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1 Nov 2005 : Column 881W—continued
Farming
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average yearly farm income was from 1984 to 2005. [21266]
Jim Knight [holding answer 26 October 2005]: The average yearly farm income for England in each year from 1983–84 to 2003–04 is given in the following table (2004–05 due to be published 27 October):
(26) The data may differ slightly from those published in past years. They have been re-calculated to take account of changes to farm typology.
(27) Excludes farms subjected to compulsory foot and mouth disease cull. Net farm income is defined as the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant type capital invested in the business.
Source:
Farm Business Survey
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Flood Protection
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the forthcoming strategy for the Lower Severn includes statements on the Environment Agency's responsibility to undertake planned and responsive maintenance on the banks of the River Severn. [22495]
Mr. Morley: I understand the Tidal Severn Strategy has been developed by the Environment Agency in full consultation with stakeholders and that it does include statements on the Agency's responsibilities to undertake planned and responsive maintenance on the banks of the River Severn.
Goats
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the impact on the welfare of goats of (a) single tagging and (b) double tagging; and if she will make a statement. [21216]
Mr. Bradshaw: DEFRA has conducted a six-month field trial in order to identify potential welfare issues when tagging goats. The trial involved double tagging 125 goats with a range of different tag types. This was done to maximise the data available and the trial was not specifically designed to compare the welfare implications of single versus double tagging. In any event, the results of the trial are currently being been analysed.
The Department have also conducted research on best practice in tagging goats within the UK and in other EU member states. The critical success factors appear to be use of an appropriate tag (size, shape, weight, pin length, etc.) for the breed of animal, the correct placement and application of the tag and high standards of hygiene. The environment in which animals are kept is also factor determining retention rates, which have an impact on animal welfare.
Although DEFRA is concerned about the possible welfare impact of the mandatory tagging of goats, my officials have uncovered numerous examples of keepers who have encountered few or no welfare problems when
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tagging their goats. It should also be noted that the application of tattoos, the former favoured method of identifying goats, can also cause welfare problems.
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how her Department plans to administer European Council regulation (EC) 21/2004, regarding the identification of sheep and goats. [21217]
Mr. Bradshaw: Council Regulation (EC) 21/2004 has been directly applicable within the United Kingdom from 9 July 2005. Domestic legislation to provide for the enforcement of the requirements of 21/2004 will be in place by December.
The UK sought an exemption from the requirement in Council Regulation (EC) 21/2004 for all breeding sheep and goats to be double tagged. This has been granted on a temporary basis up until 30 April 2006. This allows the UK to broadly maintain its existing system.
A leaflet explaining the new rules in brief was sent to all sheep and goat keepers in England on 25 August. I will place a copy of this leaflet in the Library of the House. Full guidance will be sent to all sheep and goat keepers in November and once issued, this too will be made available in the Libraries.
Milk Prices
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with Farmers for Action on the price of milk paid to farmers. [17696]
Jim Knight: Price negotiations between producers and processors, or processors and supermarkets are a private commercial matter in which the Government cannot and should not get involved, provided competition rules are respected. The Government are very aware of the challenges facing the industry, of which low prices are one. My noble Friend Lord Bach, is working closely with industry representatives through the Dairy Supply Chain Forum to address some of these issues, such as farm level efficiency and barriers to innovation.
National Service Plan
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress on the National Service Plan. [20761]
Mr. Bradshaw: I assume the hon. Member is referring to the National Scrapie Plan.
The National Scrapie Plan continues to make good progress. The voluntary Ram Genotyping Scheme is continuing to recruit new members and there has been encouraging progress in improving genotype profiles in participating flocks. We are working to implement the Compulsory Ram Genotyping Scheme during 2006, taking into account the results of a strategic review last year. Targeted action in scrapie affected flocks is continuing in line with the EU rules and we are taking the opportunity of discussions in Brussels of the Commission's TSE Roadmap to press for changes to the scheme.
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Non-departmental Public Bodies
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list those of her Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which the Government are required (a) to consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) to publish their response to advice from. [20128]
Jim Knight: There is currently no information held centrally to answer this question and to provide it would be at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department (a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings; and whether it is under a statutory requirement in each case. [20130]
Jim Knight: Not all the information required is held centrally and the following parts of this question have not been answered because of disproportionate cost:
Some of parts (a), (e) and (f) can be answered, however there is currently no information held centrally on whether these bodies have a statutory base.
Most of the information was collected in the last quarter of 2004 and relates only to questions about publishing meeting agendas and minutes on the internet.
(e) Publish agendas for meetings
(f) Publish the minutes of meetings
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