§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the incinerators in the north-west licensed to incinerate BSE-infected cattle and scrapie-infected sheep; and how many such carcases were destroyed in each of the last 12 months at each incinerator.
§ Mr. SoamesIncinerators are not specifically licensed for this purpose. One incinerator plant in the north-west in Derbyshire has held a contract with the Ministry for the disposal of carcases of cattle suspected of being affected with BSE since 1 July 1993. Specific information relating to this incineration plant as with all others contracted to the Ministry is classed as commercial-in-confidence.
§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress her Department is making to implement measures to conform to EC 251W Regulation 2078/92 regarding premium payments for the preservation of rare breeds of domestic animals; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 7 December 1993]: Our proposals for implementing EC regulation 2078/92 are based on a careful assessment of environmental priorities and the needs of the countryside. They do not include premium payments for the preservation of rare breeds of domestic animals but do include measures which will benefit local breeds such as, for example, Exmoor ponies in the case of the Exmoor environmentally sensitive area.