House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 23 Jun 2003 (pt 2)

23 Jun 2003 : Column 534W—continued

Dartmoor Ponies

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are (a) to mark and register Dartmoor ponies and (b) to prosecute owners of such ponies who neglect their herds; and if she will make a statement. [120506]

Alun Michael: There are no plans to introduce a statutory requirement to mark Dartmoor ponies. However, the Government is planning to introduce legislation by the end of 2003 which will require all equines to have an identity passport. Dartmoor ponies, the owners of which hold grazing rights on Dartmoor, will not be required to have a passport until they leave Dartmoor for the purposes of sale, slaughter or veterinary treatment. These animals will be recorded in a list held by the Dartmoor Commoners' Council. The list will record all the details which would be contained

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in a full passport. We also understand that the Dartmoor Commoners Council will require that each animal is freezebranded.

The Dartmoor Commoners' Council is responsible for the husbandry and welfare of farm animals and ponies grazing common land in the Dartmoor National Park and for enforcement under the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985.

Energy Conservation

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the detailed returns received from English energy conservation authorities concerning their performance under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 during financial year 2000–02; and if she will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in publication. [119058]

Mr. Bradshaw: Under Section 3 (4) of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) the Secretary of State is required from time to time to prepare a report on the progress made by English energy conservation authorities in implementing the measures set out in the reports they are required to prepare under Section 2 of the Act. A report on the improvements reported by authorities for the period 1 April 2001–31 March 2002 was published on 1 April 2003 and copies were made

23 Jun 2003 : Column 536W

available in the House Libraries. Under Section 3 (2) of HECA authorities are required to publish their progress reports.

Food Prices

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average (a) farmgate and (b) retail price was of (i) one kilogramme of (A) cherries, (B) tomatoes, (C) cucumbers, (D) cheese, (E) strawberries, (F) raspberries, (G) blackberries, (H) blackcurrants, (I) redcurrants, (J) butter, (K) pork pies, (L) chicken, (M) smoked salmon and (N) new potatoes, (ii) one pint of (1) cider, (2) English wine, (3) Pimms and (4) yoghurt and (iii) one dozen eggs was in (t) 1975, (u) 1980, (v) 1985, (w) 1990, (x) 1995, (y) 2000 and (z) in 2002 figures. [119157]

Mr. Bradshaw: Farmgate and retail prices of these foodstuffs, where available, are shown in table 1. Neither farmgate nor retail prices are available for redcurrants, pork pies, smoked salmon, cider, English wine, Pimms or yogurt. Small quantities of butter, cheese and yogurt are sold at the farm gate direct to consumers at retail prices.

The amount of processing taking place between farmgate and retail varies from commodity to commodity; an indication is given in the table. Farmgate prices include produce destined for highly processed food, which is normally lower quality and sells at a lower price. Changes to the level of processing over time will impact on the trends shown within the table.

Table 1£

Value 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2002(p) Indication of further processing

Cherries⁽¹⁾ Farmgate⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— 0.77 1.22 1.84 2.57 2.25

Retail ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾—

Tomatoes⁽¹⁾ Farmgate⁽²⁾ 0.29 0.49 0.49 0.70 0.60 0.75 0.82

Retail⁽⁴⁾ ⁽³⁾— 0.99 1.06 1.43 1.15 1.50 1.40 Packing and grading off farm

Cucumbers⁽¹⁾ Farmgate⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— 0.38 0.55 0.77 0.54 ⁽³⁾—

Retail ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾—

Cheese⁽¹⁾ Farmgate ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾—

Retail⁽⁴⁾^,⁽⁵⁾ 1.01 2.09 2.73 3.31 4.56 5.05 5.24

Strawberries⁽¹⁾ Farmgate⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— 1.15 1.36 1.58 2.25 2.65

Retail ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾—

Raspberries⁽¹⁾ Farmgate⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— 0.72 0.84 2.56 2.73 4.16

Retail ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾—

Blackcurrants⁽¹⁾ Farmgate⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— 0.38 0. 73 1.64 1.11 0.80

Retail ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾—

Butter⁽¹⁾ Farmgate ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾—

Retail⁽⁴⁾^,⁽⁶⁾ ⁽³⁾— 1.89 2.27 2.48 3.12 3.28 3.08

Chicken⁽¹⁾ Farmgate⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— 0.90 0.87 0.84 0.71 0.68

