Friday 26 January 2001
Written Answers to Questions

OFFICE OF FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER

Children’s Fund

Mr Ford asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister when it expects to be able to give the information on the Children’s Fund requested in AQW 879/00.

(AQW 1165/00)

Reply: In answer to AQW 879/00 we advised that the arrangements for the management and distribution of the Children’s Fund were being considered.

We expect to be in a position to announce a final decision on these arrangements, including the detailed criteria for making allocations, shortly.

Mr Ford asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to outline what steps are being taken to ensure that the proposed Children’s Fund tackles child poverty in Northern Ireland and how it will contribute to the target set by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to eradicate child poverty in the UK.

(AQW 1220/00)

Reply: The Executive Committee has agreed that the objective of the Children’s Fund will be to provide support for children in need and young people at risk. The broad criteria already agreed for the Executive Programme Funds include a criterion relating to the need for proposals to be consistent with the objectives of New TSN policy. The detailed arrangements for operating the funds are currently being finalised.

By targeting resources, in the context of New TSN, at children in need and young people at risk, the Children’s Fund has the potential to contribute significantly to tackling child poverty and improving the prospects for many children in Northern Ireland.

Mr Ford asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to outline the steps being taken to ensure that the criteria for the Children’s Fund will be subject to screening and consultation with children’s organisations and non-governmental organisations, as required by section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

(AQW 1222/00)

Reply: The policy of establishing Executive Programme Funds, including the Children’s Fund, was included in the draft Programme for Government, which was subjected to an equality impact assessment and to extensive consultation.

The consultation process, which ran from 24 October until 15 January, involved a large number of non-governmental organisations. Responses were received from 120 organisations including many of the main children’s organisations in Northern Ireland.

In addition to the formal consultation, the junior Ministers met with a delegation from the Children’s Fund lobby group to hear their views on the operation of the Children’s Fund.

The representations that have been made by children’s organisations and other non-governmental organisations have been taken into account in finalising the detailed criteria and management arrangements for the Children’s Fund and these will be announced shortly.

Mrs Carson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to list the types of material that are designated as specific risk material for the purposes of the trans-boundary movement of waste.

(AQW 1180/00)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): Specified risk material comprises the following types of material:

(a) the intestine of bovine animals of all ages;

(b) the skull including the brain and eyes, the tonsils, the spinal cord of bovine animals aged over 12 months;

(c) in the case of the United Kingdom and Portugal, the entire head excluding the tongue but including the brain, eyes, trigeminal ganglia and tonsils, the thymus, the spleen and the spinal cord of bovine animals aged over six months and, in relation to bovine animals aged over thirty months, the vertebral column, including the dorsal root ganglia;

(d) the skull including the brains and eyes, the tonsils and the spinal cord of sheep and goats aged over twelve months or that have a permanent incisor erupted through the gum and;

(e) the spleen of sheep and goats of all ages.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline how she proposes to implement the recommendations of the Phillips report on BSE and CJD.

(AQW 1213/00)

Ms Rodgers: As I explained in my answer of 5 December, the Phillips report contains over 160 lessons and each needs to be considered very carefully. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is leading that consideration with a wide range of Government Departments, including all of the devolved administrations, with a view to preparing the Government’s substantive response to the report in the coming months. You will appreciate it takes some time to address each of the lessons in such a significant report and as soon as I am in a position to let you have a substantive response on how I will be implementing those lessons that apply specifically to DARD I will do so. I will, of course, also be keeping the Assembly fully informed.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the targets she has set for the achievement of sustainable organic farming.

(AQW 1219/00)

Ms Rodgers: Provision has been made in the Northern Ireland rural development plan for the organic farming scheme to grow from its present level of 20 producers farming just over 1,000 hectares to 1,000 farmers with 30,000 hectares under agreement by 2006.

You will recall that, in my response to your previous query on organic farming (AQW 703/00), I advised that I have commissioned a strategic study of the Northern Ireland organic sector by independent consultants based at the Elm Farm Research Centre in Berkshire. I shall receive the results of their study early in 2001 and this shall further inform my Department’s efforts to ensure that the organic production sector develops in the best possible way to take advantage of market opportunities.

