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Deposited Paper HINF 2003/2299

Letter dated 25.11.2003 from Ben Bradshaw MP to Owen Paterson MP regarding the number of cows that have been subject to post-mortem examination for TB in each of the last 10 years. DEFRA. 2003.

Deposited by

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Deposited paper

Date

27 November 2003

Reference

HINF 2003/2299

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many carcases produced from cows not reported as TB reactors originating from farms in England were found to be positive for M. bovis or otherwise infected with bovine tuberculosis as a result of samples taken at slaughterhouses...

Asked by

Owen Paterson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Tabled on

18 November 2003

For answer on

20 November 2003

Answered on

20 November 2003

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many carcases produced from cows not reported as TB reactors originating from farms in England were found to be positive for M. bovis or otherwise infected with bovine tuberculosis as a result of samples taken at slaughterhouses in the last 10 years. [140314] Mr. Bradshaw: All cattle slaughtered in licensed slaughterhouses are subject to inspection by Meat Hygiene Service officials. Where lesions suggestive of TB are found at post-mortem, samples are sent for laboratory culture of M. bovis, the causative organism of bovine tuberculosis. Cases identified by the MHS (but not sent for slaughter as reactors) are "slaughterhouse cases". _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Confirmed slaughterhouse cases Total slaughterhouse cases Number Percentage 2002 385 132 34 2001 194 65 36 2000 239 114 48 1999 178 92 52 1998 94 50 53 1997 10 4 40 1996 10 3 30 1995 4 3 75 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Data not currently available for 1994 and 1993

Subjects

Death; Cattle; Disease control; Livestock; Testing; Slaughterhouses; Bovine tuberculosis

Date

20 November 2003

Reference

140314; 413 c1205-6W;413 c1202-3W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the estimated population of badgers in England was between 1973 and 1980; and what the estimate is for 2003; how many closed dairy herds in England are registered with the Department; what steps farmers can take to...

Asked by

Owen Paterson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Tabled on

18 November 2003

For answer on

20 November 2003

Answered on

20 November 2003

Mr. Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the estimated population of badgers in England was between 1973 and 1980; and what the estimate is for 2003; [140292] (2) how many closed dairy herds in England are: registered with the Department; [140294] (3) what steps farmers can take to ensure that their cattle are not exposed to M. bovis infection where pasture might be frequented by badgers actively shedding M. bovis vacilli; [140295] (4) if she will make a statement on the conditions under which a badger is capable of transmitting TB to cattle; and what the mechanism of transmission is; [140302] (5) what protocol was adopted for the ecological survey carried out as part of the Krebs trials; [140303] (6) what the potential maximum period of infectivity of adult badgers demonstrating active lesions of M. bovis infection is; [140305] (7) what assessment she has made of the success rate, in terms of the percentage of badgers killed in a defined area, of the policy of gassing setts adopted prior to 1986; [140311] (8) how many cows have been subject to post-mortem examination for TB in each of the past 10 years; how many were found to be TB reactors; and how many of the reactors revealed tubercular lesions in the udder capable of contaminating milk. [140315] Mr. Bradshaw: I will write to the hon. Member with this information shortly.

Subjects

Death; Badger; Cattle; Disease control; Protection; Livestock; Post-mortem; Population; Wildlife; Bovine tuberculosis

Date

20 November 2003

Reference

413 c1202-3W;413 c1199W; 140292;140294;140295;140302;140303;140305;140311;140315

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

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.

Asked by

Lindsay Hoyle (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Date

20 November 2003

Reference

140023; 413 c1197-8W;413 c1194-5W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what has been the average (a) disposal sale price and (b) market price for (i) commercial dairy cattle and (ii) pedigree dairy cattle in (A) England and (B) Wales for each of the last five years for which...

Asked by

Andrew George (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Tabled on

30 October 2003

For answer on

19 November 2003

Answered on

19 November 2003

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what has been the average (a) disposal sale price and (b) market price for (i) commercial dairy cattle and (ii) pedigree dairy cattle in (A) England and (B) Wales for each of the last five years for which figures are available. [136409] Mr. Bradshaw: The average (a) disposal sale price of (i) commercial dairy cattle (ii) pedigree dairy cattle and the (b) market price of (ii) pedigree dairy cattle is not recorded by either Defra or the MLC and is therefore unavailable. The average (b) market price for (i) commercial dairy cattle for the last five years is available, as an aggregate of (A) England and (B) Wales due to the few Welsh markets from which data is available. Six years data of the yearly average market price for Friesian Holstein dairy cows sold at auction markets in England and Wales shows the trend of livestock prices prior to the foot and mouth outbreak. Average price of dairy cows sold at livestock auctions (England and Wales) _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Average price £ per head 1998 555 1999 489 2000 479 2001 616 2002 593 2003 744 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: 1. 2001: The yearly average price was calculated from data collected during January and February 2001, until foot and mouth forced the closure of the livestock auctions. 2. 2002: The yearly average price was calculated from data collected from the auction markets which began to re-open from February 2002 onwards, the numbers steadily increased as more markets opened after the restrictions were lifted due to the end of foot and mouth. 3. 2003: The yearly average price was calculated from data collected during the period January until October 2003.

Subjects

Cattle; Dairy farming; Livestock; Price; Livestock industry; Sales

Date

19 November 2003

Reference

136409; 413 c897W;413 c896-7W

House

House of Commons

Warner, Lord

Whether liquid milk sold by retailers as "British" has to be produced from cows in the United Kingdom; and whether labelling requirements for the origin of liquid milk are being adhered to by the retail trade. [HL 5227].

Asked by

Lord Stewartby (Conservative)

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Date

13 November 2003

Reference

654 c221-2WA; HL 5227

House

House of Lords

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dairy cows there were in each of the past five years; and what the average size of dairy herds was in each year. - Inc table.

Asked by

Andrew George (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Tabled on

28 October 2003

For answer on

12 November 2003

Answered on

12 November 2003

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy cows there were in each of the past five years; and what the average size of dairy herds was in each year. [135746] Mr. Bradshaw: Data for dairy cows are collected annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census as a total. For the last five years the figures are: Dairy cows and dairy herd size 1998 to 2002 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Dairy cows Average dairy herd size 1998 1,642,636 83.9 1999 1,659,210 88.5 2000 1,575,320 89.8 2001 1,490,224 91.6 2002 1,462,155 87.9 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: 1. Dairy herd--holdings with dairy cows producing milk. 2. Dairy cows--all cows and heifers that have calved. 3. 1998 and 1999 figures refer to main holdings only. 2000 onwards--main and minor holdings. Source: June agricultural census--England.

Subjects

Agriculture; Cattle; Dairy farming; Livestock

Date

12 November 2003

Reference

135746; 413 c287W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dairy cows there were in each of the last five years; and what the average size of dairy herds was in each year in (a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley. - Inc table.

Asked by

Lindsay Hoyle (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Tabled on

3 November 2003

For answer on

12 November 2003

Answered on

12 November 2003

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy cows there were in each of the last five years; and what the average size of dairy herds was in each year in (a) the north west, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley. [136921] Mr. Bradshaw: Data for dairy cows are collected annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census as a total. For the last five years the figures are: Dairy cows and average dairy herd size _________________________________________________________________________________________________. North west Lancashire CC Chorley 1998 Dairy cows 354,937 86,178 4,984 Average dairy herd size 83.9 78.7 73.1 1999 Dairy cows 361,748 86,728 4,713 Average dairy herd size 88.5 81.9 71.7 2000 Dairy cows 348,150 83,038 4,658 Average dairy herd size 92.9 85.1 76.2 2001 Dairy cows 289,194 83,402 4,748 Average dairy herd size 94.9 88.8 80.3 2002 Dairy cows 315,908 78,498 4,628 Average dairy herd size 90.7 86.1 79.7 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: 1. The north west region includes Merseyside. 2. Dairy cows--holdings with dairy cows producing milk. 3. Dairy herd--holdings with dairy cows producing milk and heifers in first calf. 4. 1993 to 1999 figures refer to main holdings only. 2000 onwards include main and minor holdings. Source: June Agricultural Census.

Subjects

Cattle; Dairy farming; Lancashire; Chorley

Date

12 November 2003

Reference

136921; 413 c293-4W;413 c294W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the farmgate prices for milk in the UK; and what the farmgate prices are for milk in other EU nations. - Inc table and ref to "Prices and Profitability in the...

Asked by

Andrew George (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Tabled on

28 October 2003

For answer on

12 November 2003

Answered on

12 November 2003

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the farmgate prices for milk in the UK; and what the farmgate prices are for milk in other EU nations. [135775] Mr. Bradshaw: The table gives the most recent data available from Eurostat on the average farmgate price of milk of 3.7 per cent. fat content in euros per 100 kg for the EU 15. This data shows the UK farmgate prices are consistently below the EU average. The reasons for this were examined by KPMG in their report on "Prices and Profitability in the British Dairy Chain", which was commissioned by the Milk Development Council. The report concluded that the lower prices were the result of the structure of the UK dairy sector, the comparatively low value of the mix of dairy products in the UK and a low level of innovation. It also suggested a number of areas where the efficiency of the dairy supply chain could be improved. Selling price of raw cows milk, 3.7 per cent. fat content: EU 15 (euros per kg) _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 1 Belgium 27.47 26.33 27.44 29.93 26.37 Denmark 30.8 30.26 30.86 32.34 Germany 29.52 28.47 30 32.82 29.98 Greece 32.72 33.69 33.47 35.62 34.55 Spain 27.99 27.33 27.05 30.33 28.12 France 28.52 28.11 28.81 29.99 29.26 Ireland 27.92 26.66 27.2 28.56 Italy 34.84 34.23 Luxembourg 31.45 30.65 30.53 32.73 31.89 Netherlands 30.59 28.62 29.15 31.27 29.65 Austria 27.64 27.76 27.83 31.76 30.14 Portugal 28.39 28.49 28.97 32.17 32.87 Finland 32.05 32.15 32.72 33.97 34.36 Sweden 32.71 33.11 34.74 31.22 United Kingdom 26.76 26.13 26.09 25.57 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Eurostat data for 2002 is not yet complete Source: Eurostat Cronos Database

Subjects

Dairy farming; EU country; Farmer; Prices; Milk

Date

12 November 2003

Reference

135775; 413 c299-300W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dairy farmers have left the industry in the last 10 years for which records are available. - Including table.

Asked by

Andrew George (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Tabled on

28 October 2003

For answer on

6 November 2003

Answered on

6 November 2003

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy farmers have left the industry in the last 10 years for which records are available. [135770] Mr. Bradshaw: Data on the number of farmers leaving the dairy industry is not collected by Defra. From the June Agricultural and Horticultural Census, we can provide the numbers of farmers, partners, directors and spouses. From these figures it will be possible to determine the net difference year on year. For the last 10 years the figures are: Farmers, directors, spouses and partners on farms with a dairy herd June agricultural census--England _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Farmers, directors, spouses, partners 1993 50,402 1994 49,592 1995 47,515 1996 46,150 1997 48,066 1998 47,591 1999 45,151 2000 43,150 2001 40,702 2002 40,906 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: 1. Dairy Herd--holdings with Dairy cows producing milk. 2. 1993 to 1999 figures refer to main holdings only. 3. 2000 onwards--main and minor holdings.

Subjects

Dairy farming; Staff

Date

6 November 2003

Reference

135770; 412 c733W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) farmers, (b) partners, (c) directors and (d) spouses were engaged in dairy farming in each of the last five years. - Including table.

Asked by

Andrew George (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Tabled on

28 October 2003

For answer on

6 November 2003

Answered on

6 November 2003

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) farmers, (b) partners, (c) directors and (d) spouses were engaged in dairy farming in each of the last five years. [135745] Mr. Bradshaw: Data for the total number farmers, partners, directors and spouses combined is collected annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census as a total. Figures are not available for each item. For the last five years the figures are: Farmers, directors, partners and spouses on holdings with a dairy herd June agricultural census--England _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number 1998 47,591 1999 45,151 2000 43,150 2001 40,702 2002 40,906 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: 1. Dairy Herd--holdings with Dairy cows producing milk. 2. 1999 and 1998 figures refer to main holdings only. 3. 2000 onwards--main and minor holdings.

Subjects

Directors; Dairy farming; Farmer; Staff; Married people

Date

6 November 2003

Reference

412 c733W; 135745

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what basis soya milk was withdrawn as an undesirable food for babies and young children; and on what basis it was recommended for premature babies.

Asked by

Michael Meacher (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Date

22 October 2003

Reference

129759; 411 c575W;411 c579W

House

House of Commons

Sheep Annual Premium and Suckler Cow Premium Quotas Regulations 2003

SI 2003/2261 (Negative instrument). Coming into force 1 October 2003.

Type

Statutory instruments

Date

3 September 2003

Reference

SI 2003/2261

House

House of Lords; House of Commons

Whitty, Lord

Whether they will estimate the annual monetary value in United States dollars of gross transfer at the farm gate through prices higher than world level applied to the dairy industry in the United Kingdom; and how much in United States dollars this amounts to per cow in the United Kingdom....

Asked by

Lord Marlesford (Conservative)

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Date

17 July 2003

Reference

651 c181WA; HL 3633

House

House of Lords

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many Rural Payments Agency claims were outstanding (a) on 1st January, (b) 1st April and (c) on the latest date for which figures are available; and what sums were outstanding in each case. - Inc table.

Asked by

John Hayes (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Tabled on

25 June 2003

For answer on

4 July 2003

Answered on

4 July 2003

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Rural Payments Agency claims were outstanding (a) on 1 January, (b) 1 April and (c) on the latest date for which figures are available; and what sums were outstanding in each case. [122522] Alun Michael: The number of Rural Payment Agency claims outstanding on 1 January, 1 April and 26 June 2003 are as shown in the table. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Scheme 1 January 1 April Claims outstanding as at Value of outstanding 26 June 2003 claims as at 26 June 2003 (£) Arable area payments scheme 0 106 55 577,120.20 2002 main payments AAPS 2002 non-food 0 309 20 61,820.51 Sheep annual premium scheme 0 83 74 450,760 Dairy subsidy schemes 0 7 0 0 Non IACS schemes 37 80 3 8 8,227 Trader schemes 0 0 114 4-- ERDP 0 0 7,858 4-- Slaughter premium scheme 174,167 156,673 2138,606 6,885,946 (SPS) Beef special premium scheme 135,278 125,414 257,230 24,093,540 (BSPS) Suckler cow premium scheme 116,257 19,816 212,407 33,993,594 (SCPS) Extensification payment n/a 122,467 216,783 30 million (estimate) scheme (EPS) _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 claims with an outstanding advance payment representing 80 per cent. of the payment due which could have been made from 16 October 2002. 2 claims with an outstanding balance and or advance payment. 3 2003-04 financial year 4 Values not available

Subjects

Administrative delays; Farmer; Payments; Rural Payments Agency

Date

4 July 2003

Reference

122522; 408 c508W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what efforts are being made to speed up the processing of suckler cow premium payments.

Asked by

John Hayes (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Tabled on

25 June 2003

For answer on

30 June 2003

Answered on

30 June 2003

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what efforts are being made to speed up the processing of suckler cow premium payments. [122521] Alun Michael: Staff at the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) continue to work overtime at offices around the country to ensure that Suckler Cow Premium Scheme queries which are currently preventing payment are investigated and resolved as quickly as possible. To date, 90 per cent. of Suckler Cow producers have received an advance payment representing 80 per cent. of the premium due. Balance payments on all the bovine subsidy schemes have been delayed because of the need to implement changes in EU legislation introduced for the 2002 scheme year. These changes introduced new penalty procedures that apply when either the scheme rules or cattle identification requirements have been breached Before making balance payments the RPA has had to build a new computer database and significantly enhance existing computer systems to cope with the changes. These are complex changes and despite being given high priority have taken a considerable time to implement. However, the RPA can now confirm that the software required to pay the majority of producers is now in place and Suckler Cow Premium Scheme balance payments have begun. To date, over 38 per cent. of producers have received their payments. Every effort is being made to ensure that the remaining balance payments are processed as quickly as possible.

Subjects

Administrative delays; Payment; Subsidy; Suckler cow premiums; Beef premiums

Date

30 June 2003

Reference

122521; 408 c119-20W

House

House of Commons

HYDROLISED PROTEINS AND CONTAMINATED CHICKEN PRODUCTS

That this House commends the recent BBC Panorama programme, The Chicken Run, which investigated the use of protein additives made from the remains of cows and pigs, used by some areas of the frozen chicken industry; notes the clear evidence of meat processors deliberately water 'bulking' chicken to enhance weight...

Primary sponsor

Roger Godsiff (Labour)

Type

Early day motion

Date

10 June 2003

Reference

1373

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the costs likely to be incurred by a farmer to dispose of (a) a cow, (b) a sheep and (c) a pig under the proposed national fallen stock collection scheme. - Includes...

Asked by

Bill Wiggin (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Date

4 June 2003

Reference

115088; 406 c403W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is her policy that deer found dead in parts of the country where cows have been infected with TB should be tested for that disease. - Includes ref to Tuberculosis (Deer) Order 1989.

Asked by

James Gray (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Date

3 June 2003

Reference

115259; 406 c113-4W

House

House of Commons

Whitty, Lord

Whether they will set out the statistical basis for the statement made in the House of Lords on 14 May by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: "We subsidise every cow in Europe to the tune of two dollars a day" (HL Deb, col.291); whether this figure also applies to...

Asked by

Lord Marlesford (Conservative)

Type

Written question

Status

Answered

Date

3 June 2003

Reference

648 c154WA

House

House of Lords