§ 13. Dame Jill KnightTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on progress on the steps taken to prevent the spread of animal diseases from abroad.
§ Mr. SoamesThe Government take animal health very seriously and have announced newly strengthened measures to monitor Imports of live animals to ensure that our high animal health status is safeguarded.
§ Dame Jill KnightIs my hon. Friend aware that there is considerable concern in Birmingham about a recent consignment of sheep into our city, some of which were diseased? Will he confirm that he will look into that issue as a matter of great urgency?
§ Mr. SoamesI am grateful to my hon. Friend for allowing me to comment on that important matter, which I know has aroused concern in Birmingham and elsewhere. There have been certification and welfare problems with those consignments, which our chief vet has taken up with the chief vets of the countries involved. We have expressed our concern over a number of welfare issues, in particular the absence of journey plans. Safeguarding the welfare of the animals is a high priority and I assure my hon. Friend that we have drawn the matter to the attention of the Polish authorities and, where appropriate, the Belgian authorities. My hon. Friend need have no fear—we will continue to protect with all the vigour at our command the high animal health status of this country.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyIs the Minister aware that what he has said will be of little consolation to my constituent who has had to have the whole of his herd confined because a beast was imported from Poland, apparently through Germany, and no checks were made? The affect on animal health in this country was not only immediate, but is likely to lead to the bankruptcy of the farmer involved. It is not good enough for the Government to say that they will draw the matter to the attention of the Polish authorities. What is the Minister doing to protect British farmers and British goods?
§ Mr. SoamesThe hon. Lady, who has debated such matters with me on many occasions, knows perfectly well that if she gave us details of the individual case we should be happy to look into it. All the farmers in Britain rightly urge on us the absolute necessity to maintain our high animal health status within the complexities of the single market. I assure the hon. Lady and all those farmers that we shall do that by ensuring that all the certification is correct and that all the checks are done where they should be done, and by vigorous policing at this and other ends.