§ 2.37 p.m.
§ Baroness Strange asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ In view of the difficulties being experienced by the United Kingdom beef industry, whether they consider it appropriate that most of the distillers dark grains (a high protein vegetable feed) produced in Scotland is currently being exported to Finland.
The Earl of CourtownMy Lords, the decision on where to sell the material residues of the distilling process is a matter for the industry itself.
§ Baroness StrangeMy Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that fairly informative and fairly helpful reply. Does he not agree that in all fairness, if other countries ban the import of our beef, we should ban the export of Scottish vegetable protein with which most of our beef cattle are currently being safely fed? That is particularly so since, when winter comes, such cows as we have left will need protein vegetable food.
The Earl of CourtownMy Lords, my noble friend is right. Protein is of extreme importance during the winter months. There are other sources of protein such as peas, beans, soya bean and linseed. As concerns banning exports from this country, the European Union ban was imposed under Community law. Unilateral action by any individual member state is illegal.
§ Lord Mason of BarnsleyMy Lords, will the Minister explain why America and Canada banned the import of British beef and to what extent those bans adversely affect the United Kingdom beef industry? Secondly, did we contest those decisions at the time?
The Earl of CourtownMy Lords, I cannot tell the noble Lord whether the decisions were contested at the time. However, the banning of British beef imports by America and Canada is a matter for those countries, although we might not like their decision.
The Earl of BalfourMy Lords, are Her Majesty's Government aware that the producers of brewers mash, distillers dark grains and what used to be called millers offal often achieve a better price if such produce is put aboard a ship for export rather than distributed to farmers in this country?
The Earl of CourtownMy Lords, perhaps it would be a good idea to give my noble friend Lord Balfour the figures relating to the export of distillers waste in 1995. The total production of distillers waste in this country was 207,000 tonnes. The total production of dark grains was 39,000 tonnes. That is the dried protein supplement which I believe is treated with molasses. The total export of waste was 8,000 tonnes. My noble friend Lady Strange mentioned Finland in her Question. I believe that only 190 tonnes of waste were exported to that country. We import waste from other countries amounting to 160,000 tonnes.
§ Baroness MallalieuMy Lords, what steps have been taken so far, as indicated by the noble Earl's colleague 848 in another place in the recent debate, and what progress has been made in relaxing the rules on set-aside so that beef cattle in the log jam on farms at the moment can be grazed on that land in the meantime?
The Earl of CourtownMy Lords, as the noble Baroness will know, many acres designated for set-aside are totally inappropriate for grazing by beef cattle. The animals might get fodder or gut fill out of it, but there is certainly no protein level from the green herbage growing there.
The other question concerned progress. I assume that the noble Baroness refers to the Statement made yesterday in another place by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister which was repeated in this House. My right honourable friend said of the proceedings aimed at lifting the ban:
Those proceedings will begin this week … the application for these interim remedies should be heard within two to six weeks".
§ Baroness MallalieuMy Lords, perhaps I may press the Minister in relation to the question I put initially. Contrary to my understanding of what was said in the debate in another place, am I right that no attempt is to be made by the Government to approach the Commission to relax the rules on set-aside for the hard pressed beef farmers?
The Earl of CourtownMy Lords, a number of options are available and we shall consider all those points. I shall pass on the noble Baroness's query to my right honourable friend.
§ Lord Mackie of BenshieMy Lords, is the Minister aware that many acres of set-aside are quite suitable for grazing?
§ The Countess of MarMy Lords, is the Minister aware that the Scottish beef industry is an excellent industry which produces the highest quality beef? It should be encouraged to continue producing high quality beef and to do that it needs protein. Is the Minister aware that grass contains protein, with a particularly high level in the spring? Is he further aware that some manufacturers still produce animal or mineral licks which contain urea which I gather is obtained from chicken manure? What are the Government doing about that?
The Earl of CourtownMy Lords, the noble Countess has asked a number of questions. One of them related to mineral licks which are used as a mineral supplement to rations. I gather that the urea used in some licks is generally chemically manufactured and that on occasion it is manufactured from chicken droppings. The licks are not derived from mammals.
On the Scottish beef industry, yes, it is an important part of Scottish agricultural business. It amounts to half a billion pounds per annum and makes up almost 30 per cent. of the value of Scottish agricultural output, 849 with 160,000 jobs. When we look around butchers and supermarkets, we all know how often Aberdeen Angus beef is advertised.
§ Lord CarterMy Lords, is it any wonder that we have a problem with our balance of payments when we now import 160,000 tonnes of distillers waste into Scotland? The crucial question is: are the dark grains from the Scottish distillers waste a better product than the English and the brewers grains? If so, how can we get hold of them instead of sending them to Finland?
The Earl of CourtownMy Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Carter, makes an important point. As concerns distillers and brewers waste, I understand that 25 per cent. of distillers grains is dry matter, so there is quite a high moisture content. It is comparable to brewers grains. Dark grains, which are a dry substance to which, I believe, molasses are added, are used in rations for ruminants.
On the balance of payments, if my memory serves me correctly, I gather that distillers waste is not an expensive form of protein at £20 to £25 a tonne. The noble Lord will probably correct me on that, but I do not believe that it will have an enormous effect on our balance of payments.