HC Deb 27 June 1972 vol 839 cc302-3W
Mrs. Doris Fisher

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now reconsider how animals should be treated in intensive and rationalised livestock husbandry so as to preserve them from all forms of suffering and damage.

Mr. Peter Mills

The welfare of farm animals under all husbandry systems is kept under continuing review by the Departments and by our Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. The codes of recommendations for the welfare of livestock, approved by Parliament last summer, are designed to safeguard the welfare of animals under both intensive and extensive systems of husbandry.

Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set up a committee to investigate and report on the effect on food of factory farming, battery systems and injections of antibiotics.

Mr. Prior

The Interdepartmental Committee on Food Composition is already reviewing the effects on nutritional quality of intensive farming practices in the United Kingdom and has so far published two reports.

The use of antibiotics in food production is subject to statutory control on which the Government are advised by the Veterinary Products Committee appointed under the Medicines Act, 1968.