§ 2.45 p.m.
THE EARL OF HADDINGTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they propose to take in order to implement the recommendations in the Brambell Report on the welfare of animals kept under intensive husbandry systems.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD CHAMPION)My Lords, there is nothing I can add to the statement made by my right honorable friend in another place on December 1. As he said, the Committee carried out its task in an excellent and thorough way and the recommendations will be of wide interest. We welcome the views of anyone who has read the Report and wishes to comment on it. Steps are already being taken to obtain the views of the organizations specially concerned, and the Report is, in the meantime, being 700 given careful and detailed consideration within Departments.
THE EARL OF HADDINGTONMy Lords, that is a satisfactory Answer to my question, so far as it goes, and I thank the noble Lord for what he has said. We all realize that factory farming has come to stay because economics has forced it on us; but will he give the House the assurance that he will give the matter his very earnest attention, because he must realize that the conditions under which much of our farm stock is living to-day fall very far below the standards recommended in the Brambell Report? Such practices as more than three battery birds in a cage, veal calves being tightly tethered for the whole of their lives and never seeing the light of day—
§ LORD CHAMPIONMy Lords, I admire the noble Earl's persistence. There is really nothing I can add at this stage. This is a detailed, far-reaching Report which will have consequences throughout the whole of the industry and will obviously entail costs for the industry which will have to be considered. These are at present receiving detailed consideration. Clearly, eventually, legislation will be necessary, but it will not be very early legislation because of the nature of the legislative programme facing us.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether among the views which he intends to consider are those of Mrs. Ruth Harrison?
§ LORD CHAMPIONYes, my Lords, I, too, have read her report of her views on this question and they deserve the closest and most careful consideration.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, will the noble Lord also give an assurance that, as the cost of implementing this Report is likely to put up the cost of living by three shillings per head per year, he will consider submitting it to the Prices and Incomes Board before accepting it?
§ LORD CHAMPIONNo, my Lords. If it does in fact put up the cost of living, this is a matter which will have to be 701 taken into consideration when the Annual Review of Prices is under consideration, so I do not think the noble Earl need be worried too much.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, will the noble Lord give an assurance that, if this Report is adopted, we shall not allow imports from countries which are not subjected to similar methods of restriction on their production?
§ LORD CHAMPIONMy Lords, this is one of the submissions which is bound to be made to the Minister by the interested parties, and it will of course be considered.