HC Deb 03 July 1997 vol 297 cc259-60W
Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list each person advising or assisting his Department who has(a) membership of and (b) involvement in (i) the European Round Table of industrialists, (ii) the European Centre for Infrastructure Studies, (iii) the Competitiveness Advisory Group, (iv) Transatlantic Business Dialogue, (v) the Association for the Monetary Union of Europe, (vi) Union of Industrial and Employers Confederations of Europe, (vii) Europe Bio and (viii) the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. [5307]

Mr. Morley

Membership of the European Round Table of industrialists, the Competitiveness Advisory Group and the Transatlantic Business Dialogue is on a personal basis. We have no central record of whether each person advising or assisting the Minister is a member of, or involved in, these groups.

Membership of the European Centre for Infrastructure Studies, the Association for the Monetary Union of Europe, the Union of Industrial and Employers Confederations of Europe, Europa Bio and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development is on a corporate basis. Representatives from companies and organisations involved with these groups may advise this Ministry from time to time.

Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the special advisers in his Department, the Minister to whom each is responsible, the subjects on which they advise and the number of advisers in his Department in the year up to 1 May. [5346]

Mr. Morley

This Department has two special advisers who are employed under the terms and conditions based on the model contract for special advisers, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Ms Cathy McGlynn and Mr. Tim Walker advise my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in accordance with Schedule 1 (Part 1) of the model contract. Their subjects are:

Cathy McGlynn Tim Walker
Fisheries Food safety and standards
Countryside matters Meat hygiene
Forestry Animal health (including BSE)
Agricultural policy and the CAP Pesticide safety
Production and trade in agricultural commodities Veterinary medicines
External trade Plant health
Food and Drinks Industry Research
Competition issues Animal welfare
Export promotion Flood defence

During the year up to 1 May 1997, this department employed one special adviser. His employment ended on 31 March 1997.