House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 16 Apr 2002 (pt 24)

Refrigerators

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement updating the Government's strategy for stripping CFC foam from fridges and freezers in the UK; and how long it will take to deal with the backlog of appliances. [48593]

Mr. Meacher: There has been considerable progress. Facilities for treating CFC foams are now coming on-stream in the UK. A mobile plant is already operating and two static plants are due to be operational by the end of June. Additionally, refrigerators from various parts of the UK are being exported to Germany for treatment. Sufficient plant should be in place by the end of the year to ensure that the backlog of fridges does not increase further. Current estimates suggest the backlog of appliances will be dealt with during 2003.

Waterways Access

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of inland waterways are accessible to canoeists (a) freely and (b) on payment of a fee. [48207]

Margaret Beckett [holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Department's most recent findings on access to water by canoeists are contained in our research report, "Water-Based Sport and Recreation: the facts" which was published in December 2001. The researchers did not distinguish between paid and unpaid access where agreements were in place. Canoeists (and other users) have a free right of access to those inland rivers and canals which have public navigation rights.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to improve access to inland waterways for canoeists; and if she will make a statement. [48203]

Margaret Beckett [holding answer 10 April 2002]: Our research report, "Water-based Sport and Recreation: the facts" was published in December 2001. The report has aroused a great deal of interest amongst the canoeing community abd I have set out our approach in responses to letters from many hon. and right hon. Members.

My officials recently met British Waterways, the Countryside Agency, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Environment Agency and Sport England as the other sponsors of the research along with other interested Government Departments to discuss the report's findings which are quite complex. Just before Easter my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun

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Michael) met the hon. Member for Harrow West (Gareth Thomas) and representatives of the British Canoe Union to hear their views. We are considering what action to take in light of the report's findings.

Laying Hens

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she made to the European Union prior to its passing of the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive. [48956]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 15 April 2002]: Ministers were directly involved when the proposal was discussed at the Council of Agriculture Ministers and UK officials were fully involved in the negotiations on the Directive.

Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect on the cost of egg production in cage-based systems of implementation of Directive 1999/74/EC on the Welfare of Laying Hens; and if she will estimate the change in cost expected in the cage-based system following implementation of Directive 1999/74/EC. [46392]

Mr. Morley: A regulatory impact assessment has been produced, following public consultation. It will be published to accompany the Statutory Instrument to implement the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive.

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to encourage producers to move laying hens out of small cages before the final phase-out date of 2012; and if she will make a statement on her policy in respect of the keeping of birds in modified cages in the long-term. [49280]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 15 April 2002]: It is intended that Council Directive 99/74/EC will be implemented in England without being added to in any way. If further changes are proposed, there will be full public consultation.

Beef

Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she next intends to meet representatives of the National Beef Association. [46401]

Mr. Morley: There are, at present, no specific arrangements for the Secretary of State to meet with the National Beef Association.

However, I recently met with the Association, on 4 April, to discuss matters regarding TB in cattle.

My noble Friend (The Lord Whitty) last met directly with the Association on 7 November, in order to discuss the Animal Movement Regime and has accepted an invitation to attend the Association's forthcoming event 'Beef 2002', organised for 24 May.

Lord Whitty also maintains regular contact with representatives of the Association through attendance at stakeholder meetings and looks forward to continuing dialogue on issues facing the Beef Industry.

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Slaughterhouses

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals of each species were slaughtered (a) for human consumption and (b) otherwise than for human consumption (i) at

16 Apr 2002 : Column 884W

registered low throughput slaughterhouses, (ii) at other registered slaughterhouses and (iii) elsewhere in (A) 2000 and (B) 2001. [48192]

Mr. Morley: The information requested is given in the table for Great Britain.

