House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 18 Sept 2003 (pt 15)

18 Sept 2003 : Column 919W—continued

Farm Incomes

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average income of individual farms and farm businesses was for those in the top and the bottom deciles in the past 12 months; and what the average percentage of total income subsidies represented in both groups. [129867]

Mr. Bradshaw: The average net farm income, output and subsidies received by farms in the top and bottom deciles in England in 2001–02 is given in the table:

£ per farm

Bottom decile Topdecile

Net farm income -37,600 98,500

Total farm output 212,800 476,500

Total subsidies 37,300 42,500

Subsidies as a percentage of output 18 9

	Bottom decile	Topdecile
Net farm income	-37,600	98,500
Total farm output	212,800	476,500
Total subsidies	37,300	42,500
Subsidies as a percentage of output	18	9

Note:

These data refer to farms not subject to compulsory cull of livestock during the Foot and Mouth Disease crisis in 2001.

Source:

Farm Business Survey.

The table provides data only for farms with an economic size of at least eight European Size Units (ESUs), the minimum considered necessary to occupy a full time farmer. Although nearly half the farms in England fall below this size threshold, they account for only 2 per cent. of agricultural output.

Net farm income is defined as the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their labour and on the tenant-type capital of the business.

Farming Industry

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect on the various sectors of the UK farming industry of (i) the legislative burden and (ii) the exchange rate of continental European competitors; and if she will make a statement. [130206]

Mr. Bradshaw: No specific research has been commissioned or evaluated by the Department which compares the total level of legislative burden on the farming industry in the UK with the rest of the European Union. However, as set out in the "Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food" the Government are committed to better regulation. This means legislating only where necessary, doing so in a light

18 Sept 2003 : Column 920W

touch way and deregulating and simplifying existing legislation wherever possible. While some regulation is unavoidable if the Government are to safeguard public and animal health, environmental matters or public funds, modern regulations must not only be effective and efficient, but must also deliver improvements in ways which minimise the burden of compliance on the industry.

The euro-sterling exchange rate is an important determiner of UK farm incomes. A provisional assessment of the impact of the recent recovery in the euro and medium term prospects for UK farm incomes if this is sustained is published on the Defra website (http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/reports/repfi.pdf).

Fisheries

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in dealing with diseases among fish living in restricted cage accommodation. [128820]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 10 September 2003]: Most farming of fin fish in cages takes place in the Scottish marine environment. The health status of farmed fish in the UK including those held in caged systems is closely monitored by the Fish Health Inspectorates reporting to the different administrations in the UK to ensure full compliance with the EU fish health regime as laid down in Council Directives 91/67/EEC and 93/53/EEC and implementing national legislation, The UK has a high fish health status and is currently free from the most serious fish diseases, Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA), Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (VMS) and Infectious Haematopoietic Necrosis (IHN), Stringent control programmes operate to maintain freedom from these diseases and to control other serious diseases which may be present in some farmed fish populations such as Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN) and Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD).

In March this year the Scottish Executive published "A Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture" which outlines a range of issues which are being addressed to help protect the health and welfare of fish farmed in caged and other systems including better management techniques to help reduce the incidence of sea lice infestation.

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will grant a full aid package for the South West Fishing Fleet and a decommissioning programme following the proposal by the European Commission for a recovery programme for the northern hake stock including associated stocks of megrim and anglerfish; and if she will make a statement. [129414]

Mr. Bradshaw: Grant aid for the fishing industry in south-west England is available under the EU FIFG structural fund programme. The current decommissioning scheme for fishing vessels in England is targeted to the sectors of the fleet which are subject to limits on their time at sea under the interim EU requirements for effort control to conserve cod.

18 Sept 2003 : Column 921W

The Government will consider whether there is a need for additional funds to be made available to the south-west fleet in the light of the outcome of EU negotiations on the Commission's proposal for a recovery plan for Northern hake.

Food Consumption

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the percentage of food consumed in the United Kingdom that was sourced in the United Kingdom in the last five years, broken down by sector. [128247]

Mr. Bradshaw: The following table shows the level of UK self-sufficiency in specified commodities for each of the last five years (1998–2002).

