HC Deb 05 December 2002 vol 395 cc945-6W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the cost to egg producers of a ban on the use of enriched laying cages in England; what plans she has to provide financial assistance to egg producers in the event of such a ban; and if she will make a statement. [84513]

Mr. Morley

A partial regulatory impact assessment was included in the public consultation about a possible ban on enriched cages and is being considered again in the light of responses received. The CAP regime for this sector is a light one and no grants are currently available.

Average farm size in hectares by region and farm type—England 2001
Region Farm type Cereals General cropping Horticulture Specialist pigs Specialist poultry
North East 154.8 217.7 8.5 14.5 45.2
North West 101.6 75.7 5.7 10.2 22.0
Merseyside 63.4 86.0 6.7 9.0 1.2
Yorkshire and Humberside 103.0 159.9 6.7 21.0 11.9
East Midlands 138.1 150.8 7.6 12.9 8.0
West Midlands 103.0 140.0 12.4 13.4 11.3
East of England 129.8 153.1 8.8 14.2 9.5
Greater London 99.9 81.2 5.5 24.4 13.8
South East 174.5 152.1 16.7 25.2 11.1
South West 135.5 100.1 9.2 15.4 11.9
England 131.9 145.3 10.5 16.6 13.2
Mixed pigs and poultry Dairy—LFA Dairy—Lowland Specialist sheep—SDA Specialist beef—SDA
North East 20.6 70.1 81.9 213.3 67.4
North West 12.2 82.7 76.6 108.2 37.7
Merseyside 0.0 0.0 105.1 0.0 0.0
Yorkshire and Humberside 22.6 84.1 72.0 115.2 35.4
East Midlands 37.8 77.4 79.5 126.8 45.4
West Midlands 3.7 57.0 78.5 39.7 33.6
East of England 15.4 0.0 75.6 0.0 0.0
Greater London 0.0 0.0 117.5 0.0 0.0
South East 3.5 0.0 109.0 0.0 0.0
South West 8.1 75.2 88.9 60.1 60.2
England 15.2 77.0 84.4 116.7 44.1
Mixed cattle and sheep—SDA Cattle and sheep—DA Cattle and sheep (Lowland) Mixed Other types
North East 198.1 74.5 56.2 165.7 17.5
North West 109.1 40.5 28.3 55.7 18.0
Merseyside 0.0 0.0 40.1 57.7 8.3
Yorkshire and Humberside 109.9 50.3 24.7 83.4 9.7
East Midlands 72.8 42.9 28.4 109.9 6.5
West Midlands 86.7 26.1 28.2 98.0 7.4
East of England 0.0 0.0 26.6 102.0 8.8
Greater London 0.0 0.0 30.5 81.1 13.6
South East 0.0 0 0 33.4 140.7 11.4
South West 120.2 43.9 33.2 101.9 8.5
England 125.6 42.1 31.0 105.1 10.3

Notes:

1. The "other types" category includes some holdings which are not currently undertaking any agricultural activity.

2. Farm type is designated by the predominant activity on the holding. This is calculated using the Standard Gross Margin (SGM). The total SGM for each farm is calculated by multiplying its crop areas and livestock numbers by the appropriate SGM coefficients and then summing the result for all enterprises on the farm. For example, if more than two thirds of a holding's total SGM is derived from cereals and other crops generally found in cereal rotations (eg oilseeds, peas and beans harvested dry and land set-aside) the holding will be put in the cereals farm type category.

Source:

June Agricultural and Horticultural Census

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on a proposed ban on the use of enriched egg laying cages in England. [84508]

Mr. Morley

The Department has received over 1,000 responses to the public consultation from the general public, industry and animal welfare organisations.

Forward to