House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 7 Nov 2002 (pt 35)

7 Nov 2002 : Column 578W—continued

Heathrow

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects (a) the new DEFRA inspection team and (b) the sniffer dogs to be deployed at Heathrow. [79175]

Margaret Beckett: A new Local/Port Health Authority team to undertake additional checks for illegal imports, funded by Defra, is due to start work at Heathrow on 12 November. The detector dog pilot started at Heathrow on 16 September.

Rural Payments Agency

Mr. Liddington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many claims for payment under (a) the beef special premium scheme 2001 and (b) the suckler cow premium scheme 2001 have been refused by the Rural Payments Agency; if she will publish an analysis of the reasons for such refusals; and if she will make a statement. [77324]

Margaret Beckett: (a) 3544 claims for payment under the beef special premium scheme 2001 have been refused entirely, 7203 claims for payment have been partly refused for payment under the beef special premium scheme 2001.

(b) 851 claims for payment under the suckler cow premium scheme 2001 have been refused entirely, 7659 claims for payment have been partly refused for payment under the suckler cow premium scheme 2001.

The above claims contain animals whose eligibility could not be established under the Commission Regulations, which govern the bovine schemes. The RPA regrets the delays and the impact on farmer's cash flow, but cannot ignore the discrepancies discovered through cross-checks, or indeed any other verification method employed by the Agency. Failure to act on the findings identified will result in significant disallowance.

The Commission have indicated that all cross-checks should be carried out prior to payment as they view these checks as a key control to the fund. If RPA were found to be making unsafe payments it would inevitably face disallowance.

When applicants disagree with the refusal decision it is open to them to provide the RPA with additional information, which they feel, should be taken into account.

Dairy Products

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimates she has made of consumption of (a) dairy products and (b) milk in each nation of the UK in each of the last 10 years. [79753]

7 Nov 2002 : Column 579W

Mr. Morley: The table shows consumption of selected dairy products in households as recorded by the National Food Survey between 1991 and 2000. It excludes food eaten outside the home and dairy produce used in processed food, e.g. pizzas.

7 Nov 2002 : Column 580W

The National Food Survey collects details of food purchases from a sample of households. Some of the variation seen for individual years within the table will therefore be due to sampling error.

UK household consumption of dairy products by country 1991–2000

Dairy products consumed in liquid form (a) Units: units as stated per person per week

Units 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Drinking milk

England ml 1878 1969 1963 1967 1952 1870 1855 1829 1774 1825

Wales ml 2171 2150 1968 2094 1967 1931 2078 1912 1834 1915

Scotland ml 2029 2051 1877 1931 1918 1992 2001 1762 1806 1900

Northern Ireland ml na na na na na 1948 2158 2119 2130 2113

Other milks and dairy desserts

England ml 30 31 37 39 40 40 41 45 53 57

Wales ml 17 28 35 28 24 37 50 47 28 73

Scotland ml 37 35 32 28 23 20 32 28 51 51

Northern Ireland ml na na na na na 34 41 52 47 61

Cream

England ml 17 18 18 17 15 18 16 17 16 18

Wales ml 16 14 19 15 9 19 13 17 14 12

Scotland ml 18 20 17 13 10 14 15 17 15 15

Northern Ireland ml na na na na na 11 8 9 9 8

Cheese

England g 111 105 102 98 100 101 99 95 95 99

Wales g 96 96 94 84 101 94 94 94 75 101

Scotland g 87 97 86 84 84 91 90 90 97 89

Northern Ireland g na na na na na 57 65 55 57 60

Butter

England g 44 41 38 39 36 39 38 37 38 38

Wales g 46 37 47 47 41 43 40 58 39 40

Scotland g 41 45 51 39 41 41 37 37 31 44

Northern Ireland g na na na na na 86 64 59 62 68

Yoghurt and Fromage Frais

England ml 111 123 124 124 129 128 130 125 134 143

Wales ml 83 101 108 92 115 123 112 142 93 133

Scotland ml 110 118 100 105 115 127 124 119 119 123

Northern Ireland ml na na na na na 117 109 105 108 120

Condensed Milk

England ml 28 28 25 23 23 23 18 16 18 19

Wales ml 51 19 28 20 23 15 23 29 9 37

Scotland ml 17 20 14 15 21 14 9 10 15 12

Northern Ireland ml na na na na na 5 2 3 1 5

Dairy products consumed in liquid form (a)				Units: units as stated per person per week
	Units	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Drinking milk

