§ Sir Philip Hollandasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in the 12 months to 31 March the consultative panel on badgers and tuberculosis submitted advice to his Department; and what action was taken by his Department on each occasion as a result of the advice given.
§ Mrs. FennerThe consultative panel on badgers and tuberculosis met on three occasions during the 12 months ending 31 March and on each occasion submitted advice to my Department on a wide range of issues. Advice from the panel has played a key part in shaping departmental research and operational work on badgers and bovine tuberculosis and the review of policy in this area. Details of the principal actions taken by the Department are published in the Ministry's annual reports on bovine tuberculosis in badgers and in press notices.
§ Sir Philip Hollandasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in the 12 months to 31 March the steering group on food surveillance submitted advice to his Department; and what action was taken by his Department on each occasion as a result of the advice given.
§ Mrs. FennerThe steering group on food surveillance has a wide range of responsibilities including recommendations of programmes of work necessary to ensure that the food intake of the population is wholesome, safe and nutritious. Research recommended by the steering group in the year to 31 March 1985 is included in my department's national programme of food research and development for 1985–86. The steering group also submits regular reports of its activities, and I authorised the publication of their progress report 1984 during the period referred to, and this was published in November 1984.
This report contains an account of the steering group's recent activities including investigations into veterinary residues, heavy metals, chemical contaminants from food 201W contact materials, natural toxicants, nutrients, pesticide residues, food colours, and nitrate and related compounds in the food chain.
§ Sir Philip Hollandasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in the 12 months to 31 March each of the five regional panels for the farming industry submitted advice to his Department; and what action was taken by his Department on each occasion as a result of the advice given.
§ Mr. JoplingThe regional panels provide a continuous two-way communication link between the farming industry and my Department. They regularly consider matters of concern to the industry and their meetings are attended by my chief regional officers and generally by regional heads of the ADAS services. My ministerial colleagues and I meet the chairmen of the panels together twice a year and also attend some panel meetings. I value the panels as providing an independent contribution, by people of standing in agriculture, to my consideration of issues affecting the industry.
§ Sir Philip Hollandasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in the 12 months to 31 March the National Food Survey Committee submitted advice to his Department; and what action was taken by his Department on each occasion as a result of the advice given.
§ Mrs. FennerThe National Food Survey Committee met once in the 12 months to 31 March 1985. The committee considered the results of the survey in 1983 and the content of its annual report which will be published shortly. The committee also advised on proposed changes in coverage and methodology of the survey. The advice provided by the committee has been accepted by my Department and the recommendations are being implemented.
§ Sir Philip Hollandasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in the 12 months to 31 March the Agricultural Statistics Consultative Committee submitted advice to his Department; and what action was taken by his Department on each occasion as a result of the advice given.
§ Mrs. FennerDuring the 12 months to 31 March 1985 the Agricultural Statistics Consultative Committee has given advice to the Ministry on four subjects. As a result of this advice improvements were made to the questionnaires used in the farm surveys on irrigation, on English wine and on environmental topics on farms. Also the committee provided substantial evidence and advice on the recent major review of cereals surveys: this was given full weight in the final report which is now being implemented.
§ Sir Philip Hollandasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions in the 12 months to 31 March the Committee on Agricultural Valuation submitted advice to his Department; and what action was taken by his Department on each occasion as a result of the advice given.
§ Mrs. FennerThe Committee on Agricultural Valuation is set up in accordance with the requirements of section 79 of the Agricultural Holdings Act 1948 (as amended). It advises my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and myself on matters to be included202W in regulations on the calculation of the payment of compensation to outgoing tenants of agricultural land for short-term improvements they have made to the land. This committee does not need to meet frequently and its last meeting was in February 1984. My right hon. Friend and I are currently consulting the industry about possible changes to the way in which these complex calculations are made. This follows a recommendation by a working group of this committee which met in October 1984.