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GM Plants and UK National List of Varieties
Lord Beaumont of Whitley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will provide details of when, to their knowledge, seeds of a genetically modified plant variety have been marketed, sold or otherwise supplied under arrangements specified in Regulation 31 of the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982.[HL775]
Baroness Hayman: Regulation 31 of the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982 (as amended) requires that, except as provided for in Regulation 32, seed of agricultural and vegetable varieties shall not be marketed unless the variety in question is on a National List or a EC Common Catalogue. GM plant varieties may be entered on the UK National List only if a marketing consent has been promulgated under Directive 90/220/EEC on the Deliberate Release into the Environment of Genetically Modified Organisms and an authorisation has been issued, where appropriate, under the Novel Food Regulations.
There are no GM plant varieties on the UK National List and no marketing has, therefore, taken place from that source. Two GM chicory varieties (FIRESTONE and SAM) were added to the EC Vegetable Common Catalogue on 15 June 1999 under marketing consent reference C/NL/94/25, which restricts marketing to plant breeding activities and excludes their use for human or animal feed. There is no requirement under that consent to notify member states of such marketing activity.
Pet Travel Scheme
Lord Hoyle asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In connection with the pet travel scheme, when a system of documents will be put in place for French residents bringing pets to this country in relation to rabies; and[HL838]
When under the pet travel scheme veterinary surgeons in France will receive documents relating to certification that ticking and worming have been carried out; and[HL839]
What information has been supplied to French veterinary surgeons about the pet pilot travel scheme; and[HL840]
Whether the discussions with the French Government regarding arrangements for the surveillance of carrier activities participating in the pet pilot passport travel scheme have been finalised.[HL841]
Baroness Hayman: We have provided the French veterinary authorities with details of the pilot Pet Travel Scheme, which we have asked them to pass on to veterinary surgeons in France. The French Government has sent us copies of a rabies certificate for use by French residents wishing to take part in the Pet Travel Scheme, and a tick and tapeworm treatment certificate. Their printing and distribution to veterinary surgeons in France is a matter for the French Government. Discussions with the French authorities on the surveillance of carrier activities in relation to the scheme are continuing.
Agricultural Community: EU Obligations
Lord Inglewood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How they are honouring their obligation under EC Treaty Article 33(1)(b).[HL828]
Baroness Hayman: Article 33 of the Treaty of Rome sets out the five objectives of the common agricultural policy, of which ensuring a fair standard of living for the agricultural community is one. Responsiblity rests with the European Commission to propose legislation and with the Council of Ministers, and in some cases the European Commission, to adopt legislation to meet the objectives in the Treaty.
Cattle TB: Report
Lord Dubs asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle Tuberculosis will publish its second report.[HL902]
Baroness Hayman: We are pleased to tell the House that the second report by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB is published today. The report sets out progress made so far on the wide-ranging research measures being taken to combat cattle TB as well as plans for work to be undertaken in the future. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
Floods: Environment Agency Action Plan
Lord Dubs asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress the Environment Agency has made in implementing its action plan in response to the independent report on the Easter 1998 floods.[HL901]
Baroness Hayman: While there were no further specific actions timed for completion by the end December 1999, the Environment Agency has nevertheless kept the Ministry informed of progress up to that date.
For flood forecasting, all the Environment Agency's regions are working on delivering the first phase of their hydrometric monitoring network improvement programmes by April 2000.
The work relating to flood warning is progressing well. The National Flood Warning Centre is established and the necessary relationships with other national bodies are being actively developed.
Flood risk maps have been produced and were disseminated to local planning authorities and emergency planners in September 1999. The agency is using the maps to identify high-risk properties on a consistent basis to aid targeting of direct warnings and public awareness material. Local authorities are using the maps for both development control and emergency planning purposes. The information in the maps will be made publicly available so that people can make informed decisions about flood risks.
The agency has further improved liaison arrangements with local authorities and emergency services at both local and national level to ensure effective response to flooding incidents.
A flood warning public awareness campaign commenced in October. Plans are being developed for revised flood warning codes to be introduced in September 2000, with appropriate publicity.
Visual inspection of all flood defences continues against a deadline of April 2000. The agency has set up meetings to resolve isolated problems where local authorities have not always been able to identify the location of defences on ordinary watercourses.
The agency continues its work in implementing the recommendations in the independent report on its management and skills.
We are pleased to note the agency's continuing progress in implementing the Easter Floods report, contributing to achievement of the ministerial priority of a seamless and integrated service of flood forecasting, warning and response.
We shall ensure that the House is updated on progress in implementing the final phases of the action plan, including the introduction of new flood warning codes in September 2000.
Agriculture Development Scheme Grants
Lord Hardy of Wath asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What grants have been offered under the Agriculture Development Scheme.[HL882]
Baroness Hayman: We are pleased that offers of some £2 million in marketing grants have been made under the Agriculture Development Scheme. Around 35 per cent of the money will benefit the pig sector
directly and some of the other projects directed at the livestock sector will also help pig producers. Overall, we are assisting a wide range of sectors and regions. The following organisations have been offered grant aid:| Sector | Lead organisation | Project |
| Pigs | Assured British Meat | National assurance database information and administration system (pigs module) |
| Pigs | Assured British Meat | ABM Assured Britsh Pigs Scheme data merger |
| Pigs | BOCM Pauls Ltd | Maximising pig carcass value |
| Pigs/organic | Eastbrook Farm Organic Meats Ltd | Growing the organic pigmeat market from a UK production base |
| Pigs | Food Trak plc | Traceability in the pig meat supply chain |
| Pigs | JSR Farms Ltd | Integrated pig meat supply initiative |
| Pigs | Ladies In Pigs | A catering college's initiative to secure the future for British pigmeat in catering |
| Pigs | Meat & Livestock Commission | Project 2: improving supply chain communications |
| Pigs | National Pig Association | A risk management initiative for the UK pig industry |
| Pigs | United Pig Marketing | A shared IT and information system for UPM and its supply chain partners |
| Pigs | University of Aberdeen | A training package for the British pig industry using multi-media technology |
| Beef | Glendale Beef Producers | Glendale Beef Producers initiative |
| Beef/dairy | Warwickshire Quality Calves | Improving the value of beef calves from the dairy herd |
| Dairy | National Milk Records plc | Proposal for a south-west dairy information network |
| Dairy/organic | Organic Milk Suppliers Co-operative | Design and initial implementation of a novel technology transfer and quality management system on organic dairy farms |
| Dairy/specialty | Business Link Bradford & District | Feasibility study into potential for a yoghurt production facility for the Asian community |
| Eggs | British Free Range Egg Producers Association | British Free Range Egg Marketing Company Ltd |
| Sheep | British Sheep Dairying Association | Implementation of structural development of the sheep dairy sector |
| Sheep/speciality | Business Link Bradford & District | New routes to new markets--investigation into ways of making better use of sheepmeat products to the benefit of producers |
| Wild boar | The British Wild Boar Association | To improve collaborative marketing activity between primary and secondary producers of British farmed wild boar |
| Livestock general | Assured British Meat | Multiple retail caterers--food safety assurance module |
| Livestock general | Assured British Meat | Assurance chain--focus farms |
| Livestock general/ regional/ speciality | Assured British Meat | Assurance and food heritage |
| Livestock general | Farmway Ltd | Marketing co-operatively produced branded pork, beef and lamb through "Farmway" co-operative stores: a feasibility study |
| Livestock general | Harper Adams University College | Building regional enterprise and agricultural competitiveness though IT (Breakthrough-IT) |
| Livestock general | Meadow Valley Livestock Ltd | Improving farmers' efficiency and returns by directing them to market-led, added value marketing schemes |
| Livestock general | South East Primestock Producers (SEPP) Ltd | A plan for regional growth and farmer |
| Livestock general/ organic/ speciality | Humane Slaughter Association | Mobile slaughter unit 2000 |
| Nursery stock | Horticultural Trades Association | A project to influence structural change in the landscape supply chain to build value in the soft landscape market |
| Nursery stock | Horticultural Trades Association | A project to extend the HTA nursery certification scheme to include the inspection and supply of local provenance |
| Nursery stock | Horticultural Trades Association | A project to develop a greater understanding of the supply chain within the nurserystock sector |
| Onions | British Onion Producers Organisation | Sector analysis of the onion market |
| Potatoes | Hereward Growers | Collaborative marketing initiative |
| Soft fruit | Advanced Marketing Services Ltd | Soft fruit development for category management |
| Soft fruit | The Berryworld Producers' Organisation Ltd | Development of an intergrated traceability system for the soft fruit industry |
| Tomatoes | Tomato Growers Association | Investigation into the development of an integrated quality management system for the British tomato industry |
| Top fruit | Fruition Group Ltd | Rationalisation: the basis of a full category player |
| Horticulture general | Checkmate International | Benchmarking services for the EUREP GAP framework |
| Horticulture general | Institute of Grocery Distribution | Benchmarking the industry |
| Combinable crops | Samuel Rose Ltd | Promoting vertical intergration through farmer collaboration in agricultural supply chains |
| Combinable crops | United Grain Producers | "The Marlborough Group" (working together to improve farm incomes) |
| Farmers' markets | National Association of Farmers Markets | Together to market |
| Direct selling | Farm Retail Association | Red and green box scheme feasibility study |
| Viticulture | The Magpie Consultancy | Formation of a collaborative marketing company owned by producers and devoted to the marketing development of the wines & vineyards of England |
| Trout | Longford Estate | Co-ordinated approach to trout marketing |
| General | Plunkett Foundation | Increasing competitiveness in the farmer controlled business sector through the use of best practice benchmarking |
| General | Lantra | Increasing the competitiveness of the land based sector |
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