§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she has put in hand to ensure the biosecurity of vehicles undertaking the collection of fallen stock from different farms in one journey. [158739]
§ Mr. BradshawThe EU Animal By-Products Regulation (EC 1774/2002) already controls the collection and transportation of animal by-products, including animal carcases. It requires animal by-products to be transported in a way that ensures there is no leakage from vehicles or containers. It also requires records to be kept of any consignment of animal by-products to assist in the auditing and traceability of this material.
In addition, general guidance on on-farm biosecurity is available on the Defra website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/animindx.htm
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether there is sufficient incineration capacity to deal with material handled by the Fallen Stock Subscription Scheme which cannot be processed by rendering. [158742]
§ Mr. BradshawNo specific assessment of incineration capacity has been made, but the collection and disposal industry as a whole has consistently advised that collectively there is sufficient capacity to dispose of fallen stock under the Scheme.
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what issues remain to be resolved before the Fallen Stock Subscription Scheme can be introduced. [158743]
998W
§ Mr. BradshawThe National Fallen Stock Company has had many issues to resolve since its work started in November last year. Many have been relatively straightforward but others have been more complex and the board has advised that these require more time and negotiation to get right. For example, identifying available alternatives required to cope with sheep in full fleece which cannot be rendered, setting up payment and tender arrangements for the collection and disposal industry, and devising fair subscription rates for the pig and poultry sectors. In addition to these practical problems, the company has, with Defra, been required to ensure the scheme as a whole does not contravene the state aid rules of the EU. A state aid notification has been submitted for the scheme and we expect to have further discussions with the European Commission about the scheme before it goes ahead.
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons on each occasion she postponed establishment of the Fallen Stock Subscription Scheme. [158744]
§ Mr. BradshawDefra had lengthy negotiations with the farming unions and other industry bodies between April 2002 and July 2003. On 24 July 2003 it was announced that the basis for sharing the costs of the Scheme and its eventual transfer to industry had been agreed and that the Scheme would go ahead. At that time it was expected that the Scheme would begin in January 2004. That proved to be unachievable. On 24 February the Board of the National Fallen Stock Company and government jointly announced that the launch would have to be postponed. The reasons for this were set out in PQ 1897 to which I would refer my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial contribution her Department has made to the establishment of the Fallen Stock Subscription Scheme. [158745]
§ Mr. BradshawDefra has committed to a contribution of £5 million in the first year, £3 million in the second year and £2 million in the third year of the Scheme after which the Scheme is expected to be self-financing. Devolved administrations have committed to paying proportionate sums. In addition Defra has agreed to pay a further £1 million towards establishing the administration of the Scheme in the first year.