Production as percentage of total new supply for use in UK

Commodity 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Total Cereals 115 109 113 97 99

Oilseed rape 97 97 83 66 86

Sugar 72 71 71 67 63

Potatoes 88 90 89 84 87

Vegetables 71 72 71 66 66

Fruit 9 12 10 10 9

Beef and veal (home fed) 83 80 79 72 72

Mutton and lamb (home fed) 101 104 100 78 84

Pork (Home fed) 112 100 92 73 76

Poultrymeat 93 90 89 91 91

Processed Liquid Milk⁽⁸⁾ 99 100 100 100 100

Butter 78 71 64 63 69

Cheese 64 63 63 66 68

Cream 151 146 137 134 148

Hen eggs 97 93 91 88 87

Commodity	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002


Total Cereals	115	109	113	97	99
Oilseed rape	97	97	83	66	86
Sugar	72	71	71	67	63
Potatoes	88	90	89	84	87
Vegetables	71	72	71	66	66
Fruit	9	12	10	10	9
Beef and veal (home fed)	83	80	79	72	72
Mutton and lamb (home fed)	101	104	100	78	84
Pork (Home fed)	112	100	92	73	76
Poultrymeat	93	90	89	91	91
Processed Liquid Milk⁽⁸⁾	99	100	100	100	100
Butter	78	71	64	63	69
Cheese	64	63	63	66	68
Cream	151	146	137	134	148
Hen eggs	97	93	91	88	87

⁽⁸⁾ Processed liquid milk is the product following separation and treatment suitable for the drinking milk market.

Note:

2002 data are provisional and subject to amendment.

Source:

Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2002—Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities and Food) Accounts and Trade, ESD, DEFRA.

Illegal Meat Imports

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's progress in preventing illegal meat from entering the United Kingdom. [129494]

18 Sept 2003 : Column 922W

Mr. Bradshaw: Progress against the Government's Action Plan on illegal imports in the financial year 2002–03 is reported in the Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal Products. Copies have been placed in the House Libraries.

The 2003–04 Action Plan is appended to the Review, and we are working with HM Customs and other responsible parties to implement it. Progress will be reported in the next Annual Review to be published after the end of this financial year.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many spot checks have been carried out on illegal meat imports at each designated port of entry into the UK since December 2002. [129498]

John Healey: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 8 September 2003, Official Report, column 99W. Customs carry out their anti-smuggling controls on the basis of risk assessment and intelligence.

Lantra

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list research projects that Lantra has undertaken over the last two years. [130590]

Alun Michael: I understand that Lantra carries out projects on behalf of a range of clients, and so comprehensive information is not available within the Department. As an example of work commissioned by my Department, Lantra recently completed a study of the training and development needs of rural businesses to inform Defra's Learning Skills and Knowledge Review.

Milk

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much milk was produced surplus to requirements by UK farmers; and how much milk was imported in each of the last 10 years. [128259]

Mr. Bradshaw: It is difficult to determine how much milk is produced that is "surplus to requirements". This will depend on whether one considers the requirements of UK processors and food manufacturers, both for products intended for domestic consumption or export, or the requirements of UK consumers. Nevertheless, I hope the data tabulated as follows on UK imports, exports, production, domestic use and self-sufficiency for the major milk products since 1991 gives an indication of the position.

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

UK imports⁽⁹⁾

Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾ 186 114

Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾ 37 67 54 68 89 65

Butter 103 129 110 121 114 114

Cheese 192 232 189 212 210 239

Cream 3 3 2 3 4 6

Condensed milk 10 13 10 13 12 10

Milk powder (full cream) 3 5 6 7 8 10

Skimmed milk powder 8 26 13 12 14 13

UK exports⁽⁹⁾

Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾ 72 70 92 133 191 178

Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾ 3 3 3 4 5 5

Butter 39 51 52 53 53 51

Cheese 51 48 57 59 55 59

Cream 38 41 69 84 79 96

Condensed milk 47 57 50 52 65 58

Milk powder (full cream) 67 84 57 65 77 75

Skimmed milk powder 71 45 55 61 56 20

UK production⁽⁹⁾

Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾ 14,778 14,679 14,742 14,981 14,683 14,680

Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾ 6,903 6,980 7,008 6,966 7,128 7,041

