§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed Food Standards Agency levy on farm shops. [77530]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 18 March 1999]: The purpose of the current consultation exercise is to elicit views on the impact of the proposed levy on all types of food premises that would fall within its scope. We will consider carefully the implications for farm shops in the light of the responses we receive.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will replace the proposed flat rate for the proposed Food Standards Agency levy with a sliding scale based on size of operation. [77532]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 18 March 1999]: Public consultation on the proposed levy ends on 24 March. We will not reach final decisions on the proposed flat rate or any other aspects of the proposals until we have considered carefully all the responses we receive.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a minimum size below which shops will be exempt from paying the proposed Food Standards Agency levy. [77531]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 18 March 1999]: The proposals, on which we are currently consulting, envisage exemptions for premises on which the only food sales are wrapped confectionery, soft drinks, crisps and similar wrapped products. Premises not required to register with the local authority under the Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991 would also be exempt. The public consultation period ends on 24 March, and we will not reach any final decisions on exemptions or any other aspects of the proposals until we have considered all the responses carefully.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will apply the proposed Food Standards Agency levy to food producers. [77533]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 18 March 1999]: The proposals on which we are currently consulting are for the proposed levy to apply to food retail and retail catering premises required to register with the local authority under the Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991. We will not reach final decisions until we have considered carefully all the responses we receive.
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§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate how many people will be employed at the Food Standards Agency; and what the consequential changes will be to staff numbers in terms of(a) actual numbers and (b) establishment in his Department. [77557]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 19 March 1999]: The Food Standards Agency is expected to employ around 500 HQ staff, plus some 1,500 staff in the Meat Hygiene Service, and also have small numbers of staff based in executive branches in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Some 315 core MAFF posts and 1,500 from the Meat Hygiene Service are expected to transfer to the Agency, together with other posts currently in the Department of Health, the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Departments.