Leather Trade (Hansard, 7 December 1994)

§ Dr. Strang
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the losses to the farming, skin and leather industry from poor quality sheep skins; what assessment he has made of the causes of damage to sheep skins; what changes have been observed in the causes of damage to sheep skins since the deregulation of sheep scab; and what percentage of sheep skins are now top quality.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
As far as the farming industry is concerned, there is no direct correlation between the quality of sheep skins and the prices paid for animals going for slaughter. My Department produced a leaflet this autumn in conjunction with the industry, encouraging farmers to treat their sheep against sheep scab. This initiative should help reduce the amount of damage caused by all ectoparasites. The skin and leather industries are the responsibility of the President of the Board of Trade. However, I understand that no Government studies are available to provide answers to the questions the hon. Gentleman raises.

§ Dr. Strang
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the losses to the farming, hide and leather industry from poor quality cattle hides; what assessment he has made of the major causes of damage to cattle hides; and what percentage of(a) United Kingdom, (b) Danish and (c) German cattle hides are now top quality.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
As far as the farming industry is concerned, there is no direct correlation between the quality of cattle hides and the prices paid for animals going for slaughter. The Government have mounted over a number of years a successful campaign to eradicate warble fly which is considered to be a major threat to the quality of cattle hides. The skin and leather industries are the responsibility of the President of the Board of Trade. However, I understand that no Government studies are available to provide answers to the questions the hon. Gentleman raises.

§ Dr. Strang
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number of jobs lost in the United Kingdom leather trade in the last five years as a result of the decrease in quality of sheep skins and cattle hides.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
The skin and leather industries are the responsibility of the President of the Board of Trade. However, I understand the Government have no firm 289W information on the impact of the quality of sheep skins or cattle hides on employment levels in the leather industry.