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20 Nov 2003 : Column 1192W—continued
Sheep
19. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the European Commission's proposals on sheep identification. [139848]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Government support the Commission's objective to improve sheep and goat identification but are very concerned that it has take full account of the particular needs and requirements of the UK's stratified and extensive sheep industry.
We are currently undertaking negotiations in the Council of Ministers and are pressing hard for a satisfactory outcome for the UK industry.
Farm Subsidies
20. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the representations she has received from farming interest groups concerning the review of subsidies to farming. [139849]
Alun Michael: We have received responses from a wide range of stakeholders to the public consultation on the options available to member states under the agreement on reforming the common agricultural policy (CAP). There was close to unanimous support for our decision to decouple subsidy fully in England from 2005. The biggest issue to emerge from the consultation was whether to go for an historic or flat rate basis for the single farm payment and responses were divided on this. We are looking carefully at the responses to the consultation and will be making a decision soon on the model for the single farm payment.
Common Fisheries Policy
23. Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the sea fish species whose stocks have increased in UK waters since the institution of the European common fisheries policy. [139852]
Mr. Bradshaw: Fish stocks fluctuate considerably over time, and so comparing two arbitrarily chosen years is of limited value. Generally, however, pelagic stocks, such as mackerel and herring, are at higher levels than in 1983 when the common fisheries policy came into effect. A few demersal stocks, such as North sea haddock, are also at higher levels than in 1983. Stocks of prawns and shellfish have generally thrived.
Gangmasters
Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) to what extent legislation applies to undocumented gangmaster-provided labour in the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries; [140246]
- (2) what (a) monitoring and (b) enforcement provisions are used to ensure that gangmasters in the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries comply with United Kingdom legislation; [140247]
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(3) how many gangmasters providing labour in the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries have been found to be in breach of United Kingdom law since 1997; how many of those gangmasters were subsequently prosecuted; and what sanctions and penalties were applied to those gangmasters found guilty following prosecution. [140248]
Mr. Bradshaw: This information will take some time to collate. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information in due course.
Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many gangmasters operate within the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries in the UK; and how many gangworkers are employed within these industries. [140189]
Mr. Bradshaw: Information about the number of gangmasters operating in the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries in the UK and the number of workers they supply is not collected by Government. In evidence given to the EFRA Select Committee's inquiry into gangmasters it was estimated that the number of gangmasters operating in agriculture and horticulture could be approaching 3,000 of which some 250 are thought to be substantial businesses. Information about the total number of seasonal and casual workers employed in agriculture and horticulture is collected by Defra's annual Census of agriculture and horticulture. In June 2002 (when the Census was taken) some 64,000 seasonal and casual workers were employed. This figure will include both workers supplied by gangmasters to employers in agriculture and horticulture and workers who are employed directly by those employers.
Habitats Directive
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the regulatory impact of the UK regime for administering the Habitats Directive. [138553]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Habitats Directive is principally transposed into UK law by regulations which came into force in 1994 and 1995. Since then no overall assessment has been made. Nature conservation is a devolved matter and therefore any assessment in Scotland, North Ireland and Wales will be a matter for the relevant administrations. In England, assessments are carried out before candidate Special Areas of Conservation are submitted to the European Commission under Article 4 of the Directive. My Department has also published Regulatory Impact Assessments on recently proposed draft amendments to the regulations in England, and on draft regulations to implement the Directive in the offshore zone.
Beef Exports
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what compensation has been offered to UK farmers as a consequence of the unauthorised ban on British beef imports to France; and if she will make a statement. [139845]
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Mr. Bradshaw: No compensation has been offered to UK farmers for the effects of the illegal French ban on imports of UK beef. Any bids for compensation must come from those affected and be pursued with the French authorities.
"A" Rated Appliances
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will respond to the letter of 24 October from the Chief Executive of the Radio, Electrical and Television Retailers' Association about the ability of small electrical retailers to sell 'A' rated appliances. [140062]
Alun Michael: Letters sent direct to the Department from Organisations and Members of the public are not recorded centrally but are passed to the appropriate policy Division for response. I understand that the letter referred to by the hon. Member is being dealt with and the Chief Executive of the Radio, Electrical and Television Retailers' Association will receive a response shortly.
Abattoirs
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice and assistance will be given to small abattoirs to meet health and safety standards in the next two years. [139046]
Mr. Bradshaw: We are working in close co-operation with industry representatives, the Meat and Livestock Commission and regional partners to secure an appropriate network of abattoirs throughout the country. This includes the continuing role of small and medium sized enterprises. Official meat inspection costs are being offset by the Food Standards Agency by more than £20 million per annum. In addition we have advised abattoir owners on the requirements for blood collection under the new Animal By-Products regulations, particularly on how compliance costs for small businesses could be minimised. We will continue to take a constructive approach to the implementation of regulatory requirements including implementation of hazard analysis critical control point procedures.
Agriculture
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grants are available to (a) dairy, (b) arable, (c) sheep, (d) beef, (e) poultry and (f) pig farmers in the Chorley constituency. [140023]
Mr. Bradshaw: Farmers in Chorley can apply to participate in the following schemes under the England Rural Development Programme: Countryside Stewardship Scheme, Organic Farming Scheme, Farm Woodland Premium Scheme, Woodland Grant Scheme, Energy Crops Scheme, Vocational Training Scheme, Processing and Marketing Grant, and Rural Enterprise Scheme. Any sheep and suckler cow producers whose holdings are within or part within the Less Favoured Area boundary are entitled to claim Hill Farm Allowance.
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The Farm Waste Grant (Nitrate Vulnerable Zones) Scheme provides help to farmers in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones who are installing or improving farm waste facilities.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on grants given by regional development agencies for agricultural shows in (a) England and (b) the North West over the last two years. [139263]
Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
I have not been able to answer this Question before Prorogation. I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the grant given to the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society by the North West Development Agency for the 2003 Royal Lancashire Show. [139264]
Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
The Lancashire Rural Recovery Partnership, which is funded by the North West Development Agency, provided a grant of £32,578 to fund some of the marketing costs for the 2003 Royal Lancashire Show. This was to help publicise the fact that the Show was taking place at a new venue for the first time in 2003. The funding also contributed towards the promotion of a local product event aimed at generating awareness of local speciality products.
Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 17th November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [139941]
Margaret Beckett: I will write to my hon. Friend with this information shortly.
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