Mr Armstrong asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number of cases during 2000 of BSE in Northern Ireland in animals; (a) bred in Northern Ireland, and; (b) bred in other EU regions, specifying in each case the region concerned.

(AQW 1224/00)

Ms Rodgers: Of the 22 cases of BSE recorded in Northern Ireland during 2000, 20 cases were in animals bred in Northern Ireland and two cases were in animals bred in GB.

Mr Armstrong asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail an age classification for cases of BSE in Northern Ireland during 2000.

(AQW 1225/00)

Ms Rodgers: The age classification of BSE cases in Northern Ireland during 2000 is as follows:

Dr O’Hagan asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to list the administrative data sets held by the Department and its agencies and detail whether these data sets provide qualitative data at enumeration district, electoral ward level, district council area or by parliamentary constituency.

(AQW 1237/00)

Ms Rodgers: I have attached a table showing the administrative data sets held by my Department.

Mr Wells asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she has plans to re-introduce tree felling licenses.

(AQW 1248/00)

Ms Rodgers: I do not have any current plans to re-introduce tree felling licenses. However, I will consult on the need for changes to the Forestry Act as part of the review of forest policy later this year.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number of cattle compulsorily slaughtered on tuberculosis reactors in the last twelve months for which records are available that were; (a) over and under thirty months old; (b) on post mortem examination not showing signs of clinical infection; (c) condemned as unfit for human consumption, or; (d) sold for human consumption.

(AQW 1281/00)

Ms Rodgers: The information requested is as follows:

(a) 3,634 under-thirty-months (UTM) and 5,668 over-thirty-months (OTM) tuberculosis reactor and in-contact animals were slaughtered during the year 2000. Under BSE regulations the carcasses of all of the OTM animals were destroyed;

(b) 5,581 of these animals did not show signs of clinical infection on post mortem examination;

(c) 185 of the 3,634 UTM animals were condemned as unfit for human consumption and;

(d) 3,449 were sold for human consumption.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail what funding will be made available for payment in the pig farmers outgoers scheme in Northern Ireland in financial years (a) 2000-01; (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2002-03.

(AQW 1282/00)

Ms Rodgers: The object of the outgoers element of the pig industry restructuring scheme is to reduce UK sow capacity by 16% from that which existed in June 1998. The scheme will provide a one-off aid payment to those engaged in pig breeding at that time provided they comply with the scheme requirements. They must, for example, undertake not to be involved in any form of pig production for a period of ten years from the date of approval of their application. The scheme will operate on a sealed bidding process with applicants required to submit a sealed tender offer, which will ultimately reflect the cost per sow place to be taken out of production. Applicants throughout the UK will therefore be involved in a competitive tendering process. Northern Ireland’s share of the aid will ultimately depend on the number of competitive bids submitted by local producers that are successful in the sealed bidding process.

A total of £66 million was allocated for all of the UK for both the outgoers and ongoers elements of the pig industry restructuring scheme over the period 2000-01 to 2002-03. The intention was that the £26 million provided in year 1 would cover payments to successful applicants under either element of the scheme. However, the introduction of the outgoers element could not take place until state aid clearance was given by the EC. With the resultant delay in opening the scheme, there will not be sufficient time for successful applicants to comply with their undertakings and be paid in the current financial year 2000-01.

All assistance under outgoers will be paid in 2001-02. Applicants will know by the end of March at latest if their bids have been successful or not. Claims can be submitted once any necessary work on their pig breeding facilities has been completed. Claims for payment must be lodged no later than 31 August and all payments should be made before 26 October 2001.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline when she intends to upgrade the animal and public health information system.

(AQW 1309/00)

Ms Rodgers: The animal and public health information system (APHIS) has been subject to continual upgrade since its installation in November 1998.

The current phase includes a communication network upgrade, which will improve the exchange of information to and from meat plants on health, traceability and marketing statuses. Changes in APHIS software are also planned to speed up the processing of documentation in meat plant lairages. It is anticipated that these changes and the alterations in infrastructure necessary to support them will be in place by the spring.

Longer-term changes to the system hardware to improve contingency and availability are also planned, but are currently at an earlier stage of development.

