§ 12. Mr. Greenwayasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to visit the Southall horse market; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI have no plans at present to visit the market. My veterinary staff attend it, and are able to monitor and encourage compliance with the voluntary code of practice on horse markets.
§ Mr. GreenwayWill my hon. Friend change his mind and make an unannounced visit to the Southall horse market, where he will see that standards are often far from satisfactory? Will he also consider extending the 1964 regulations on animal markets to horses and ponies, so that they can be given the same protection at sales and markets as other animals? Why should horses and ponies be second-class citizens in the animal world?
§ Mr. ThompsonI know how hard my hon. Friend works on behalf of both constituents and horses. Of course, I shall not announce now that I shall he making an unannounced visit to his constituency. However, we are considering the need for legislation to put horse markets in line with the Farm Animal Welfare Council report recommendations.