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21 Jul 2004 : Column 243W—continued

Dairy Cattle

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total number of dairy cattle in England was for the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what the estimated figure is for 2004–05. [184819]

Alun Michael: The number of dairy cows and heifers that have calved in England is shown in the following table for 1994 to 2003. Provisional figures from the June 2004 census will be available in a statistics notice to be published on the 16 September 2004 on the Defra website.
Number of dairy cows and heifers that have calved in England 1994 to 2003

	Dairy cows (Thousand)
1994	1,897.0
1995	1,809.3
1996	1,783.3
1997	1,700.3
1998	1,642.6
1999	1,659.2
2000	1,575.3
2001	1,490.2
2002	1,462.2
2003	1,434.7

Note:
Figures prior to 2000 are for main holdings only, 2000 onwards include main and minor holdings.
Source:
June Agricultural Census.

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total number of dairy farms was in England for the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what the estimated figure is for 2004–05. [184820]

Alun Michael: The number of holdings in England whose predominant business is dairy is shown as follows. Equivalent figures from the June 2004 census will be published on the Defra website in early 2005.
 
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Number of dairy type holdings in England 1994 to 2003

	Number (Thousand)
1994	20.6
1995	19.6
1996	18.9
1997	18.0
1998	17.0
1999	16.3
2000	15.2
2001	14.1
2002	14.3
2003	13.6

Note:
Figures prior to 2000 are for main holdings only, 2000 onwards include main and minor holdings.
Source:
June Agricultural Census.

Dairy Farm Workers

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total number of farm workers employed on dairy farms in England was for the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what the estimated number is for 2004–05. [184818]

Alun Michael: The number of employees on holdings in England whose predominant business is dairy is shown in the following table for 1994 to 2003. Equivalent figures from the June 2004 census will not be available until early 2005.
Number of employees on dairy type holdings in England 1994 to 2003

	Employees (Thousand)
1994	26.4
1995	25.6
1996	24.7
1997	23.4
1998	21.0
1999	18.8
2000	16.0
2001	14.7
2002	14.7
2003	13.4

Notes:
1. Employees exclude farmers, partners, directors and spouses if they work on the holding.
2. Figures prior to 2000 are for main holdings only, 2000 onwards include main and minor holdings.
Source:
June Agricultural Census.

Disposable Nappies

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many disposable nappies she estimates were (a) used and (b) disposed of by (i) landfill, (ii) incineration and (ii) other means in each year since 2001. [184853]

Mr. Morley: We do not collect information on the amount of disposable nappies used nor of the disposal route.
 
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The Strategy Unit Report "Waste Not Want Not" estimated that in 2000–01 nappies comprised around 2 per cent. of household waste, equivalent to 350,000 tonnes. In 2002–03 75 per cent. of our household waste was sent to landfill and 7 per cent. to incineration.

Domestic Waste Sites

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects her Department to publish the criteria for the treatment expected at the domestic waste sites which are to be allowed to accept cells containing treated toxic waste. [183796]

Mr. Morley: I assume the hon. Member is referring to the provision in the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002 (as amended) that allows stable, non-reactive hazardous waste to be landfilled in a separate cell in a non-hazardous landfill site. The criteria for stabilised non-reactive granular hazardous waste are set out in part 3, paragraph 14 of Schedule 1 of the amended Regulations. Equivalent criteria for monolithic wastes are being developed and will shortly be issued for consultation.

Eggs

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the enforcement difficulties that led to the decision of the Council of Ministers to remove the derogation from marking for ungraded eggs. [184195]

Alun Michael: The Commission (supported by other member states, but not the UK), argued it was necessary to clamp down on fraudulent sales (eggs being sold other than by the producer) through markets. There is no evidence of any significant problems of this sort in this country.

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact upon (a) egg producers, (b) small markets and (c) consumers of her proposed requirement for ungraded eggs to be marked. [184197]

Alun Michael: Defra has received over 3,000 inquiries from small-scale egg producers on the Registration of Laying Flocks Order and the Egg Marketing Regulations. All producers must register with departments in order to obtain an identifying code. Currently small producers with less than 350 birds are exempt from this requirement, provided that the eggs are ungraded and sold direct to the final consumer.

Because of enforcement difficulties in other member states, it was agreed in November 2003 that part of the derogation from marking for ungraded eggs be removed. From 1 July 2005 farmers selling eggs from their own farms at local public markets will no longer be exempt from the requirement to mark their eggs, irrespective of the number of laying hens kept A Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment was prepared on this in November 2003.
 
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The cost for small producers to purchase the necessary equipment is low. A hand stamp can be bought for around £30. The time required to register as a producer and then to stamp eggs is unlikely to be significant. The majority of small producers appear to be satisfied that the costs are reasonable and can be borne comfortably.

Some producers with fewer than 350 laying hens will therefore have to register for the first time, in order to obtain a distinguishing number. This measure had the support of the majority of other member states. Sales in farm shops and door-to-door do however remain exempt.

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what penalties she plans to impose for a breach of the proposed requirement for ungraded eggs to be marked. [184198]

Alun Michael: If prosecution is required under the Egg Marketing Standards, then any person who fails to comply with any requirement properly made to him by an authorised officer of the Minister or of a food authority under these Regulations, or contravenes or fails to comply with any Community provision, will be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 (currently £5,000) on the standard scale.

We will encourage producers to comply with the new Regulations and provide any necessary advice. Our Egg Marketing Inspectorate will take a sensible and proportionate approach to enforcement. Prosecution will be taken only as a last resort.

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 1 July 2004, Official Report, columns 361–62W, on egg stamping, what the (a) date and (b) nature was of the Council of Ministers meeting which agreed to remove the derogation from marking for ungraded eggs; and what legislation she plans to bring forward to implement the proposed requirement for ungraded eggs to be marked. [184199]

Alun Michael: The meeting at which the agreement was reached to remove the derogation from marking for ungraded eggs was an Agriculture and Fisheries Council which was held on 17 November 2003.

The legislation anticipated to implement the proposed requirement would be The Eggs and Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Enforcement) (England) Regulations. We hope to bring these Regulations forward later this year, following formal consultation.

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