These changes are being undertaken in conjunction with a Department of Agriculture and Rural Development/ Industry-wide steering group which has been set up to oversee a strategy for further development of APHIS.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she has any plans to introduce a pesticide tax.

(AQW 1327/00)

Ms Rodgers: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and indeed the Northern Ireland Executive, does not have any tax-raising powers.

However, I can confirm that within the UK, Government Ministers are committed to minimising the adverse environmental impact of pesticides use, consistent with adequate crop protection. The possible role of a pesticide tax has been considered and the Chancellor of the Exchequer has indicated that such a tax, in conjunction with other measures, could be helpful in addressing the environmental impacts of pesticides. Other approaches are still being explored and the agrichemical industry has been encouraged to bring forward proposals for voluntary measures, which would achieve the same objective.

The GB crop protection association has published a formal set of proposals and, in Northern Ireland, the food chain and environment pesticides group, led by Mr John Gilliland (UFU deputy president) and which includes representatives from farming, the environmental, consumer, retailer and agri-food sectors, has recently developed its own proposals. I understand that both groups are in discussion with HM Treasury.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the steps she is taking to ensure that the aid to hill farmers encourages the adoption of environmentally beneficial farming practices.

(AQW 1330/00)

Ms Rodgers: The less favoured area compensatory allowance (LFACA) scheme forms an integral part of the overall package of measures within the 2000-06 rural development regulation plan designed to support and maintain traditional agriculture in disadvantaged areas which, because of their location, climate and topography, would otherwise be vulnerable to economic decline and depopulation.

An important eligibility condition for receipt of this support is the requirement for the application of good farming practice compatible with the need to safeguard the environment and maintain the countryside, in particular by sustainable farming.

Under the code of good farming practice prepared by the Department farmers are required to observe statutory environmental provisions for example in relation to pollution and the use of pesticides. They must also meet specified verifiable standards, which aim to prevent problems such as overgrazing. Further guidance and training will be made available to farmers so that they understand their obligations fully.

Inspections will be carried out by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Environment and Heritage Service to ensure compliance with good farming practice.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her policy on agrimonetary compensation for livestock farmers.

(AQW 1331/00)

Ms Rodgers: I favour the payment of all available agrimonetary compensation to livestock farmers and other farmers. This represents one of the few ways in which we can channel money directly into the hands of producers without breaching the very strict EU state aid rules. However, as there is no regional discretion on the payment of agrimonetary compensation, agreement has to be reached at UK level on this issue. Therefore, on 11 January 2001, I wrote to UK Agriculture Minister, Nick Brown about the latest tranches of compensation that have become available to the beef, sheep and dairy sectors urging him to approach Treasury to obtain its agreement to draw down these funds. I also intend to raise this issue with Mr Brown at the regular meetings of UK Agriculture Ministers.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline what assistance is provided for farmers seeking to convert to organic production.

(AQW 1332/00)

Ms Rodgers: You will recall that, in my response to your previous queries on organic farming (AQW No 703/00 and AQW No 1219/00), I advised you on the financial assistance provided over a period of five years to producers converting to organic production. Sufficient finance has been made available under the Northern Ireland rural development plan for the organic farming scheme to grow from its present level of 20 producers farming just over 1,000 hectares to 1000 farmers with 30,000 hectares under agreement by 2006.

My Department also offers prospective organic producers a package of advisory assistance. This includes business management information and advice; education and training; conversion planning assistance; marketing information and advice; and organic farming scheme information and advice.

Interested producers are encouraged to participate in short courses. Greenmount College runs a free two-day course entitled "Introduction to Organic production", the second day of which incorporates a visit to an organic farm. Greenmount also facilitates organic beef and sheep, dairy, and horticulture producer development groups. Short courses, farm walks and study tours are held throughout the year on a range of topics of relevance to organic and prospective organic, producers.

Mr Douglas asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail what percentage of forests under her Department’s control consists of broadleaved tree species and outline what steps she is taking to increase the broadleaved tree cover in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 1369/00)

Ms Rodgers: Approximately 8% of the total planted area controlled by my Department consists of broadleaved tree species. No individual forest consists exclusively of broadleaved tree species.

The UK forestry standard sets out the Government’s approach for the sustainable management of woodlands. At least 5% of the area of any new wood is required to contain broadleaved trees and shrubs.

