| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
26 Nov 2002 : Column 234W—continued
Farm Animals (Health)
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent representations her Department has received concerning (a) the health of farm animals in the United Kingdom and (b) the need for revised regulations governing the health of farm animals in the United Kingdom; [81904]
- (2) what plans she has to revise regulations governing the health of farm animals in the United Kingdom. [81905]
Mr. Morley: The two FMD inquiries commissioned by the Government made a number of recommendations relevant to the health of farm animals and regulation in this area, and the Government's response to the inquiries was published on 6 November 2002.
The suggestion that there might be a general review of animal health legislation is being taken forward by the Department in partnership with the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly Government in the development of a comprehensive animal health and welfare strategy for Great Britain in consultation with stakeholders. The scope and nature of future legislation will be addressed next year following the publication of the strategy.
Farmers' Markets
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) benefits to local farming communities of farmers markets and (b) the impact that farmers markets have on retailers. [82789]
Mr. Morley: The most recent assessment of farmers' markets in England and Wales was a business survey carried out by the NFU in July 2002. This reported that the 450 regular farmers' markets currently operating have an annual turnover of approximately £166.3 million with the average earnings of each stallholder being around £8,700. With average farm incomes for 2001 of £7,861, the economic benefits for local farmers participating in farmers' markets are clear.
26 Nov 2002 : Column 235W
The business survey did not specifically consider the impact of farmers' markets on retailers but it did report that 80 per cent. of locations had seen increases in trade for neighbouring businesses. This supports the findings of an earlier study carried out on behalf of the Countryside Agency in 2001 on farmers' markets in the South East. This reported that in the opinion of those market organisers and town centre managers that responded most considered that local shops had benefited.
Flood Defence (Shrewsbury)
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the reasons underlying her assessment of the likelihood of a further flood defence scheme in Shrewsbury. [82872]
Mr. Morley: Both DEFRA and the Environment Agency have a responsibility to all taxpayers to ensure that value for money is obtained for investment in flood alleviation schemes. My understanding that there is
26 Nov 2002 : Column 236W
little likelihood that a further flood alleviation scheme could be justified in Shrewsbury is based on the Agency's judgement that the costs of providing such schemes would outweigh the benefits, using the currently agreed methodology. However this methodology is subject to review next year and the Agency will consider any impact on the viability of defence measures for parts of Shrewsbury.
Food Imports
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the value of (a) all foodstuffs and (b) temperate foodstuffs (i) exported from and (ii) imported into the United Kingdom. [80448]
Margaret Beckett: The following table shows the value of UK trade in indigenous and non-indigenous food, feed and drink between 1992–2001. Exports of non-indigenous foods are mainly exports of processed foods manufactured from imported non-indigenous ingredients.
| Exports | Imports | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Indigenous | Non-indigenous | Total exports | Indigenous | Non-indigenous | Total imports |
| 1992 | 6,322 | 1,055 | 7,378 | 7,705 | 5,603 | 13,308 |
| 1993 | 6,913 | 1,254 | 8,167 | 7,836 | 5,917 | 13,754 |
| 1994 | 7,620 | 1,443 | 9,063 | 8,222 | 6,620 | 14,842 |
| 1995 | 8,473 | 1,598 | 10,071 | 9,130 | 7,227 | 16,357 |
| 1996 | 8,378 | 1,669 | 10,046 | 9,921 | 7,848 | 17,769 |
| 1997 | 8,233 | 1,740 | 9,973 | 9,574 | 7,680 | 17,255 |
| 1998 | 7,511 | 1,691 | 9,202 | 9,732 | 7,322 | 17,055 |
| 1999 | 7,276 | 1,604 | 8,880 | 9,923 | 7,291 | 17,214 |
| 2000 | 7,216 | 1,486 | 8,702 | 10,088 | 6,740 | 16,828 |
| 2001 | 6,943 | 1,494 | 8,438 | 10,952 | 7,030 | 17,983 |
Note:
The above data include an estimate of below threshold data, but exclude an estimate for non-response
Source:
H M Customs and Excise
Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities & Food) Accounts and Trade, ESD, DEFRA
Foot and Mouth
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on plans to review her policy on compensation and slaughter premium payouts during the foot and mouth outbreak. [80139]
Mr. Morley: The Department has reviewed the position and has recently written to those who inquired about compensation and slaughter premium, to confirm that the subsidy itself is not payable in respect of animals culled due to foot and mouth disease because the scheme criteria were not met, and that no adjustment is needed to compensation which was based on market value.
Foxes
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has of the fox population in urban areas in England. [80871]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 20 November 2002]: The Department does not routinely collate data on the levels of urban fox populations, but commissions research into the subject from time to time. A report issued in 1997 estimated the UK urban fox population at 33,000.
Illegal Imports
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations on and discussions she has had with television companies and airline companies about showing her Department's information videos on illegal imports. [82360]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 21 November 2002]: The Central Office of Information (CoI) is responsible for arranging for the distribution of the information videos on behalf of Defra.
CoI have in the past few weeks, telephoned all major UK broadcast media and major airlines operating out of the UK, and sent copies of the information videos to them. Discussions are on-going with the broadcasters and airlines. We will get reports on usage on a quarterly basis.
26 Nov 2002 : Column 237W
The videos have been produced as Xfillers" which are used when broadcasters do not have enough paid advertising. They are shown on a goodwill basis. Airlines usually prepare their in-flight programming up to three months in advance.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what extended powers have been granted to enforcement authorities to search and seize illegal imports of animal products in commercial consignments and personal baggage; and when those powers were granted. [82410]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 21 November 2002]: Enforcement officers were granted extended powers under Regulation 8 of the Products of Animal Origin (Third Country lmports)(England) Regulations 2002, which came into force on 22 May. Enforcement officers were given the power to:
- enter any border inspection post or premises (except houses) to inspect anything.
open any bundle, package, packing case or item of luggage.
inspect any product or equipment.
take samples.
Ivory
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's policy is on the CITES agreement reached in November on the sale of stocks of ivory. [81822]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 19 November 2002]:The agreement provides South Africa, Botswana and Namibia with the prospect of a one-off sale of legal stocks of raw ivory after May 2004 provided that a number of strict conditions have first been met. These include verification of trading partners by the CITES Secretariat (to prevent illegal ivory entering legal markets), a requirement that baseline data on population and poaching levels is available from the MIKE system (Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants) and any funds raised must be used for elephant conservation. If any of the conditions are not met, the sale will not take place.
The Government believe that the agreement strikes the right balance between meeting the legitimate expectations of the southern African states that they should be able to engage in sustainable utilisation of their natural resources, whilst establishing strict controls to secure the conservation of wider elephant populations.
Mapping
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the accuracy of (a) digital mapping and (b) Ordnance Survey maps. [83386]
Alun Michael: Digital mapping is an electronic version of Ordnance Survey (OS) large scale maps. These maps are produced to a very high standard.
The accuracy of digital mapping, as in the case of paper maps, depends on the scale and the quality of the original survey and the methods employed.
26 Nov 2002 : Column 238W
Statistical information about the accuracy of Ordnance Survey mapping is published on the Ordnance Survey website at www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |