§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of cattle slaughtered under the over-30-months cattle slaughter scheme during 1997 were cull cows. [10161]
§ Mr. RookerAbattoir returns indicate that around 90 per cent. of animals slaughtered under the over-30-months scheme so far this year were cull animals—cull cows and bulls.
§ Dr. LewisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the savings achieved by the imposition of a maximum weight limit on cattle entering the over-30-months cattle slaughter scheme. [10162]
§ Mr. RookerThe average weight of cattle entering the scheme to date has been of the order of 580 to 590 kg. On that basis, a saving of around £12 to £18 per animal could result from the imposition of the maximum weight limit. However, the actual savings that arise will depend on the weight and number of animals entering the scheme in the future.
§ Dr. LewisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he undertook with the farming industry before imposing the recently announced price reductions and maximum weight limit under the over-30-months cattle slaughter scheme. [10163]
20W
§ Mr. RookerMy colleagues and I have had several meetings with representatives of the farming industry since 1 May. There was no specific consultation on the reduction in the compensation rate for cull cows and the introduction of a maximum weight limit before the European Commission made its proposals, which the Government supported. However, Ministers are fully aware of farmers' concerns over the state of the industry and their views on the over-30-months scheme in particular.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the reduction in public expenditure from the introduction of reduced grants for the slaughter of over-30-month-old cattle in each of the next three years; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduction on farmers. [10632]
§ Mr. RookerThe effect of the change in the over-30-months scheme will depend on the number of animals entering the scheme and their payable weights. Gross scheme expenditure is likely to be reduced by £35 million to £40 million in a full year.
The effect on individual farmers will depend on individual circumstances, including their culling programmes and the weight of animals presented for slaughter.
§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those abattoirs in the Wessex region eligible to slaughter under the over-30-months scheme(a) on 1 May 1996, (b) on 1 May 1997 and (c) at present. [11055]
§ Mr. RookerThe information requested is as follows:
Date Abattoir 1 May 1996 Southern Counties Fresh Foods, Langport 1 May 1997 Southern Counties, Fresh Foods, Langport Bridgewater Beef, Taunton S. J. Norman and Son, Bridport Wholesale Meat Traders, Bath Present Bridgewater Beef, Taunton S. J. Norman and Son, Bridport Alec Jarrett, Bristol