HC Deb 04 December 1997 vol 302 cc356-7W
Mr. Jack

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a breakdown of the cost elements and the amounts involved which he used to determine his current published estimated costs of a computerised cattle passport. [18831]

Dr. John Cunningham

The cost of a cattle passport under the Cattle Tracing System has not yet been determined, although it is expected to be in the range of £5 to £10. The current estimated costs of the Cattle Tracing System are broken down as follows:

£ million
Set-up cost
Database development 3.5
Project management 2.3
British Cattle Movement Service (Accommodation) 3.4
British Cattle Movement Service (Equipment and Services) 3.8
Total 13
Annual running costs
Staff costs 3.2
Accommodation, administration and consumables 3.0
Common services and depreciation 2.8
Office supplies (including cost of "freepost" system for reporting cattle movements) 6.0
Total 15

Mr. Jack

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated establishment cost of his proposed computerised cattle passport scheme; which MAFF locations will be involved in operating it and what will be their annual running costs; and what are the estimated running costs of the new scheme for each of the first three years of its operation. [18829]

Dr. John Cunningham

The Cattle Tracing System will not only provide cattle passports, but also a computerised register of all cattle in Great Britain, their location and their movement history. The estimated establishment cost is around £13 million. It will be operated by the British Cattle Movement Service, which will be part of my Department, based at Workington in Cumbria. The estimated running costs of the system for each of the first three years of operation are likely to be around£15 million per year.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what charges will be made for the cattle passport scheme; what will be the costs of(a) its establishment and (b) its administration; and if these will be recovered in full from farmers. [18940]

Mr. Rooker

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Minister to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) today.