Previous Section Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page


Lambs: Humane Castration and Tail Docking

Lord Stanley of Alderley asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Donoughue): The Moredun Foundation is collaborating with the University of Edinburgh on two government-funded projects aimed at the development of more humane methods for the castration and tail docking of lambs. Decisions as to future government funding of work in this area will depend on a number of factors including evaluation of the results of these and other relevant scientific studies, the availability of resources and the scientific quality of any proposals submitted.

Farm Animal Welfare

Baroness Anelay of St. Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Donoughue: No discussions were held on this subject before the UK launched a discussion under its presidency, initially in the working group for EU Chief Veterinary Officers in April 1998. In Her Majesty's Government's view, the overriding aim must be to achieve a wider multilateral consensus on farm animal welfare: the EU's strategy should be to work for this through whatever international fora it identifies as the most suitable, as well as in bilateral negotiations with third country suppliers. We intend to drive this subject forward, though in view of the complex range of interests involved it is bound to take a while to develop an EU position.

Baroness Anelay of St. Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Donoghue on 5 May (WA 51-52)


    (a) which European Union member states do not have Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) equivalents;

20 May 1998 : Column WA180


    (b) to which European Union member states they have commended the setting up of FAWC equivalents since 1 May 1997;


    (c) what have been the results of their commendations to date.[HL1860]

Lord Donoughue: So far as we are aware, the member states which have bodies analogous to the Farm Animal Welfare Council are Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany and the Netherlands. It would be presumptuous to expect that the commendation we give to the FAWC model would in itself lead other governments to set up similar bodies, but we hope that over time it will contribute to this end. The honourable member for Scunthorpe in another place, the Minister for Fisheries and the Countryside, commended the FAWC model to the chief veterinary officers of all the member states when he addressed them recently; all the FAWC's reports are sent to the other member states, enabling us to highlight the value of the council; and the chairman and members of the FAWC have our support in seeking opportunities to demonstrate their worth to other governments, in the EU and beyond.

Agriculture Council, 10-12 May

Lord Davies of Oldham asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What was the outcome of the informal Agriculture Council held on 10-12 May.[HL1878]

Lord Donoughue: As Chairman of the EU Agriculture Council, my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food hosted an informal meeting of Agriculture Ministers in Newcastle upon Tyne from 10 to 12 May 1998. I represented the United Kingdom at that meeting.

In the course of the informal visit, my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was able to show our EU colleagues the efforts which the UK Government are making, in partnership with the farming industry, to help put our beef industry onto a sound footing for the future. In particular, our EU ministerial colleagues were given a comprehensive presentation of the cattle traceability system now being put in place in Great Britain with the aim of assuring consumers, retailers and farmers alike of the safety and reliability of our meat.

Linked to the theme of quality and sustainability of beef production, the informal EU Council went on to discuss, on the basis of a UK Presidency paper, the challenges facing EU livestock producers in environmentally fragile areas of the Union, and the measures open to EU governments to assist them. A wide-ranging debate on this important subject gave rise to a number of important policy considerations which will be taken forward in the negotiations on the Commission's Agenda 2000 proposals for agricultural reform.

20 May 1998 : Column WA181

Scottish Universities: Tuition Fees

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What tuition fees will be charged for students of (a) veterinary medicine, (b) medicine and (c) dentistry at Scottish universities when tuition fees are introduced.[HL1841]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel): Students liable to pay tuition fees will pay a maximum of £1,000 per year on these courses. Students of veterinary medicine will be liable to pay tuition fees for each year of their course; students of medicine and dentistry will be liable to pay tuition fees for the first four years of their courses only. The arrangements in Scotland are the same as in other UK countries.

Around 40 per cent. of Scottish students on all courses will not pay tuition fees; a further quarter or so will pay less than £1,000 per year.

NHS, Scotland: Projected Allocations

Lord Selkirk of Douglas asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sewel on 12 May (WA 113) on NHS expenditure in Scotland in 1998-99, what the figures of £249 million and £123 million represent as (a) a year-on-year increase and (b) a year-on-year real-terms increase.

Lord Sewel: The year-on-year cash increase is 5.7 per cent. and the year-on-year real-terms increase is 2.7 per cent.