England	ml	1878	1969	1963	1967	1952	1870	1855	1829	1774	1825
Wales	ml	2171	2150	1968	2094	1967	1931	2078	1912	1834	1915
Scotland	ml	2029	2051	1877	1931	1918	1992	2001	1762	1806	1900
Northern Ireland	ml	na	na	na	na	na	1948	2158	2119	2130	2113
Other milks and dairy desserts

England	ml	30	31	37	39	40	40	41	45	53	57
Wales	ml	17	28	35	28	24	37	50	47	28	73
Scotland	ml	37	35	32	28	23	20	32	28	51	51
Northern Ireland	ml	na	na	na	na	na	34	41	52	47	61
Cream

England	ml	17	18	18	17	15	18	16	17	16	18
Wales	ml	16	14	19	15	9	19	13	17	14	12
Scotland	ml	18	20	17	13	10	14	15	17	15	15
Northern Ireland	ml	na	na	na	na	na	11	8	9	9	8
Cheese

England	g	111	105	102	98	100	101	99	95	95	99
Wales	g	96	96	94	84	101	94	94	94	75	101
Scotland	g	87	97	86	84	84	91	90	90	97	89
Northern Ireland	g	na	na	na	na	na	57	65	55	57	60
Butter

England	g	44	41	38	39	36	39	38	37	38	38
Wales	g	46	37	47	47	41	43	40	58	39	40
Scotland	g	41	45	51	39	41	41	37	37	31	44
Northern Ireland	g	na	na	na	na	na	86	64	59	62	68
Yoghurt and Fromage Frais

England	ml	111	123	124	124	129	128	130	125	134	143
Wales	ml	83	101	108	92	115	123	112	142	93	133
Scotland	ml	110	118	100	105	115	127	124	119	119	123
Northern Ireland	ml	na	na	na	na	na	117	109	105	108	120
Condensed Milk

England	ml	28	28	25	23	23	23	18	16	18	19
Wales	ml	51	19	28	20	23	15	23	29	9	37
Scotland	ml	17	20	14	15	21	14	9	10	15	12
Northern Ireland	ml	na	na	na	na	na	5	2	3	1	5

Source:

National Food Survey

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many animals there were in each dairy herd in each nation of the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years. [79750]

Mr. Morley: DEFRA is able to provide data for England only. Figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved authorities.

Number of Dairy Cattle in the National Herd—England 1991–2002

1991 1937661

1992 1872685

1993 1862766

1994 1898369

1995 1810700

1996 1784745

1997 1701668

1998 1659649

1999 1660628

2000 1575484

2001 1490227

2002 (provisional) 1465020


1991	1937661
1992	1872685
1993	1862766
1994	1898369
1995	1810700
1996	1784745
1997	1701668
1998	1659649
1999	1660628
2000	1575484
2001	1490227
2002 (provisional)	1465020

Note:

1. A dairy cow is defined as a cow or heifer in the dairy herd that has calved.

Source:

June Agricultural and Horticultural Census

7 Nov 2002 : Column 581W

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what milk yields were; what percentage milk represented of final agricultural product; and what average milk prices were,

7 Nov 2002 : Column 582W

for each nation of the UK in each of the last 10 years. [79752]

Mr. Morley: The available data are shown in the following tables:

Table 1. UK estimated average milk yield by countryUnits: litres per cow

1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02

England & Wales 5264 5275 5292 5515 5652 5841 5887 6046 6114 6509

Scotland 5068 5177 5264 5518 5739 5671 5669 5390 5565 6240

Northern Ireland 4904 4958 5119 5346 5353 5503 5461 5650 5966 6273

United Kingdom 5211 5235 5273 5497 5627 5788 5818 5942 6047 6453

	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1999–00	2000–01	2001–02
England & Wales	5264	5275	5292	5515	5652	5841	5887	6046	6114	6509
Scotland	5068	5177	5264	5518	5739	5671	5669	5390	5565	6240
Northern Ireland	4904	4958	5119	5346	5353	5503	5461	5650	5966	6273
United Kingdom	5211	5235	5273	5497	5627	5788	5818	5942	6047	6453

Notes:

Data are quoted in milk quota years which runs from April to March.

Data for Wales are not available separately.