Butter 132 127 141 148 133 130

Cheese 309 332 338 341 362 377

Cream 254 240 255 274 281 281

Condensed milk 198 206 191 196 181 206

Milk powder (full cream) 79 84 71 83 90 83

Skimmed milk powder 143 106 132 142 117 108

UK domestic use (disappearances)⁽⁹⁾

Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾ 14,706 14,610 14,650 14,848 14,678 14,616

Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾ 6,937 7,044 7,059 7,030 7,212 7,101

Butter 206 207 228 231 201 189

Cheese 458 512 466 500 522 557

Cream 220 202 187 194 207 191

Condensed milk 164 160 151 155 130 160

Milk powder (full cream) 14 7 19 26 20 19

Skimmed milk powder 86 91 88 89 82 75

UK self sufficiency⁽¹²⁾

Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾ 100 100 101 101 100 100

Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾ 100 99 99 99 99 99

Butter 67 62 71 69 69 68

Cheese 69 64 72 69 70 68

Cream 116 119 136 142 136 148

Condensed milk 123 128 127 125 141 130

Milk powder (full cream)⁽¹³⁾

Skimmed milk powder⁽¹⁴⁾ 179 121 148 152 157 107

	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
UK imports⁽⁹⁾
Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾					186	114
Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾	37	67	54	68	89	65
Butter	103	129	110	121	114	114
Cheese	192	232	189	212	210	239
Cream	3	3	2	3	4	6
Condensed milk	10	13	10	13	12	10
Milk powder (full cream)	3	5	6	7	8	10
Skimmed milk powder	8	26	13	12	14	13
UK exports⁽⁹⁾
Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾	72	70	92	133	191	178
Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾	3	3	3	4	5	5
Butter	39	51	52	53	53	51
Cheese	51	48	57	59	55	59
Cream	38	41	69	84	79	96
Condensed milk	47	57	50	52	65	58
Milk powder (full cream)	67	84	57	65	77	75
Skimmed milk powder	71	45	55	61	56	20

UK production⁽⁹⁾
Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾	14,778	14,679	14,742	14,981	14,683	14,680
Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾	6,903	6,980	7,008	6,966	7,128	7,041
Butter	132	127	141	148	133	130
Cheese	309	332	338	341	362	377
Cream	254	240	255	274	281	281
Condensed milk	198	206	191	196	181	206
Milk powder (full cream)	79	84	71	83	90	83
Skimmed milk powder	143	106	132	142	117	108

	UK domestic use (disappearances)⁽⁹⁾
Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾	14,706	14,610	14,650	14,848	14,678	14,616
Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾	6,937	7,044	7,059	7,030	7,212	7,101
Butter	206	207	228	231	201	189
Cheese	458	512	466	500	522	557
Cream	220	202	187	194	207	191
Condensed milk	164	160	151	155	130	160
Milk powder (full cream)	14	7	19	26	20	19
Skimmed milk powder	86	91	88	89	82	75

UK self sufficiency⁽¹²⁾
Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾	100	100	101	101	100	100
Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾	100	99	99	99	99	99
Butter	67	62	71	69	69	68
Cheese	69	64	72	69	70	68
Cream	116	119	136	142	136	148
Condensed milk	123	128	127	125	141	130
Milk powder (full cream)⁽¹³⁾
Skimmed milk powder⁽¹⁴⁾	179	121	148	152	157	107

18 Sept 2003 : Column 923W

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 (provisional)

UK imports⁽⁹⁾

Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾ 132 133 115 108 65 74

Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾ 63 57 38 36 31 26

Butter 111 105 114 118 115 101

Cheese 240 257 277 255 273 267

Cream 11 11 8 10 18 12

Condensed milk 13 13 14 14 14 11

Milk powder (full cream) 10 10 10 11 8 10

Skimmed milk powder 13 11 14 13 23 14

UK exports⁽⁹⁾

Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾ 299 384 479 458 426 433

Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾ 6 5 7 7 3 4

Butter 74 65 56 45 41 37

Cheese 53 55 62 58 68 77

Cream 92 101 96 82 84 95

Condensed milk 63 64 51 31 22 30

Milk powder (full cream) 106 106 92 102 86 113

Skimmed milk powder 45 34 60 112 30 23

UK production⁽⁹⁾

Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾ 14,848 14,640 15,020 14,496 14,715 14,906

Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾ 6,949 6,939 7,056 6,969 6,961 6,956