Incentives for farmers and other landowners to create broadleaf woodland are provided by the woodland grant scheme (WGS) establishment grant and the farm woodland premium scheme (FWPS) annual payments. Higher rates of grant are paid for establishment of broadleaf species under the WGS. In addition, woodlands established with more than 50% broadleaves attract FWPS annual payments over a longer period compared with woodland with less than 50% broadleaf species.

The success of the schemes is shown by planting in the five years prior to 31 March 2000, which achieved planting of 1,622 hectares of broadleaved woodland. This is 47% of the total private woodland established.

In addition, forests directly managed by my Department’s Forest Service were independently certified as complying with the voluntary UK woodland assurance standard. This standard requires plans to be in place to meet a target of at least 5% native broadleaves in the next rotation following felling and replanting. This action sets a good example for private woodland owners to follow.

Mr Byrne asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her decision on the allocation of the beef national envelope for 2001 and if she will make a statement.

(AQO 594/00)

Ms Rodgers: For 2001, the available funds for Northern Ireland increased from £2·6 million to £5·2 million. As there was general support for continuing with the beef heifer top-up – worth £2·6 million, the main issue for decision was how to allocate the additional funding. Ultimately the decision came down to a choice between directing the funds to finishers of beef heifers or to suckler producers. I concluded that the fairest course of action was to split the funds 40:60, with 40% going to beef heifers and 60% going to suckler producers. This will raise the top-up on beef heifers at slaughter from about £16 to about £22 per animal and will provide a top-up on suckler cow premium of about £5 per animal.

Mrs E Bell asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number of farmers who have been grant aided for the creation of farm woodland in each of the last three years and how many hectares have been planted.

(AQO 578/00)

Ms Rodgers: Forest Service statistics identify whether the type of land planted is agricultural or non-agricultural, rather than the occupation of the person carrying out the planting.

In the financial year 1997-98 there were 111 people who planted 419 hectares of agricultural land.

In the following financial year 1998-99 this increased to 147 people who planted a total of 562 hectares of agricultural land.

In financial year 1999-2000 this again increased to 158 people who planted a total of 601 hectares of agricultural land.

Mr Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her plans for a fishing vessel decommissioning scheme.

(AQO 583/00)

Ms Rodgers: The Northern Ireland Transitional Objective 1 Programme containing a number of proposals for assistance to the Northern Ireland fishing industry including a proposal for a fishing vessel decommissioning scheme is currently with the EC for approval. Until that approval has been forthcoming I am not in a position to make any announcement about a fishing vessel decommissioning scheme.

However, in anticipation of the Transitional Objective 1 Programme being approved within the next few weeks my Department is currently developing the details of the decommissioning scheme and is consulting with the fishing industry.

Mr Maskey asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline what systems she will put in place to ensure her Department fulfils its duties under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 in respect of equality and targeting social need.

(AQO 586/00)

Ms Rodgers: The Department’s approach to its obligations under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 are clearly spelt out in the Department’s equality scheme, which was widely circulated in draft last year and is currently awaiting the approval of the Equality Commission.

I assure the Member that I am fully committed to ensuring that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development fulfils all of its responsibilities in giving due regard to the promotion of equality of opportunity and in promoting good relations.

Targeting social need is not covered by section 75, and I would refer the Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the question from Mr Armstrong.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to give her assessment of the Department’s rural development programme, and if she will make a statement.

(AQO 574/00)

Ms Rodgers: My Department has recognised the need to pay close attention to the broader development of rural areas since 1991, when the rural development programme was first established. Rural development has been an important and growing part of the Department’s work since then. Over the past decade the programme has engaged rural communities in helping to improve the economic, environmental and social opportunities available to them in disadvantaged rural areas. I have visited many rural communities and rural development projects over the past year and I have been able to see at first hand the hard work and commitment of the communities involved and the innovative work that has been undertaken in many remote localities. The partnerships which have developed between rural people and statutory interests under the guidance of my rural development division officials have made major progress in raising the profile of the value of rural society to us all.

It is clear that rural development is going to remain an important issue. The Executive’s draft Programme for Government recognises the value of rural society and contains a specific commitment to rural proofing of appropriate policies.

