§ Mr. Porterasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to make compulsory compliance with the current codes of practice which relate to the welfare of farm animals.
§ Mrs. FennerThe Farm Animal Welfare Council is considering the provisions of the welfare codes of recommendations, including those for cattle and pigs revised in December 1982 with the approval of Parliament, in order to advise Ministers on which parts of the codes might more appropriately be made mandatory. Section 3(4) of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 already provides that a failure on the part of any person to observe a provision of a code may be relied upon by the prosecution as tending to establish guilt where that person is accused of causing or permitting unnecessary pain or distress under section 1 of the Act.