HC Deb 26 June 2002 vol 387 cc923-5W
Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much tallow produced under the over-thirty-months scheme has been sold in each year since the scheme began(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) when exported overseas; and for what purpose it has been sold. [63535]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 21 June 2002]: Since the introduction of the over-thirty-months slaughter scheme (OTMS) a total of 384,345 tonnes of tallow has been produced to date.

All tallow generated from cattle slaughtered under OTMS is to be incinerated (with energy recovery).

A total of 170,897 tonnes has been incinerated to date. This equates to a total of 13,271 tonnes for 1996, 29,711 tonnes for 1997, 15,896 tonnes for 1998, 28,188 tonnes for 1999, 37,409 tonnes for 2000, 27,274 tonnes for 2001 and 21,315 tonnes to date for 2002.

No tallow has been exported.

Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much revenue has been raised from the sale of tallow produced under the over-thirty-months scheme in each year since the scheme started in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) overseas. [63537]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 21 June 2002]: No financial information is available in a calendar year basis. Please see the income from tallow sales by financial year.

Financial year £
1996–97 1
1997–98 1
1998–99 333,397.00
1999–2000 1,454,308.00
2000–01 968,638.00
2001–022 734,069.00
1Income for tallow sales not separately identifiable, included under general receipts.
2Invoice payments are outstanding.

Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the notification and results of tenders to dispose of tallow produced under the over-thirty-months scheme are not published in theOfficial Journal. [63538]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 21 June 2002]: The RPA is currently evaluating the bids received in connection with the OTMS tallow disposal tender. Following contract award, details of the successful tenderers will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. The original contract award date was spring 2001 but the tender was suspended due to the foot and mouth crisis. The disposal was readvertised with a planned contract start date of spring 2002. The RPA expects contract award in mid July 2002.

Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what restrictions apply to the sale of tallow produced in the United Kingdom under the over-thirty-months scheme(a) in the UK and (b) when being exported overseas. [63536]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 21 June 2002]: Over-thirty-month slaughter scheme (OTMS) tallow produced is currently incinerated (with energy recovery) at plants in the UK only. No tallow has been exported.

OTMS tallow remains the property of and under the control of RPA until it is incinerated.