§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the(a) annual cost to her Department and (b) value of the assets of (i) Food from Britain, (ii) Horticulture Research International, (iii) the Meat and Livestock Commission and (iv) the Sea Fish Industry Authority; if she will make a statement in each case on the reasons for each body being in the public sector; and if she will make a statement. [105083]
§ Mr. MorleyThe annual cost to Defra of each of the bodies specified and the value of their assets for 2001–02 are set out in the following table:
£ million Non-departmental public body (NDPB) Annual cost to Defra 2001–02 Value of assets 2001–02 Food From Britain (FFB) 15.483 90,998 Horticulture Research International(HRI) 213.643 43.568 Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) 3287,000 5.9 Sea Fish Industry Authority (SFIA) 4270,000 4.937 1 This excludes foot and mouth recovery funds of £2.5 million granted to FFB for 2001–02. 2 Comprises £13.493 million R&D income and related payments and c £0.150 million running costs of Defra sponsorship unit. 3 Comprises £232,000 Commissioners costs and c £.055 million running costs of Defra sponsorship unit. 4 Comprises board members salaries, NI contributions and Defra sponsorship costs. Food From Britain
Food From Britain was set up in 1983 under the Agricultural Marketing Act to improve the marketing of food and drink produced or processed in the United Kingdom. In 1993 its remit was changed to focus on promoting food and drink exports and speciality foods. The most recent review of its functions recommended that it should be retained as a public body with the existing remit.
Horticulture Research International
Following a Quinquennial Review in 2002 the Government announced on 20 January 2003 that they broadly accepted the review team's recommendations that HRI should cease to be a NDPB and should be transferred to new owners in the private sector. Detailed discussions are currently under way to establish whether scenarios recommended by the review team are achievable and affordable, and whether any further Government investment is necessary. Subject to satisfactory negotiations, the aim is to have in place the arrangements for HRI's future by 1 April 2004.
Meat and Livestock Commission
The MLC is a public sector NDPB by virtue of the Agriculture Act 1967 with the general duty of promoting greater efficiency in the livestock and 635W livestock product industries in Great Britain. Apart from the payment and expenses of MLC Commissioners from public funds, and occasional public grants, the MLC is funded principally by a combination of a statutory levy on livestock producers and private income from commercial services (including services procured by Defra, such as £9.3 million for foot and mouth disease related work in 2001–02). As producers are required by statute to pay the levy, it is classed as public expenditure. However in reality the costs of the MLC fall almost entirely on the private livestock sector rather than the Exchequer.
Sea Fish Industry Authority
The Sea Fish Industry Authority is a public levy funded body set up by the Fisheries Act 1981 to promote the efficiency of the sea fish industry and to serve the interests of that industry as a whole. The last review of
(a)Agricultural labour force as a percentage of total labour force 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 North East 1.33 1.30 1.24 1.24 1.06 1.20 1.18 1.13 1.23 1.17 North West 1.60 1.59 1.54 1.52 1.30 1.44 1.32 1.32 1.33 1.25 Yorkshire and the Humber 2.05 2.00 1.91 1.87 1.60 1.79 1.74 1.71 1.79 1.73 East Midlands 2.65 2.55 2.48 2.41 2.07 2.33 2.18 2.16 2.23 2.14 West Midlands 2.10 2.06 1.99 1.97 1.68 1.91 1.82 1.86 1.92 1.83 Eastern 2.63 2.54 2.46 2.38 2.02 2.31 2.12 2.05 2.10 2.02 London 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 South East 1.76 1.70 1.63 1.58 1.35 1.55 1.44 1.32 1.38 1.35 South West 3.91 3.88 3.72 3.69 3.16 3.55 3.43 3.44 3.42 3.25 UK Total 2.29 2.26 2.19 2.15 1.84 2.07 1.95 1.90 1.92 1.88 Notes:
For England years 1993–99 include main holdings only, years 2000–02 include main and minor holdings. A greater degree of estimation has been used for the years 1993–97
Source:
June Census of Agriculture and Horticulture, SEERAD, DARD, NAWAD, ONS.
(b)Agricultural labour force as a percentage of total UK labour force by farm type Farm type 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Cereals 0.21 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.18 0.21 0.19 0.19 0.21 0.20 General cropping 0.28 0.27 0.27 0.26 0.21 0.23 0.21 0.19 0.19 0.18 Horticulture 0.23 0.22 0.20 0.20 0.17 0.20 0.20 0.19 0.19 0.19 Pigs and poultry 0.10 0.09 0.09 0.08 0.08 0.09 0.07 0.08 0.08 0.08 Dairy 0.34 0.37 0.36 0.34 0.28 0.30 0.28 0.26 0.24 0.24 Cattle and sheep (LFA) 0.43 0.41 0.40 0.40 0.34 0.39 0.38 0.36 0.35 0.36 Cattle and sheep (lowland) 0.32 0.29 0.28 0.28 0.24 0.27 0.26 0.27 0.26 0.28 Mixed 0.21 0.20 0.19 0.19 0.16 0.18 0.16 0.15 0.15 0.14 Other types 0.18 0.19 0.19 0.20 0.17 0.19 0.19 0.20 0.24 0.22 All types 2.29 2.26 2.19 2.15 1.84 2.07 1.95 1.90 1.92 1.88 Notes:
For England years 1993–99 include main holdings only, years 2000–02 include main and minor holdings. A greater degree of estimation has been used for the years 1993–97.
Source:
June Census of Agriculture and Horticulture, SEERAD, DARD, NAWAD
§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the budgets were in 2001–02 of(a) the Agricultural Wages Board, (b) the Agricultural Wages Committee England, (c) the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, (d) the UK Register of Organic Food Standards, (e) the Wine Standards Board of the Vintner's Company, (f) the Agricultural Dwelling House Authority, (g) the Hill Farming Advisory Committee, (h) the National Rural
636Wit recommended that it be retained as a public body as its statutory objective remains relevant and the SFIA benefits the industry as a whole.