HC Deb 28 March 1996 vol 274 cc1153-4
3. Mr. Clapham

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the rural, agricultural and allied workers trade group of the Transport and General Workers Union to discuss employment conditions for farm workers. [21603]

The Minister for Rural Affairs (Mr. Tim Boswell)

I have not yet had the opportunity to meet formally representatives of the rural, agricultural and allied workers trade group. I should be happy to do so, if they wish.

Mr. Clapham

I am rather surprised by that answer, given that about 350 BSE-infected cows are disposed of each week. Bearing in mind the fact that there will be a greater number if there is selective slaughter and that concern has been expressed that the humane killer could spread infected brain tissue, I should have thought that the Minister would have sought the advice of the Health and Safety Executive on the protection with which workers should be provided, and ensured that he met the unions to give them the Health and Safety Executive's advice.

Mr. Boswell

It is, of course, entirely within the remit of the Health and Safety Executive to carry out such studies and to consider any evidence laid before it. Policy responsibility for the executive rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. We do, of course, take an interest in those matters and we are more than pleased to pass on any representations to the executive and, equally, to SEAC for expert scientific appraisal. These are serious matters which affect concerns about the health and welfare of the working population and about their employment prospects. We take those concerns seriously and we are prepared to consider any evidence, or to hold any discussions, that they feel appropriate.

Mr. Bill Walker

When my hon. Friend meets this august body, will he tell it that many farm jobs are at risk in Scotland in the prime beef-producing areas, which produce quality beef? The problem has been caused by careless talk, much of it in the House, and by action taken within Europe which means that, whatever we have, we do not have a common agricultural policy. It should be recognised that animals in Europe suffer the same ailments as animals in the United Kingdom. We want a level playing field.

Mr. Boswell

I would be pleased to pass on those messages. We suffer at the moment from an unfortunate combination of scare tactics, for political reasons, on the part of certain hon. Members and an inappropriate and disproportionate reaction by some of our European colleagues which is not based on the science.

Mr. Hood

More than 200,000 jobs in Scotland are at stake as a result of the BSE scare. May I remind the Minister that, when the farmers asked the Parliamentary Secretary for help last week, the only help she offered was to put good Samaritans on the other end of a helpline? Can we stop the nonsense about political opportunism? If we had accepted the statement by the Secretary of State for Health—that it was the people who were mad and not the cows—where would we have been today?

Mr. Boswell

The hon. Gentleman might care to have a word with the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms Harman). He is worried about the 200,000 jobs in the beef industry in Scotland, but he should be aware that she started that hare and that she was fully followed by a number of Labour Members.