Source:

Defra

Table 2. Milk as a percentage of UK agricultural production by country (a)

1992 % 1993 % 1994 % 1995 % 1996 % 1997 % 1998 % 1999 % 2000 % 2001(p) %

England na na na 13 14 14 13 13 12 14

Wales na na na 30 30 28 29 27 26 28

Scotland na na na 13 14 14 13 13 12 14

Northern Ireland na na na 28 28 28 29 30 30 33

United Kingdom 21 23 23 20 19 19 18 18 18 21

	1992 %	1993 %	1994 %	1995 %	1996 %	1997 %	1998 %	1999 %	2000 %	2001(p) %
England	na	na	na	13	14	14	13	13	12	14
Wales	na	na	na	30	30	28	29	27	26	28
Scotland	na	na	na	13	14	14	13	13	12	14
Northern Ireland	na	na	na	28	28	28	29	30	30	33
United Kingdom	21	23	23	20	19	19	18	18	18	21

Notes:

(a) The value of milk production as a proportion of the value of final agricultural output (gross output less transactions within the agricultural industry)

(p) provisional

na not readily available

Source:

Defra

Table 3. UK farm gate milk prices by countryUnits: p per litre

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001(p)

Great Britain na na na 24.9 25.1 22.3 19.4 18.3 16.8 19.4

Northern Ireland 19.2 21.5 21.2 25.4 24.0 20.6 19.3 18.5 18.0 18.5

United Kingdom 21.0 22.0 22.4 24.9 25.0 22.1 19.4 18.4 16.9 19.3

	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001(p)
Great Britain	na	na	na	24.9	25.1	22.3	19.4	18.3	16.8	19.4
Northern Ireland	19.2	21.5	21.2	25.4	24.0	20.6	19.3	18.5	18.0	18.5
United Kingdom	21.0	22.0	22.4	24.9	25.0	22.1	19.4	18.4	16.9	19.3

Notes:

Prices are quoted after deduction of marketing expenses (transport costs) but not superlevy, and includes bonuses.

Data for England, Wales and Scotland are not available separately.

(p) provisional

na not available

Source:

DARD, NI; Defra

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dairy farmers there were; and what the average dairy herd size was, in each nation of the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years. [79751]

Mr. Morley: DEFRA is able to provide data for England only. Figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved authorities.

Number of farmers, partners, directors and spouses (if working on the holding) and average dairy herd size on holdings with any dairy cattle—England 1991–2001:

Year Farmers, Partners, Directors & Spouses on Holdings with Dairy any Cattle Average Size of Dairy Herd

1991 52647 69

1992 51312 69

1993 50402 70

1994 49592 73

1995 47515 73

1996 46150 75

1997 44711 74

1998 45165 74

1999 43119 78

2000 40796 79

2001 38526 82

Year	Farmers, Partners, Directors & Spouses on Holdings with Dairy any Cattle	Average Size of Dairy Herd
1991	52647	69
1992	51312	69
1993	50402	70
1994	49592	73
1995	47515	73
1996	46150	75
1997	44711	74
1998	45165	74
1999	43119	78
2000	40796	79
2001	38526	82

Number of Farmers, Partners, Directors and Spouses (if working on the holding) and average dairy herd size on holdings where the main activity is classified as dairy farming—England 1991–2001:

Year Farmers, Partners, Directors & Spouses on Dairy Type Holdings Average Size of Dairy Herd

1991 42013 72

1992 40464 72

1993 35665 75

1994 39744 77

1995 37844 76

1996 36656 78

1997 35334 77

1998 34604 78

1999 33373 83

2000 31316 86

2001 29732 90

Year	Farmers, Partners, Directors & Spouses on Dairy Type Holdings	Average Size of Dairy Herd
1991	42013	72
1992	40464	72
1993	35665	75
1994	39744	77
1995	37844	76
1996	36656	78
1997	35334	77
1998	34604	78
1999	33373	83
2000	31316	86
2001	29732	90

Notes:

1. Refers to main holdings only.

2. A dairy cow is defined as a cow or heifer in the dairy herd that has calved.

Source:

June Agricultural and Horticultural Census

These are consolidated figures for the United Kingdom. The figures for Great Britain were derived from the computer system used to issue export health certificates. The figures for Northern Ireland were derived from the system which records movements of animals between Member States. All figures are subject to updating and amendment.

7 Nov 2002 : Column 583W

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