Retail⁽⁴⁾^,⁽⁷⁾ ⁽³⁾— 1.47 1.77 2.16 2.03 2.23 2.24 Slaughtered

Potatoes⁽¹⁾^,⁽⁸⁾ Farmgate⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— 0.07 0.08 0.16 0.13 0.11

Retail⁽⁴⁾ ⁽³⁾— 0.26 0.42 0.40 0.60 0.70 0.87 Packing and grading off farm

Eggs⁽⁹⁾^,⁽¹⁰⁾ Farmgate⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾— 0.44 0.48 0.54 0.53 0.53 0.56

Size 2⁽¹⁰⁾ Retail⁽⁴⁾ 0.43 0.72 0.99 1.21 1.38 1.68 1.72 Packing and grading off farm

	Value	1975	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000	2002(p)	Indication of further processing
Cherries⁽¹⁾	Farmgate⁽²⁾	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	0.77	1.22	1.84	2.57	2.25
	Retail	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—

Tomatoes⁽¹⁾	Farmgate⁽²⁾	0.29	0.49	0.49	0.70	0.60	0.75	0.82
	Retail⁽⁴⁾	⁽³⁾—	0.99	1.06	1.43	1.15	1.50	1.40	Packing and grading off farm

Cucumbers⁽¹⁾	Farmgate⁽²⁾	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	0.38	0.55	0.77	0.54	⁽³⁾—
	Retail	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—

Cheese⁽¹⁾	Farmgate	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—
	Retail⁽⁴⁾^,⁽⁵⁾	1.01	2.09	2.73	3.31	4.56	5.05	5.24

Strawberries⁽¹⁾	Farmgate⁽²⁾	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	1.15	1.36	1.58	2.25	2.65
	Retail	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—

Raspberries⁽¹⁾	Farmgate⁽²⁾	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	0.72	0.84	2.56	2.73	4.16
	Retail	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—

Blackcurrants⁽¹⁾	Farmgate⁽²⁾	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	0.38	0. 73	1.64	1.11	0.80
	Retail	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—

Butter⁽¹⁾	Farmgate	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—
	Retail⁽⁴⁾^,⁽⁶⁾	⁽³⁾—	1.89	2.27	2.48	3.12	3.28	3.08

Chicken⁽¹⁾	Farmgate⁽²⁾	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	0.90	0.87	0.84	0.71	0.68
	Retail⁽⁴⁾^,⁽⁷⁾	⁽³⁾—	1.47	1.77	2.16	2.03	2.23	2.24	Slaughtered

Potatoes⁽¹⁾^,⁽⁸⁾	Farmgate⁽²⁾	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	0.07	0.08	0.16	0.13	0.11
	Retail⁽⁴⁾	⁽³⁾—	0.26	0.42	0.40	0.60	0.70	0.87	Packing and grading off farm

Eggs⁽⁹⁾^,⁽¹⁰⁾	Farmgate⁽²⁾	⁽³⁾—	0.44	0.48	0.54	0.53	0.53	0.56
Size 2⁽¹⁰⁾	Retail⁽⁴⁾	0.43	0.72	0.99	1.21	1.38	1.68	1.72	Packing and grading off farm

⁽¹⁾ £/kg

⁽²⁾ Source: Defra

⁽³⁾ Data not available

⁽⁴⁾ Source: ONS

⁽⁵⁾ Cheddar cheese

⁽⁶⁾ Home produced butter; excludes butter imported from Denmark, New Zealand and other countries.

⁽⁷⁾ Fresh chicken; excludes frozen chickens.

⁽⁸⁾ Farmgate values are for earliest potatoes; retail values are for new potatoes.

⁽⁹⁾ Farmgate values are averages values for all eggs; retail values are for size 2 eggs.

⁽¹⁰⁾ £/dozen

23 Jun 2003 : Column 537W

Livestock Farmers

Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she proposes to take if livestock farmers do not agree to contribute to a national disposal scheme. [120265]

Mr. Bradshaw: There was a low response rate of 30 per cent. from livestock farmers to the letter inviting interest in a national scheme. In the light of this disappointing response the Government is now considering whether the scheme should go ahead, and if so in what form.

Market Towns Initiative

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how she estimates the market towns initiative has benefited (a) towns in Lancashire and (b) Carnforth. [120459]

Alun Michael: All five towns included in the Market Towns Initiative in Lancashire, including Carnforth, have now completed the Healthcheck process, drawn up action plans, and appointed project managers to take the plans forward. Progress with delivery of outputs varies from town to town. In Carnforth it remains at an early stage.

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