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Genetically Modified Soya
Mr. Singh: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the percentage of baby food products sold in the United Kingdom in 1997 which contained unlabelled genetically modified soya. [30417]
Mr. Rooker: This information is not recorded. However, the Food Manufacturers Federation, the British Retail Consortium and the Institute of Grocery Distribution announced in November 1997 that their members, which include all the major food manufacturers and retailers, would be labelling products containing genetically modified soya or maize from January this year.
Slaughterhouses
Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what (a) studies and (b) evaluations have been carried out by his Department into (i) the microbiological standards of the finished product from slaughterhouses and cutting plants and (ii) the scores achieved by those plants under his hygiene assessment system. [30214]
Mr. Rooker [holding answer 18 February 1998]: No studies or evaluations have been carried out by the Ministry with the sole objective of measuring the microbiological standards of the finished product from slaughterhouses and cutting plants, against their hygiene Assessment System (HAS) scores. However, as part of a wider MAFF funded research project, Bristol University has published results (Veterinary Record (1996) 139, 587-589, W. R. Hudson, G. C. Mead, M. H. Hinton) of a study which concluded that HAS scores are a useful tool in predicting the ability of an abattoir to produce carcases to sound microbiological status, especially the categories concerned with slaughter and dressing, and personnel and practices.
Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what microbiological tests are made during the assessment of slaughterhouses and cutting plants under his hygiene assessment system. [30213]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 18 February 1998]: Microbiological testing does not form part of the assessment of slaughterhouses and cutting plants under
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the Hygiene Assessment System (HAS) whose scores are a general guide to long-term hygiene performance at meat plants.
Mr. Hesford:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he plans to implement changes in the quarantine requirements for animals coming into this country before the end of 1998; and if he will make a statement. [29743]
Mr. Rooker:
The Advisory Group on Quarantine is expected to report by late Spring, after which we plan to hold a full public consultation. Even if the assessment shows that changes to the current quarantine rules appear justified, it is unlikely that any new arrangements could be in place before the end of 1998. It is also possible that any changes could be introduced by EU, rather than national, legislation.
Mrs. Ballard:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has conducted into the relationship between the incidence of BSE in foreign countries and (a) the export of meat and bonemeal from Britain for use in animal feed and (b) the use of similar procedures in the production of meat and bonemeal for animal feed in those countries. [29722]
Mr. Rooker:
The Department is not undertaking any such research as it is up to individual countries to conduct their own research. Alternatively, in the case of BSE in EU Member States, the Commission may carry out research centrally.
In a report of a Commission Mission to France between 17 and 21 March 1997, the French authorities are quoted as attributing at least 18 of their BSE cases to consumption of meat and bonemeal of UK origin.
Mr. Charles Kennedy:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has assessed of damage to the (a) aquatic and (b) soil environments from synthetic pyrethroid sheep dips; where this damage has occurred; what assessment he has made of its implications for fisheries and wildlife; and if he will make a statement. [29728]
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 16 February 1998]: I have been asked to reply.
The Environment Agency is responsible for monitoring of, and assessing any damage to the environment in England and Wales. The Agency has initiated a monitoring programme to determine whether there is evidence of widespread impact on the aquatic environment from all types of sheep dipping compounds, including synthetic pyrethroids. A full report of the findings will be published by the Agency later this year. There has been no specific assessment of effects on soil.
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Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support he has received from Poland in respect of the United Kingdom's stance in relation to the crisis with Iraq. [30559]
Mr. George Robertson:
I took the opportunity to exchange views with Dr. Janusz Onyszkiewicz, the Polish Defence Minister, during his visit to the UK, from 10 to 12 February, on the crisis in Iraq which has been caused by Saddam Hussein's failure to comply with Security Council resolutions and to cooperate with UNSCOM.
The Government and Poland are clear that the highest priority must be on a diplomatic solution to the crisis. However, the Polish Government support the UK's position that, in the last resort, it may be necessary to consider military action. In that event, the Polish Government have indicated that they would be prepared to make a military contribution, and would be ready to deploy chemical defence specialists to the region.
Dr. Onyszkiewicz and I issued a joint press statement to this effect on 11 February.
Poland is one of a growing number of countries which has either deployed forces to the Gulf to operate alongside US and UK forces or is planning to do so. The precise details of national contributions are properly a matter for the countries concerned, but we understand that Australia already has tanker aircraft and an advance party of troops in the Gulf; that warships from Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium are en route; that New Zealand is planning to deploy troops and surveillance aircraft; and that Denmark, Argentina, Romania, Poland and Norway have indicated they would make military contributions to the coalition. This list is expected to grow.
In addition, many of the Gulf Cooperation Council States and Turkey, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Hungary and the Czech Republic are either providing basing and support for coalition forces or have offered to do so.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to define the objectives of any possible military action against Iraq. [29578]
Mr. George Robertson:
The objectives of any possible military action against Iraq have been carefully defined and are as presented:
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Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his discussions with Poland's Minister of Defence. [30558]
Mr. George Robertson:
I was delighted to be able to welcome my colleague Dr. Janusz Onyszkiewicz to the UK during his visit of 10 to 12 February. I am pleased to say that we enjoyed a frank and open discussion, which touched on a wide range of issues of mutual interest.
Naturally, we took the opportunity to exchange views on the crisis in Iraq. Dr. Onyszkiewicz agreed that, while the highest priority must be to find a diplomatic solution, neither the British nor the Polish Government would shrink from the task should it become necessary in the last resort to consider the military option. In that event, Dr. Onyszkiewicz declared Poland's readiness to make a military contribution and that they would be prepared to deploy a team of chemical defence specialists to the region.
Our aim is to prevent Saddam from maintaining or developing a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) capability that would threaten the region and international order.
We seek to achieve this by ensuring Saddam's full compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions, including restoration of a fully effective UNSCOM.
We wish to secure his compliance by diplomatic means if possible; but, if these fail, we should be ready to use armed force.
The aim of any military action would be to diminish significantly Saddam's military capabilities, including his ability to deploy, conceal and recreate his WMD capability or threaten his neighbours.
Military action would significantly set back Saddam's WMD programmes, whether or not UNSCOM was immediately reinstated. This would be a better outcome than a "gutted" UNSCOM.
Saddam would be held at continuing risk of further military action if he attempted again to recreate his WMD capability.
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