To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many of the research projects submitted to the 1996 open competition to find a diagnostic test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy produced a live test; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many of the research projects submitted to the 1996 open competition to find a diagnostic test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy produced a live test; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many of the unfunded proposals submitted in 1996 to the open competition for a diagnostic test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy were developed further; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many of the unfunded proposals submitted in 1996 to the open competition for a diagnostic test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy were developed further; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make arrangements to permit researchers seeking to provide a live test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy to have access to BSE diagnosed cattle.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make arrangements to permit researchers seeking to provide a live test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy to have access to BSE diagnosed cattle.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what live tests have resulted from the research which he sponsored as a result of the open competition for research on BSE diagnosis in cattle in 1994.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what live tests have resulted from the research which he sponsored as a result of the open competition for research on BSE diagnosis in cattle in 1994.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what initiatives are being pursued to reduce the costs arising for agriculture from regulation in (a) the short-term and (b) the long-term. - Inc figures.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what initiatives are being pursued to reduce the costs arising for agriculture from regulation in (a) the short-term and (b) the long-term. - Inc figures.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received on the consequences that transferring the costs of operating specified risk material controls from public funds to industry will have on the agriculture industry.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received on the consequences that transferring the costs of operating specified risk material controls from public funds to industry will have on the agriculture industry.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the costs of enforcing the specified risk material controls in the UK relative to those of equivalent systems in other EU states. - Includes figure and fact that copy placed in Library.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list the costs of enforcing the specified risk material controls in the UK relative to those of equivalent systems in other EU states. - Includes figure and fact that copy placed in Library.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much funding has been given to farmers in England and Wales to alleviate the added costs of enforcing the controls on specified risk material in each of the past two years; and what funding will be provided in the current...

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much funding has been given to farmers in England and Wales to alleviate the added costs of enforcing the controls on specified risk material in each of the past two years; and what funding will be provided in the current...

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what support groups have been established to assist farmers in respect of the current BSE crisis.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what support groups have been established to assist farmers in respect of the current BSE crisis.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, under what circumstances it is permissible to offer as food, beef products which are derived from animals which are over 30 months of age.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, under what circumstances it is permissible to offer as food, beef products which are derived from animals which are over 30 months of age.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, under what circumstances it is permissible to export beef products derived from animals which are over 30 months of age.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, under what circumstances it is permissible to export beef products derived from animals which are over 30 months of age.

What is his current estimate of the number of animals remaining to be culled in the over 30 month cull scheme.

What is his current estimate of the number of animals remaining to be culled in the over 30 month cull scheme.

If he will comment on progress with proposals for the future selective cull.

If he will comment on progress with proposals for the future selective cull.

When he last met representatives of the farming unions to discuss the throughput of animals to slaughter under the current cull scheme. (Failed OPQ)

When he last met representatives of the farming unions to discuss the throughput of animals to slaughter under the current cull scheme. (Failed OPQ)

What progress has been made in ensuring that Welsh farmers are given access to the approved abattoirs authorised under the 30 month cattle cull scheme.

What progress has been made in ensuring that Welsh farmers are given access to the approved abattoirs authorised under the 30 month cattle cull scheme.

What steps have been taken to ensure that cattle producers in Wales have equal access to the authorised abattoirs in England under the 30 month cattle cull with producers from other areas.

What steps have been taken to ensure that cattle producers in Wales have equal access to the authorised abattoirs in England under the 30 month cattle cull with producers from other areas.

What plans he has, and over what period, to increase the rendering capacity available to Welsh abattoirs.

What plans he has, and over what period, to increase the rendering capacity available to Welsh abattoirs.

How many staff were employed by his Department on BSE related research during (a) 1991, (b) 1992, (c) 1993, (d) 1994 and (e) 1995. - Inc fig.s

How many staff were employed by his Department on BSE related research during (a) 1991, (b) 1992, (c) 1993, (d) 1994 and (e) 1995. - Inc fig.s