 which is a Home Office matter. The Government's policy is to reduce the number of animals used in tests and we are currently supporting changes to Pesticides Directive 91/44/EC to prevent the replication of testing on vertebrate animals.
Farm Assurance Schemes
Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to encourage (a) supermarkets and (b) consumers to buy produce from farm schemes which are (i) environmentally and (ii) animal welfare friendly; and if she will make a statement. [23701]
Mr. Morley: The promotion of food produced in accordance with the standards laid down in farm assurance schemes is a matter for the individual scheme providers. The Department has, however, supported the development of farm assurance schemes and the inclusion within them of animal welfare and environmental standards. A significant proportion of farm produce in the UK is now produced in accordance with the standards laid down in such schemes. Much of this will be sold to consumers through supermarkets.
Ministerial Meeting
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on (a) matters discussed and (b) points agreed and disagreed in her meeting on 17 December with her Norwegian counterpart. [25165]
Margaret Beckett: We had a useful and friendly discussion of issues of mutual interest, including climate change, the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the North Sea Conference, which the Norwegians will chair in March. The Norwegian Minister raised the issue of technetium-99 discharges from Sellafield, but I was unable to comment for legal reasons in advance of the statutory decision which the Secretary of State for Health and I have to take on the Environment Agency's proposed decision.
9 Jan 2002 : Column: 912W
The meeting was held in order to exchange views rather than to seek agreement on any specific points.
Common Agricultural Policy
Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's discussions with EU institutions in the last six months regarding the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. [24962]
Mr. Morley: We have had a number of discussions with Commission representatives about the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy Agenda 2000 decisions and the Secretary of State will be meeting Commissioner Fischler later this month. Our understanding is that the Commission are likely to report to the Agriculture Council on the review in the summer.
Skimmed Milk Powder
Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the worldwide slump in skimmed milk powder consumption on the UK milk producing industry; and if she will make a statement on recent trends in milk prices. [25253]
Mr. Morley: The fall in world demand for skimmed milk powder has depressed prices. Low demand in the UK coupled with low prices could lead to an increase in public intervention. That is why the Government have supported moves by the Commission to stimulate markets both at home and abroad.
The producer price for milk reflects the position in the market and, therefore, has recently shown a downward trend following a very sharp recovery compared to a year earlier. The action already taken may help arrest this trend but the price will ultimately be determined by supply and demand.
Foot and Mouth
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in how many confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease samples were subjected to laboratory testing. [24090]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 19 December 2001]: Samples were taken for laboratory testing from 1,728 premises which are confirmed as infected premises.
- Source:
- DEFRA Disease Control System database as at 17:00 17 December 2001.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Entertainment Budgets
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the entertainment budget for each British embassy and consulate for financial year 2000–01. [23778]
Mr. MacShane: Entertainment budgets are not held at embassy and post level. However, actual expenditure is recorded and the figures for 2000–01 are detailed in the table. A composite figure is shown where the FCO has more than one representation in a city.
9 Jan 2002 : Column: 913W
9 Jan 2002 : Column: 916W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |