My hon. Friend makes an important point. The question is about how Government can affect the situation locally. There are lots of examples of good practice at a local level, but we have not had a strong sense of direction or leadership from the Government on town centres and high...
My hon. Friend makes an important point. The question is about how Government can affect the situation locally. There are lots of examples of good practice at a local level, but we have not had a strong sense of direction or leadership from the Government on town centres and high...
My Lords, in the seven years that I have been in your Lordships’ House I have missed a gracious Speech on only two occasions, one of which was last week while I was attending the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town. I was attending there with two roles...
My Lords, in the seven years that I have been in your Lordships’ House I have missed a gracious Speech on only two occasions, one of which was last week while I was attending the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town. I was attending there with two roles...
My Lords, I am sure that we all enjoyed listening to three such eloquent and informative maiden speeches. It was a particular pleasure for me to hear each of them declare their interest in agriculture in one form or another.
British agriculture was not mentioned in the gracious Speech as such,...
My Lords, I am sure that we all enjoyed listening to three such eloquent and informative maiden speeches. It was a particular pleasure for me to hear each of them declare their interest in agriculture in one form or another.
British agriculture was not mentioned in the gracious Speech as such,...
It is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Glasgow North (Ann McKechin). I understand her point on skills, but I hope she recognises the work the Government have done to introduce so many apprenticeships in the past two years. I might be the only chartered engineer in...
It is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Glasgow North (Ann McKechin). I understand her point on skills, but I hope she recognises the work the Government have done to introduce so many apprenticeships in the past two years. I might be the only chartered engineer in...
If the forthcoming referendum were to take Scotland out of the United Kingdom, we would all suffer, but Scotland most of all. Your Lordships will have noted the passing reference in the gracious Speech to,
“co-operation with the devolved administrations”.
One cannot tell yet what that may mean but co-operation is a...
If the forthcoming referendum were to take Scotland out of the United Kingdom, we would all suffer, but Scotland most of all. Your Lordships will have noted the passing reference in the gracious Speech to,
“co-operation with the devolved administrations”.
One cannot tell yet what that may mean but co-operation is a...
I am proud to say that I still consider myself to be very much part of the farming community. I was saddened by the way in which the shadow Secretary of State tried to portray farming and farmers. I took part in a debate on Radio Devon after she had...
I am proud to say that I still consider myself to be very much part of the farming community. I was saddened by the way in which the shadow Secretary of State tried to portray farming and farmers. I took part in a debate on Radio Devon after she had...
I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. In terms of veterinary science, I was not aware of that pertinent point. Of course, all Members welcome people with skills joining the UK economy and the benefits that they bring, but the specific point is about the speed with which officials...
I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. In terms of veterinary science, I was not aware of that pertinent point. Of course, all Members welcome people with skills joining the UK economy and the benefits that they bring, but the specific point is about the speed with which officials...
I am sure that the hon. Gentleman has investigated the level of APD on flights from London airports to Inverness. Doubtless, he will be flying to the happy band that is the Labour conference this weekend. [Interruption.] As my hon. Friend the Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart)...
I am sure that the hon. Gentleman has investigated the level of APD on flights from London airports to Inverness. Doubtless, he will be flying to the happy band that is the Labour conference this weekend. [Interruption.] As my hon. Friend the Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart)...
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention, and yes I do agree with that. Quite clearly, the figures mentioned were not true, and that applies to many other parts in the United Kingdom as well.
This past winter, pensioners living in rural constituencies have experienced extreme weather conditions and have...
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention, and yes I do agree with that. Quite clearly, the figures mentioned were not true, and that applies to many other parts in the United Kingdom as well.
This past winter, pensioners living in rural constituencies have experienced extreme weather conditions and have...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of Schmallenberg disease on (a) adult cattle, (b) calves, (c) adult sheep and (d) lambs.
[149171]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of Schmallenberg disease on (a) adult cattle, (b) calves, (c) adult sheep and (d) lambs.
[149171]
While many animals and farms in GB may have been infected, clinical signs in adult sheep and beef cattle to date have been non-existent. The signs in dairy cattle of a raised temperature, reduced milk yield and in some cases diarrhoea are mild/moderate, short-lived
and similar to other endemic diseases due to their non-specific nature. In an individual dairy cow these mild clinical signs may last up to five days, and across the herd as a whole for several weeks. The main impact is in pregnancy on the developing foetus. The virus attacks the developing neurological system and limbs of foetal lambs or calves resulting in malformations such as domed heads, fixed bent limbs and jaw deformities. The affected newborns are often born dead or die shortly after birth. Birthing may be difficult due to the foetal limb presentation and care needs to be taken in assisting the mother, seeking veterinary assistance as appropriate. Post partum after care should be provided as with any other difficult birth.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of a vaccine against Schmallenberg disease in providing immunity to (a) an adult cow and (b) an unborn calf.
[149174]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of a vaccine against Schmallenberg disease in providing immunity to (a) an adult cow and (b) an unborn calf.
[149174]
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) recently issued an updated press release (February 2013) regarding a submission for provisional marketing authorisation for a Schmallenberg vaccine from MSD Animal Health pharmaceutical company (MSD). The VMD and MSD have been working together, ensuring that safety data are complete for marketing. The VMD must ascertain, through a rigorous scientific assessment process, that proper care is taken to ensure any vaccine is safe for the relevant livestock.
We would expect that offspring born to Schmallenberg infected animals or vaccinated animals will have a certain level of protective immunity lasting a few months as a result of maternal antibodies received in the first milk from their mothers. These antibody levels will drop with age and the offspring will then be unprotected until they themselves are vaccinated.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of whether calves born in 2014 to cows which have Schmallenberg disease in 2013 will be given immunity to that disease; and if he will make a statement.
[149176]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of whether calves born in 2014 to cows which have Schmallenberg disease in 2013 will be given immunity to that disease; and if he will make a statement.
[149176]
As with many viral infections, we would expect that unaffected offspring born to Schmallenberg infected animals will have a certain level of protective immunity lasting a few months as a result of maternal antibodies. These antibodies are received in the first milk from the mother when the newborns' gut is, for a few hours following birth, able to absorb them into the body. These antibody levels will drop over the following weeks and months and the offspring will then be unprotected until they themselves are either infected or vaccinated. This is the situation with related viruses, such as Akabane virus in Australia, where each year the offspring are at risk of infection.
My Lords, may I stretch the words of the Question a little further to include farming? Farming was formerly part of a prisoner’s range of choices, particularly with a view to future jobs and a lifestyle. Apart from that, the meat that they provided from pigs and cows was fed to the prisoners and was perfectly delicious, as I know from Pentonville prison.
My Lords, may I stretch the words of the Question a little further to include farming? Farming was formerly part of a prisoner’s range of choices, particularly with a view to future jobs and a lifestyle. Apart from that, the meat that they provided from pigs and cows was fed to the prisoners and was perfectly delicious, as I know from Pentonville prison.
I think it was possible to have prison farms in the past. My noble friend is right about both the sustainability of such regimes and the benefit to prisoners. I am not sure that present circumstances would allow that, but I recently visited a prison in the north-west that had opened up a section of the land to develop an under-glass market garden. That was being very well used by the prisoners, who had gained great benefit both from the training that they received there and the personal satisfaction that such work gave.
I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. He is spot on. Too often, there has been something almost like buck passing on the issue between the train company and infrastructure operator. It is to be hoped that the alliance allows a slightly more coherent, joined-up approach, although I suspect...
I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. He is spot on. Too often, there has been something almost like buck passing on the issue between the train company and infrastructure operator. It is to be hoped that the alliance allows a slightly more coherent, joined-up approach, although I suspect...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of farmers who have left the agricultural sector in (a) Suffolk, (b) Norfolk and (c) Cambridgeshire in each of the last three years.
[148084]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of farmers who have left the agricultural sector in (a) Suffolk, (b) Norfolk and (c) Cambridgeshire in each of the last three years.
[148084]
DEFRA does not collect data on the number of farmers leaving agriculture. The June Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture collects data on the numbers of people working on agricultural holdings. The following table presents relevant labour estimates at 1 June for the latest three years available.
These results are based on a sample survey of farmers so are subject to a degree of statistical error. Year-on-year changes for individual counties should therefore be treated with caution and longer term trends will give a more robust picture of activity.
| Agricultural
labour force on commercial
holdings1 | |||||||||
| County/unitary
authority | Farmers,
partners, directors and spouses
full-time | Farmers,
partners directors and spouses
part-time | Total
labour | ||||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
| Cambridgeshire
CC | 1,490 | 1,523 | 1,564 | 1,420 | 1,477 | 1,527 | 7,174 | 6,285 | 6,577 |
| Norfolk | 2,438 | 2,423 | 2,480 | 2,560 | 2,652 | 2,723 | 11,949 | 12,269 | 12,744 |
| Suffolk | 1,885 | 1,822 | 1,900 | 2,071 | 2,207 | 2,259 | 8,132 | 8,207 | 8,541 |
| 1
Commercial holdings are those with significant levels of farming
activity. These significant levels are classified as any holding with
more than five hectares of agricultural land, one hectare of orchards,
0.5 hectares of vegetables or 0.1 hectares of protected crops, or more
than 10 cows, 50 pigs, 20 sheep, 20 goats or 1,000
poultry. |
My Lords, it is not possible to overestimate the importance of fashion design in this country. From Stella McCartney to Vivienne Westwood, we are clearly world market leaders. It is also important that we should highlight the importance of ethical fashion, which was brilliantly highlighted in this House by the...
My Lords, it is not possible to overestimate the importance of fashion design in this country. From Stella McCartney to Vivienne Westwood, we are clearly world market leaders. It is also important that we should highlight the importance of ethical fashion, which was brilliantly highlighted in this House by the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ogmore of 27 November 2012, Official Report, column 307W, on the Schmallenberg virus, for what reasons his Department has classified Schmallenberg virus as a low impact disease.
[147580]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ogmore of 27 November 2012, Official Report, column 307W, on the Schmallenberg virus, for what reasons his Department has classified Schmallenberg virus as a low impact disease.
[147580]
Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is classified as low impact by the EU. This is as a result of reports produced by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
based on data collected from all affected member states (MSs). Their report of November 2012 stated that the maximum proportion of confirmed sheep herds per region in affected MSs is 6.6% and 4% for cattle herds. At the EFSA's most recent meeting in February 2013, impact assessments from other affected member states continue to conclude an overall low impact and the Commission stressed again that they consider SBV to be a low impact disease.
This concurs with our own consideration of the impact of Schmallenberg in the UK. The online sheep survey on SBV run by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) after lambing in 2012 has shown SBV did have an impact on the losses during the lambing season of 2011-12 on the participating farms, but not a large impact when compared to normal losses on the majority of infected farms. Losses during lambing happen on most farms whether or not SBV was present or suspected. A few SBV confirmed farms (3%) or farms with malformed lambs (12%) were badly affected with large losses of lambs and ewes. However, 3% of farms without any lamb malformations and 3% of SBV negative farms also reported high losses. Likewise both SBV confirmed farms and SBV negative farms had low losses. 494 farms took part in the study, of which 76 had had SBV confirmed by testing as the cause of malformed off spring and 140 suspected due to clinical signs, that they had had SBV infection. While some farms with certain specific management practices lambing early in the season have seen much greater impacts, this is linked to them having a large proportion of their flock all at the crucial susceptible stage of pregnancy at the same time when virus has arrived in their flock. A similar effect has been seen in the Netherlands and France, which have flocks synchronising their mating periods. The vast majority of our sheep flocks are not synchronised so there is no evidence to believe that they will see similar high impacts. This is anecdotally being borne out in recent reports from AHVLA vets in the field and the contact they have with veterinary practitioners.
Cattle herds have a much more staggered mating period and calves are born all year round, thus reducing the number of cows at the critical stage of pregnancy at the same time and lessening the impact in the herd. Data from other affected member states support this.
There have been anecdotal reports of more barren ewes and cows at scanning following the last breeding period. There are many reasons for animals not to hold at mating, including the poor weather resulting in poor nutrient content in fodder, and liver fluke, both of which have been issues late in 2012. Our scanning surveillance has not detected that SBV has been the cause of this.
Following infection, animals develop immunity which is protective against further SBV infection in the subsequent year. Research into the level and duration of immunity is one of the areas of research DEFRA is funding.
I recently met with cattle and sheep industry stakeholders to discuss the current SBV situation. They concurred with the description of the impact of SBV in the UK as described here. Subsequent to the meeting, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has issued an update on the progress of a SBV vaccine submission for provisional marketing authorisation.
It is a pleasure to contribute to this important debate, and I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol North West (Charlotte Leslie), and other Members, on securing it. Transparency and accountability are the hallmark of good governance, but they can involve issues such as whether a patient is...
It is a pleasure to contribute to this important debate, and I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol North West (Charlotte Leslie), and other Members, on securing it. Transparency and accountability are the hallmark of good governance, but they can involve issues such as whether a patient is...
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