NHS, Scotland: Expenditure

Lord Selkirk of Douglas asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sewel on 12 May (WA 113) on NHS expenditure in Scotland

20 May 1998 : Column WA182

    over the last 20 years, for the 18 years from 1979-80 to 1996-97 inclusive what was the average:




    (a) expenditure at 1998-99 prices;


    (b) year-on-year increases;


    (c) year-on-year percentage cash increase;


    (d) year-on-year percentage real-terms increase.[HL1916]

Lord Sewel: Over the period 1979-80 to 1996-97 the average expenditure at 1998-99 prices was £3,717 million; the average year-on-year cash increase was £188 million; the year-on-year percentage cash increase was 8.6 per cent.; and the year-on-year percentage real-terms increase was 2.6 per cent.

Scottish Police External Investigations

Lord Burton asked Her Majesty's Government:

    How many external investigations (a) have been commissioned, (b) have been carried out and (c) are ongoing into each of the eight Scottish police forces during each of the last two years; and for each investigation:


    (i) which police force was appointed to carry out each or any investigation;


    (ii) what other body, organisation or institution was appointed to carry out, or assist with, any investigation;


    (iii) what was the reason or the subject of each investigation;


    (iv) what was the result or outcome of each investigation; and


    (v) what were the costs involved in carrying out each investigation; and what share of these costs were met by (a) the investigated police force, (b) the investigating police force, (c) the Scottish Office and (d) any other party, authority or organisation.[HL1886]

Lord Sewel: The information requested is contained in the table below. In each case the investigation was carried out by a police force with no other organisation or body involved. Investigations are invariably conducted on a "mutual aid" basis, with no charge being made by the investigating force. Information on costs is not therefore readily available.

20 May 1998 : Column WA181

Scottish Police External Investigations 1996-97

Force investigatedSubjectEnquiring forceOutcome
Central ScotlandCriminal Allegation against serving officersTaysideReport to Procurator Fiscal--No Proceedings Taken
Dumfries and GallowayNoneNoneNone
FifeAllegation of threats & attempt to pervert the Course of Justice against serving officerTaysideComplainer withdrew complaint, report to Procurator Fiscal, No Proceedings Taken
GrampianCriminal Allegation against serving officersLothian & BordersReport to Crown Office--No Proceedings Taken
GrampianCriminal Allegation against serving officersLothian & BordersOngoing
Lothian and BordersNoneNoneNone
Northern ConstabularyAllegation of oppressive conductDumfries & GallowayReferred to Police Board--Not Substantiated
Northern ConstabularyAllegation of Indecent Assault against serving officerTaysideReport to Procurator Fiscal--No Proceedings
StrathclydeNoneNoneNone
TaysideReview of enquiry into fatal road traffic accidentCentralOne officer given corrective advice
TaysideAllegation of oppressive conductStrathclydeUnsubstantiated after Industrial Tribunal
TaysideAllegation of breach of confidentialityFifeUnsubstantiated

20 May 1998 : Column WA183

Scottish Police External Investigations 1997-98

Force investigatedSubjectEnquiring forceOutcome
Central ScotlandCriminal Allegation against serving officerFifeReport to Procurator Fiscal--No Proceedings Taken
Central ScotlandAllegations of improper conduct against serving officersStrathclydeTwo officers counselled
Central ScotlandReview of investigation of a murder enquiryTaysideOngoing
Central ScotlandAllegation of oppressive conduct by serving officerTaysideMonetary penalty imposed following Misconduct Hearing
Dumfries and GallowayNoneNoneNone
FifeNoneNoneNone
GrampianInvestigation into suicide of ex-Police OfficerTaysideOngoing
GrampianReview of circumstances surrounding a missing person and subsequent murder enquiryLothian and BordersReport Published
Lothian and BordersNoneNoneNone
Northern ConstabularyEnquiry into Sudden Death of serving officerTaysideOngoing
StrathclydeAllegation of discriminationTaysideOngoing
TaysideReview of criminal investigation of allegation of Lewd and Libidinous conductNorthernOngoing

20 May 1998 : Column WA183



   Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page