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the steps she is taking to protect small producers through the structure of the beef special premium.

(AQO 572/00)

Ms Rodgers: The removal of the 90-head limit on claims for beef special premium was agreed collectively by myself and my fellow agriculture Ministers and will apply from the 2001 scheme year. There had been considerable demand for the removal of the limit for some time, but there had also been concern about the possible adverse effects on small producers if the removal of the limit lead to the national ceiling being exceeded, with consequent scaling back of producers’ claims. The UK Agriculture Ministers also decided therefore to protect the incomes of smaller-scale producers by exempting those claiming on up to 30 animals per year from any scale-back if the national ceiling is exceeded. This approach had the support of the Assembly’s Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.

Mr Ford asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail when the additional milk quota will be allocated to individual farmers in Northern Ireland.

(AQO 580/00)

Ms Rodgers: Last week, letters were issued to all Northern Ireland milk quota holders registered at 1 April 1999 to advise them on a provisional basis if they are likely to be eligible for an allocation in accordance with my decision. Those who are considered eligible have been advised of the likely award in 2000-01.

An amendment to the dairy produce quota regulations is required to provide for the allocation. This should occur next month when a further letter will issue to all producers confirming the position regarding awards.

Mr Neeson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail what discussions she has had with other Ministers relating to access to the countryside.

(AQO 579/00)

Ms Rodgers: This matter is not one for which my Department has principal responsibility. The Department of the Environment is the lead Department in respect of this issue and I understand that they are continuing to consider how it may best be addressed.

I have not been involved in any discussions of this topic since the establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive. However, my officials have participated in a number of meetings at official level between representatives of the Department of the Environment, the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, the Health Promotion Agency and local authorities.

Mr Poots asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail her plans to assist farmers in environmental schemes, particularly the handling of slurry and planting shelter belts to reduce the impact of agricultural buildings.

(AQO 569/00)

Ms Rodgers: My Department assists farmers in environmental schemes, such as the environmentally sensitive areas (ESA) scheme, which has operated for 10 years; the organic farming scheme (OFS); and the countryside management scheme (CMS). The EU Commission has recently approved continuation of these schemes under the Northern Ireland rural development plan, which envisages total agri-environment expenditure of £88 million by 2006.

Subject to our obtaining EU state aid approval, we propose to spend £500,000 on the introduction of a pilot farm waste management scheme. This scheme will be aimed at minimising farm source pollution, which is contributing to water quality problems.

This pilot exercise will give capital assistance towards repair projects to slurry tanks and silage holding facilities, which are considered as being able to deliver a beneficial reduction in the risk of effluent escaping into watercourses.

My Department also provides technical advice to farmers in relation to environmental issues. This includes how to reduce the impact of agricultural buildings on the landscape. This is contained in a booklet published by my Department and entitled ‘Farm Buildings in the Countryside’.

Mr Dallat asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to report on the outcome of the December EU Fisheries Council meeting and if she will make a statement.

(AQO 595/00)

Ms Rodgers: I was pleased with the success in obtaining increases in the Commission proposals for herring (28%), haddock (58%) and plaice (33%). However, it was disappointing that the Commission went against advice and reduced the nephrops total allowable catch (10%). Overall we can claim some success against our objectives but I accept that the industry faces a difficult year and I will be doing all that I can to help.

Mr Douglas asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what is the proposed timetable for the re-opening of the enhancement element of the environmentally sensitive areas scheme and if she will make a statement.

(AQO 576/00)

Ms Rodgers: I hope to re-open the capital enhancement (E-Plan) element of the ESA scheme during the 2001-02 financial year, but it is difficult to put a precise date on when this will be possible. It will depend on the progress of new ESA scheme legislation, following the EU Commission approval of the Northern Ireland rural development plan, and on when all existing commitments have been processed and paid.

You will be aware that the E-Plan element of the ESA scheme was withdrawn from 1 April 1999. This followed a significant and unanticipated upsurge in the demand for capital works late in 1998-99, which created a demand greatly in excess of available resources.

An additional £1·9 million was secured to meet backlogged claims. The backlog has been cleared and all remaining claims should be paid within the next few months.