§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what initiatives are being pursued to encourage farmers to use information technology. [32548]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Department has its own Internet web site on which it publishes useful information and guidance for farmers and others in the agricultural industry.
In relation to the Government Direct and Better Government initiatives, the Department is considering further opportunities for using information technology for the direct provision of information and the provision and collection of information from the farming community via 'interactive forms'. This could extend, eventually, to the electronic processing of complete transactions over direct links with farmers. This will require wider consultation with the agricultural community and industry to establish cost effective opportunities, and to ensure that all parties concerned have access to the required facilities and that systems integrity can be maintained.
One current example of the wider use of information technology relates to the Cattle Tracing System, currently under development with private sector involvement, which will enable cattle markets, abattoirs, farmers and agents to submit cattle movement data via electronic mail services.