§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the impact on the competitiveness of British farmers of the existence within the EU of different levels of state aid for eliminating(a) fallen stock and (b) slaughterhouse waste; [61498]
(2) what her policy is towards state aid for the elimination of fallen stock; [61501]
(3) what plans she has to change her policies in response to the European Commission's working paper, Animal Waste and Fallen Stock—State Aid Policy Issues; [61497]
(4) what her policy is on the possible harmonisation or approximation of state aid for eliminating fallen stock within the EU; [61499]
(5) if she will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting held on 27 May between the European Commission and national Government experts on the disposal of animal wastes and fallen stock. [615911
§ Mr. Morley[Holding answer 13 June 2002]DEFRA officials attended a working group with EU counterparts and the Commission where the working paper "Animal Waste and Fallen Stock—State Aid Policy Issues" was discussed, with a view to ensuring consistency in the application of state aid rules relating to animal waste and fallen stock in all Member States. We support the harmonisation of government support given to industry for the disposal of animal wastes and fallen stock. The UK position is that the costs of the collection and disposal of livestock fallen on farm are the responsibility of the farming industry: an application of the so-called "polluter pays" principle.