Export of Live Sheep to Spain (Hansard, 24 November 1993)

The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)
My Lords, a ban on the export of live sheep would not be compatible with our membership of the European Community. The Government have a formal agreement with the Spanish authorities that sheep exported from the UK for slaughter will be sent only to slaughterhouses which the Spanish authorities have confirmed as complying with Community welfare standards.

§ Lord Elliott of Morpeth
My Lords, I believe that my noble friend will recall the guarantee given to his right honourable friend in January when he was Minister of Agriculture that the Community directive on slaughtering would be strictly adhered to in Spain. Indeed, my noble friend may recall that he referred to that guarantee himself in a debate in this House in March. But is he now aware that the directive has been blatantly ignored in Spain and that the recent work of 261 RSPCA inspectors, which I strongly commend, has illustrated that the most frightful cruelty is being practised in abattoirs in Spain at this very time? Even in a single market, is there not a case for a temporary ban until all abattoirs in Spain are brought up to the standards required in the directive?

Earl Howe
My Lords, the scenes depicted in the RSPCA video are extremely distressing and wholly reprehensible. We have encouraged the RSPCA to make the video available to the Spanish authorities, who are already aware of its contents. However, there is no suggestion that the abattoirs filmed by the society are ones to which British sheep may be exported for slaughter under the formal agreement.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, is the Minister aware that our country has a very high reputation for its treatment of animals? Is he further aware that the argument that he has just put forward—namely, that we might upset someone else—was put forward from that Dispatch Box when we debated the cruel treatment of horses going to France and Belgium? However, that debate in this House (which was echoed in another place) resulted in a complete change of heart on the part of the French and Belgian authorities over the manner in which they treat horses. Why can we not now do the same in support of what the noble Lord, Lord Elliott, has told us?

Earl Howe
My Lords, the Government take such issues very seriously. My right honourable friend has raised the issue with the Spanish Agriculture Minister, who has promised to investigate it urgently. She has also expressed her grave concern to Commissioner Steichen, who is responsible for ensuring that the slaughter directive is enforced in all member states.

§ Lord Harvington
My Lords, I am pleased that my noble friend raised the matter this afternoon. It is possible that some noble Lords may remember that I raised the issue in a debate in March which produced what I thought was, on the whole, a satisfactory result; that is, as far as was possible at the time. However, can my noble friend the Minister now repeat what he said then—namely, that the Commission will be producing a directive stipulating what should be done in all such matters and that the whole question is one of policing? My noble friend also said in March that prosecution was taking place at that time against some carriers who had behaved in an outrageously cruel way. Has he anything further to say in addition to what he said to the House then?

Earl Howe
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend. During the UK presidency we initiated discussions on proposals for the welfare of animals at slaughter to update the 1974 regulations. We are working hard both in Council working groups and with the EC Commission to achieve agreement on a directive to be applied in all member states, with provision for the Commission to monitor enforcement.
With regard to my noble friend's latter question, there has recently been a successful prosecution of an exporter for failing to feed, water and rest animals during journeys to Southern Europe. The exporter was 262 fined £4,200, plus £3,500 costs. It is the Government's policy to support local authorities whenever prosecutions are brought under welfare legislation.

§ Lord Gallacher
My Lords, a Community agreement may be reached on the problem of transporting live animals from this country to Spain—but it seems to me doubtful—and the slaughterhouse problem may be capable of solution, but is not the final answer likely to lie in developing a trade with Spain in sheepmeat on the hook? Further, will the noble Earl ask the Food from Britain organisation, in conjunction with the Meat and Livestock Commission, to have a look at the possibility of a promotion campaign towards that end?

Earl Howe
My Lords, If am grateful to the noble Lord. I do know that Food from Britain, in conjunction with the MLC, promotes British meat in Spain. In fact, live animal exports to Spain are small in number in relation to our total exports of live animals.

§ Baroness Carnegy of Lour
My Lords, should not the fact that the directive relating to the slaughter of animals has not been implemented in Spain be a matter for the whole of the Community and not just for the United Kingdom? Further, under European law at present, is it not the case that a member state can be heavily fined for not obeying a directive; and can the Minister tell the House whether the Government are pursuing that sanction?

Earl Howe
My Lords, enforcement of EC law is up to each individual member state. The Commission's role is to ensure that member states are up to the mark. We are keen to see that the agreement within the Maastricht Treaty on such matters is pursued vigorously.