Hospital Beds (Hansard, 18 December 1997)

§ Mr. Simon Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will estimate the number of staffed acute beds in use for each of the last 10 years. [21405]

§ Mr. Worthington
The following table details the average number of beds which were available in wards 299W open overnight in the Acute Services Programme of Care in Northern Ireland.

Average number

1987 6,409

1988–89 6,107

1989–90 5,849

1990–91 5,634

1991–92 5,438

1992–93 5,281

1993–94 5,040

1994–95 4,813

1995–96 4,692

1996–97 4,454

UK beef imports from September 1996 to August 1997

Carcass Meat Offal Prepared or preserved All beef

Country of despatch¹ Tonnes £000 Tonnes £000 Tonnes £000 Tonnes £000

EC Irish Republic 51,979 110,269 4,460 2,344 14,225 28,900 70,664 141,513

Netherlands 15,567 34,050 1,822 1,491 197 690 17,585 36,231

Germany 7,457 12,498 799 331 75 66 8,331 12,895

France 4,471 7,692 1,472 708 — — 5,942 8,400

Belgium-Luxembourg 1,495 2,666 — — — — 1,495 2,666

Spain 1,003 2,331 129 38 — — 1,133 2,369

Denmark 502 1,227 — — — — 502 1,227

Italy 248 381 68 21 — — 316 401

Other 585 1,459 668 403 757 3,229 2,010 5,091

Non-EC Country of origin

Brazil 3,875 12,851 — — 34,292 54,324 38,167 67,175

Argentina 9,007 17,518 — — 15,176 23,086 24,182 40,604

Uruguay 11,584 22,476 — — 4,542 6,122 16,126 28,598

Australia 7,860 25,279 421 429 — — 8,281 25,708

Zimbabwe 5,060 17,138 — — 2,316 4,286 7,376 21,424

Botswana 5,669 16,329 — — 320 672 5,989 17,001

Namibia 4,792 15,722 — — — — 4,792 15,722

New Zealand 4,588 7,893 254 299 — — 4,842 8,192

Mauritius — — — — 3,262 5,584 3,262 5,584

U.S.A. 1,382 3,701 57 30 — — 1,439 3,731

Other 528 1,815 768 749 429 761 1,586 2,986

Total imports from EC countries 83,307 172,572 9,417 5,336 15,253 32,886 107,978 210,793

Total imports from non-EC countries 54,344 140,721 1,500 1,507 60,335 94,836 116,180 237,064

Total UK imports 137,866 313,515 10,966 6,904 75,628 127,780 224,459 448,199

¹ Some trade may originate from outside the European Community. All data is provisional and subject to amendment.

§ Mr. Russell Brown
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he will take to ensure that beef which is being imported from Europe is(a) free of BSE and (b) from a herd with no history of BSE. [21583]

§ Mr. Rooker
Animals showing clinical signs of BSE would not be slaughtered for human consumption in the European Union. Animals which might be incubating the disease at a stage too early to show clinical signs could be slaughtered for human consumption which is why the Government have extended their controls to ensure that the specified risk material is removed from imported beef from 1 January 1998.
The United Kingdom Government do not have a policy of banning beef from the domestic market from herds which have a case of BSE in the United Kingdom and
300W

	Average number
1987	6,409
1988–89	6,107
1989–90	5,849
1990–91	5,634
1991–92	5,438
1992–93	5,281
1993–94	5,040
1994–95	4,813
1995–96	4,692
1996–97	4,454

UK beef imports from September 1996 to August 1997
		Carcass Meat	Offal	Prepared or preserved	All beef
	Country of despatch¹	Tonnes	£000	Tonnes	£000	Tonnes	£000	Tonnes	£000
EC	Irish Republic	51,979	110,269	4,460	2,344	14,225	28,900	70,664	141,513
	Netherlands	15,567	34,050	1,822	1,491	197	690	17,585	36,231
	Germany	7,457	12,498	799	331	75	66	8,331	12,895
	France	4,471	7,692	1,472	708	—	—	5,942	8,400
	Belgium-Luxembourg	1,495	2,666	—	—	—	—	1,495	2,666
	Spain	1,003	2,331	129	38	—	—	1,133	2,369
	Denmark	502	1,227	—	—	—	—	502	1,227
	Italy	248	381	68	21	—	—	316	401
	Other	585	1,459	668	403	757	3,229	2,010	5,091
Non-EC	Country of origin
	Brazil	3,875	12,851	—	—	34,292	54,324	38,167	67,175
	Argentina	9,007	17,518	—	—	15,176	23,086	24,182	40,604
	Uruguay	11,584	22,476	—	—	4,542	6,122	16,126	28,598
	Australia	7,860	25,279	421	429	—	—	8,281	25,708
	Zimbabwe	5,060	17,138	—	—	2,316	4,286	7,376	21,424
	Botswana	5,669	16,329	—	—	320	672	5,989	17,001
	Namibia	4,792	15,722	—	—	—	—	4,792	15,722
	New Zealand	4,588	7,893	254	299	—	—	4,842	8,192
	Mauritius	—	—	—	—	3,262	5,584	3,262	5,584
	U.S.A.	1,382	3,701	57	30	—	—	1,439	3,731
	Other	528	1,815	768	749	429	761	1,586	2,986
Total imports from EC countries	83,307	172,572	9,417	5,336	15,253	32,886	107,978	210,793
Total imports from non-EC countries	54,344	140,721	1,500	1,507	60,335	94,836	116,180	237,064
Total UK imports	137,866	313,515	10,966	6,904	75,628	127,780	224,459	448,199
¹ Some trade may originate from outside the European Community. All data is provisional and subject to amendment.