Agriculture Act 1985 (Hansard, 20 November 1986)

§ Mr. Jopling

[pursuant to his reply, 19 November 1986, c. 2]: Section 1 of the Agriculture Act 1986, which enables Ministers to charge for the provision of goods and services came into force on 25 September; it is already open both to individuals and to outside organisations to commission research and pay for a number of standard laboratory and professional services, but other advice continues to be available free of charge pending the introduction in 1987 of a wide range of advisory services at varying prices. The existing arrangements for the provision of free advice on conservation, diversification, animal welfare and pollution avoidance will continue.

With regard to section 2 of the Act, I shall be consulting interested parties in the new year with a view to recovering the costs of enforcing the seeds regulations from 1 August 1987.

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Section 3 of the Act also provides power to charge for plant health export certification and import licensing work. Details of the proposed charges have now been published and the response is being assessed.

Sections 4 and 5 of the Act extend the functions of the Home-Grown Cereals Authority to cover the production and marketing of cereals, widening in particular the authority's powers to conduct or commission research. The levy on cereals marketed, which provides part of the income of the authority has been raised to 20p per tonne for 1986–87 to meet increases in expenditure agreed with the main sectors of the cereals industry. The rates of contribution to levy income are to he changed under a new levy scheme before the start of the 1987 marketing year.

Section 7 of the Act provides scope to increase the number of Meat and Livestock Commission commissioners, potentially to 15. My colleagues and I have made appointments which give effect to the understanding that direct levy payers should each be represented by four commissioners. The possibility of making two further appointments in the future will be kept under review. Section 7 also introduces the concept whereby different sectors of the livestock and livestock products industry may pay levy in different proportions. The NFU has recently consulted its members recommending proposals for a producer only funded levy for species promotion and is in discussion with the MLC over how this shall be given effect in due course.

It is expected that the Eggs Authority will be abolished at the end of 1986 under section 9 of the Act.

Sections 13–16 and the related schedules provide for tenants to receive compensation from their landlord at the end of their tenancy in recognition of their efforts in obtaining milk quota attaching to that particular holding. The arrangements were brought into effect on 25 September 1986 by implementation in England and Wales of the Agriculture Act 1986 (Commencement) (No. 1) Order 1986, Statutory Instrument 1986 No. 1484 (C 50) and the Milk Quota (Calculation of Standard Quota) Order 1986, Statutory Instrument 1986 No. 1530.

Implementation in Scotland was by means of the Agriculture Act 1986 (Commencement) (No. 2) (Scotland) Order 1986, Statutory Instrument 1986 No. 1485 (C 51) (S 117) and the Milk Quota (Calculation of Standard Quota) (Scotland) Order 1986 No. 1475 (S 116).

Section 17 of the Act requires Agriculture Ministers to have regard to, and endeavour to achieve, a reasonable balance between agricultural, conservation and other interests in the countryside. My colleagues and I will continue to be guided by the principles enshrined in this provision.

Under section 18 of the Act, I shall lay orders designating environmentally sensitive areas before Parliament shortly.