HC Deb 23 January 1986 vol 90 c287W
Mr. Allen McKay

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will be seeking the phasing-out of the keeping of battery hens.

Mrs. Fenner

I have no such plans. Instead, we are seeking agreement within the European Community on minimum welfare standards for hens in battery cages.

Days worked for which payment made in financial years
1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 (to date)
Days worked Days worked Days worked Days worked Days worked Days worked Days worked
Agriculture 21 109 29 29 1 17 21
Defence 9 106 123 189 43 162 95
Education, Science and Arts 15 116 237 411 58 55 39
Employment 14 55 94 47 6 25 45
Energy 16 258 307 207 82 163 115
Environment 15 407 134 174 23 81 40
Foreign Affairs 7 345 352 449 64 46 25
Home Affairs 5 59 35
Industry and Trade 107 149 128 32 66 23
Scottish Affairs 38 60 29 28 39 10
Social Services 251 155 116 47 90 37
Treasury and Civil Service 221 209 273 112 202 147
Transport 6 54 134 78 6 36 3
Welsh Affairs 76 25 70 16 114 44
TOTALS 108 2,202 2,043 2,200 518 1,096 644

Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many witnesses have appeared before each of the departmental Select Committees and their Sub-Committees for each Session since their establishment; how many times they have given evidence; what is the rank of each of the official witnesses concerned; and if he will give the same information for Cabinet Ministers and other Ministers.

Mr. Biffen

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

Parliamentary Sessions
Committee Number of visits 1979–80 £ Number of visits 1980–81 £ Number of visits 1981–82 £ Number of visits 1982–83 £ Number of visits 1983–84 £ Number of visits 1984–85 £ Number of visits 1985–86 £ Grand total
Agriculture
Abroad 2 6,656 3 5,422 3 4,720 1 15,598 2 4,698 2 9,290
Within United Kingdom 2 1,802 5 2,226 2 4,198 2 143 2 1,521 3 2,971
Total 4 8,458 8 7,648 5 8,918 3 15,741 4 6,219 5 12,261 59,245
Defence
Abroad 2 5,393 2 14,357 4 36,564 2 25,167 4 7,703 5 28,189 2 379
Within United Kingdom 7 6,738 5 1,007 4 336 9 4,479 2 258 1 760
Total 9 12,131 7 15,364 8 36,900 2 25,167 13 12,182 7 28,447 3 1,139 131,330
Education, Science and Arts
Abroad 2 8,367 4 19,190 1 9,021 1 2,533
Within United Kingdom 16 1,639 8 520 8 7,180 9 2,080 1 1,406 4 4,551 1 25
Total 18 10,006 12 19,710 8 7,180 10 11,101 1 1,406 5 7,084 1 25 56,512
Employment
Abroad 1 11,025 2 5,289 4 29,851 2 26,559
Within United Kingdom 10 4,420 3 1,983 2 914 1 259 1 19