§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what estimate he received from the National Cattle Database Working Party on the annual running costs of the cattle passport scheme;[17005]
(2) what recommendations he received from the National Cattle Database Working Party on the charge for a cattle passport; and if he will make a statement. [17008]
Dr. John CunninghamThe National Cattle Database Working Party, which is a livestock industry body, submitted a report to MAFF in August 1996 on establishing a cattle tracing database. However, this report did not contain any estimates of costs of the database or the cattle passports scheme, or of the charge for a cattle passport.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has made of the annual cost of the cattle passport scheme.[ 17003]
Dr. John CunninghamThe latest estimate for Great Britain for 1997–98 is in the region of £7.2 million. This is an estimate of the cost of the current cattle passport scheme, and not of the new computerised cattle tracing system including cattle passports, which will be introduced in 1998.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what calculations were involved in determining the charge level for cattle passports; and if the charge includes a contribution to the scheme's annual running costs.[17007]
Dr. John CunninghamThere will be a charge for cattle passports once a computerised cattle tracing system has been introduced in Great Britain. The charge level has not yet been determined, but is expected to be in the range £5 to £10 per animal.
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§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the cost to public funds of producing each cattle identification document; and how many were issued in the last year for which figures are available.[17004]
Dr. John CunninghamCattle Identification Documents (CIDs) are issued only in respect of male cattle; cattle passports have been a requirement for all cattle born after 1 July 1996. As they form an integral part of the Beef Special Premium Scheme, it is not an easy matter to identify separately the costs relating to CIDs. However, taking account of relevant development, capital, maintenance and staff expenditure, our best estimate is that each one issued to date by the Department has cost in the region of £1.88. A total of 1,034,552 were issued in England in 1996.