§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what proposals he received from non-Governmental sources to provide the cattle passport systems at sums below current estimates; [34998]
(2) which (a) companies and (b) other organisations made approaches to his Ministry to run the electronic cattle passport scheme. [34997]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 17 March 1998]: During early 1997, certain livestock industry organisations (e.g. NFU and National Milk Records) suggested the computerised Cattle Tracing System could be developed by an industry-led consortium. However, these ideas did not include detailed costings and implementation timescales. A feasibility study for the Cattle Tracing System, carried out by independent consultants for the previous Government, and published in autumn 1996, recommended that an existing Government database should be used as the basis for the Cattle Tracing System.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the computerised cattle data base system will begin operation. [34964]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 17 March 1998]: I expect the computerised Cattle Tracing System to be operating by late summer 1998.