Thousand head

Species

Cattle⁽²⁴⁾ Sheep Pigs⁽²⁵⁾ Solipeds and Equidae Goats Deer Rabbits

2000

(a) For human consumption

(i) at registered low throughput slaughterhouses 28 190 73 0 1 2 46

(ii) at other registered slaughterhouses 2,036 18,000 11,462 11 7 88 0

(iii) elsewhere ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— 7 ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾—

(b) Not for human consumption

(i) at registered low throughput slaughterhouses

Rejected at slaughterhouse⁽²⁶⁾ ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾—

(ii) at other registered slaughterhouses

Over Thirty Month scheme 841 ⁽³⁰⁾—- ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾—- ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾—

Rejected at slaughterhouse⁽²⁶⁾ ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾—

(iii) elsewhere⁽²⁷⁾

Slaughtered due to swine fever ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— 75 ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾—

Pig welfare disposal scheme ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— 183 ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾—

2001

(a) For human consumption

(i) at registered low throughput slaughterhouse 25 200 67 0 1 1 37

(ii) at other registered slaughterhouses 1,746 12,105 9,517 10 10 53 0

(iii) elsewhere ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾—

(b) Not for human consumption

(i) at registered low throughput slaughterhouses

Rejected at slaughterhouse⁽²⁶⁾ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

(ii) at other registered slaughterhouses

Over Thirty Month scheme 511 ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾—

Rejected at slaughterhouse⁽²⁶⁾ 1 10 22 0 0 0 0

(iii) elsewhere⁽²⁷⁾

Slaughtered due to FMD 592 3,392 141 ⁽³⁰⁾— 2 1 ⁽³⁰⁾—

Welfare disposal scheme⁽²⁸⁾^,⁽²⁹⁾ 169 2,107 287 ⁽³⁰⁾— ⁽³⁰⁾— 5 ⁽³⁰⁾—

	Species
	Cattle⁽²⁴⁾	Sheep	Pigs⁽²⁵⁾	Solipeds and Equidae	Goats	Deer	Rabbits
2000
	(a) For human consumption
(i) at registered low throughput slaughterhouses	28	190	73	0	1	2	46
(ii) at other registered slaughterhouses	2,036	18,000	11,462	11	7	88	0
(iii) elsewhere	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	7	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—

	(b) Not for human consumption
(i) at registered low throughput slaughterhouses
Rejected at slaughterhouse⁽²⁶⁾	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—
(ii) at other registered slaughterhouses
Over Thirty Month scheme	841	⁽³⁰⁾—-	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—-	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—
Rejected at slaughterhouse⁽²⁶⁾	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—
(iii) elsewhere⁽²⁷⁾
Slaughtered due to swine fever	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	75	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—
Pig welfare disposal scheme	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	183	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—

2001
	(a) For human consumption
(i) at registered low throughput slaughterhouse	25	200	67	0	1	1	37
(ii) at other registered slaughterhouses	1,746	12,105	9,517	10	10	53	0
(iii) elsewhere	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—

	(b) Not for human consumption
(i) at registered low throughput slaughterhouses
Rejected at slaughterhouse⁽²⁶⁾	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
(ii) at other registered slaughterhouses
Over Thirty Month scheme	511	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—
Rejected at slaughterhouse⁽²⁶⁾	1	10	22	0	0	0	0
(iii) elsewhere⁽²⁷⁾
Slaughtered due to FMD	592	3,392	141	⁽³⁰⁾—	2	1	⁽³⁰⁾—
Welfare disposal scheme⁽²⁸⁾^,⁽²⁹⁾	169	2,107	287	⁽³⁰⁾—	⁽³⁰⁾—	5	⁽³⁰⁾—

⁽²⁴⁾ Including bison.

⁽²⁵⁾ Including wild boar.

⁽²⁶⁾ Data on animals rejected at the slaughterhouse for human consumption only collected by the Meat Hygiene Service for April 2001 onwards.

⁽²⁷⁾ Excludes animals disposed of on farm for which no reliable information is available.

⁽²⁸⁾ Includes light lambs.

⁽²⁹⁾ Data shown for deer are for deer, goats, llamas and others.

⁽³⁰⁾ Not applicable or not available.

Source:

Statistics (Commodities and Food) Division, Economics and Statistics Directorate, DEFRA 11 April 2002

Data on slaughterhouse throughputs provided by the Meat Hygiene Service.

Data on slaughterings under the Over Thirty Month scheme provided by the Rural Payments Agency

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