§ 43. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent reports he has received from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals about the conditions in which live animals have been exported from the United Kingdom; and what action he has taken.
§ Mr. StrangThe Society has recently sent my right hon. Friend the Minister reports on 12 more export consignments of animals which they followed to their destinations on the Continent. The Society's evidence shows that the animals in a number of these consignments were not fed for periods exceeding 24 hours. However, proposals which could help ensure that the requirements of EEC directive 77/489 for feeding and watering animals during international transport are fully observed have now been tabled by the European Commission and, at the Council of Agriculture Ministers this week, my right hon. Friend pressed for an early discussion of these proposals.