§ 9. Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received concerning the welfare of calves in the last two years. [16105]
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe answer is: many.
§ Mr. ClaphamI am grateful for that answer, because it reflects the British public's great concern. Does the Minister share my view that it is unacceptable that calves which are exported from the UK are put into veal crates that are so cruel that they were banned in the UK in 1990? Will the Minister stop the trade if the current judicial review, which has been called by animal welfare organisations, demonstrates that he has the power to do so?
§ Mr. HoggI am rather surprised that the hon. Gentleman did not give credit to the Conservative Government. First, the UK ban was introduced by the Conservative Government—not by anybody else. Secondly, the fact that the European Union is, at this very moment, discussing the proposals for banning veal crates is due primarily to the hard work that my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary did over a number of years to bring this discussion before the Council and the Commission. We are pressing the matter exceedingly hard, and the hon. Gentleman should give credit where credit is due.
§ Dr. StrangDoes the Minister recall that his predecessor proclaimed that the days of the veal crate were numbered? However, more than 400 days later, we are still exporting calves into relative darkness to be malnourished and reared in crates in which they cannot turn around. Will the Minister answer this question: is it true that he has said that, even if European law permits it, he will not act to prevent the export of calves into continental veal crates?
§ Mr. HoggI shall make two points. First, I find it astonishing that the hon. Gentleman should ever raise this subject. Let us not forget that the matter was discussed in 1975 and, on a free vote, the hon. Gentleman, who was then an agriculture spokesman, voted to resume the export of live animals, even though the right hon. John Silkin, the future Minister, voted the other way. It is a clear case of members of the Labour Front-Bench team saying one thing, but doing another.
As for the second part of the hon. Gentleman's question, I have made the position quite plain. I do not believe that I have the legal power to prohibit the export of live calves. If I did have that power, I would not exercise it because I do not believe in heaping unilateral burdens on British farmers. Such things should be dealt with throughout Europe. Incidentally, that was substantially the position adopted by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary and stated expressly in the House.