Butter 139 137 141 132 126 141

Cheese 377 366 368 340 395 396

Cream 268 266 275 270 263 257

Condensed milk 214 192 177 162 161 149

Milk powder (full cream) 96 97 102 105 83 105

Skimmed milk powder 109 107 102 83 71 71

UK domestic use (disappearances)⁽⁹⁾

Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾ 14,681 14,388 14,656 14,146 14,335 14,547

Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾ 7,006 6,991 7,087 6,998 6,989 6,978

Butter 182 172 187 209 200 196

Cheese 561 577 583 536 596 584

Cream 187 176 188 198 197 174

Condensed milk 166 141 138 146 150 131

Milk powder (full cream) — 1 20 15 2 3

Skimmed milk powder 59 57 68 50 56 45

UK self sufficiency⁽¹²⁾

Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾ 101 102 102 102 103 102

Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾ 99 99 100 100 100 100

Butter 79 78 71 64 63 64

Cheese 67 64 63 63 66 65

Cream 144 151 146 137 134 140

Condensed milk 130 136 127 111 105 114

Milk powder (full cream)⁽¹³⁾

Skimmed milk powder⁽¹⁴⁾ 141 127 180 -527 111 115

	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002 (provisional)
UK imports⁽⁹⁾
Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾	132	133	115	108	65	74
Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾	63	57	38	36	31	26
Butter	111	105	114	118	115	101
Cheese	240	257	277	255	273	267
Cream	11	11	8	10	18	12
Condensed milk	13	13	14	14	14	11
Milk powder (full cream)	10	10	10	11	8	10
Skimmed milk powder	13	11	14	13	23	14

UK exports⁽⁹⁾
Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾	299	384	479	458	426	433
Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾	6	5	7	7	3	4
Butter	74	65	56	45	41	37
Cheese	53	55	62	58	68	77
Cream	92	101	96	82	84	95
Condensed milk	63	64	51	31	22	30
Milk powder (full cream)	106	106	92	102	86	113
Skimmed milk powder	45	34	60	112	30	23

UK production⁽⁹⁾
Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾	14,848	14,640	15,020	14,496	14,715	14,906
Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾	6,949	6,939	7,056	6,969	6,961	6,956
Butter	139	137	141	132	126	141
Cheese	377	366	368	340	395	396
Cream	268	266	275	270	263	257
Condensed milk	214	192	177	162	161	149
Milk powder (full cream)	96	97	102	105	83	105
Skimmed milk powder	109	107	102	83	71	71
	UK domestic use (disappearances)⁽⁹⁾
Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾	14,681	14,388	14,656	14,146	14,335	14,547
Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾	7,006	6,991	7,087	6,998	6,989	6,978
Butter	182	172	187	209	200	196
Cheese	561	577	583	536	596	584
Cream	187	176	188	198	197	174
Condensed milk	166	141	138	146	150	131
Milk powder (full cream)	—	1	20	15	2	3
Skimmed milk powder	59	57	68	50	56	45

UK self sufficiency⁽¹²⁾
Unprocessed liquid milk⁽¹⁰⁾	101	102	102	102	103	102
Processed liquid milk⁽¹¹⁾	99	99	100	100	100	100
Butter	79	78	71	64	63	64
Cheese	67	64	63	63	66	65
Cream	144	151	146	137	134	140
Condensed milk	130	136	127	111	105	114
Milk powder (full cream)⁽¹³⁾
Skimmed milk powder⁽¹⁴⁾	141	127	180	-527	111	115

⁽⁹⁾ Thousand tonnes except figures for liquid milk, which are expressed in million litres.

⁽¹⁰⁾ Unprocessed liquid milk is milk in its natural state prior to any form of separation or processing and may be destined for either the drinking or manufacture market.

⁽¹¹⁾ Processed liquid milk is the product following separation and treatment suitable for the drinking milk market.

⁽¹²⁾ Production as percentage of total new supply.

⁽¹³⁾ As the UK only makes negligible use of full cream milk powders the self sufficiency calculation is meaningless.

⁽¹⁴⁾ Self sufficiency rate for 2000 is not representative of other years because of the sale of intervention stocks of skimmed milk powder.

Source:

Agriculture in the United Kingdom (2002).

18 Sept 2003 : Column 925W

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