§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the approximate number of veal calves reared in crates in the United Kingdom per annum;
(2) what was the amount of veal produced (a) in crates and (b) under a loose housing system, in 1982 and to the latest available date in 1983.
§ Mrs. FennerPrecise figures are not available. It is estimated that some 36,000 calves are reared for veal annually. Estimates of the proportion of this total which is produced in the loose-housing system vary between 70 per cent. and 90 per cent. This proportion is estimated to be increasing.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps have been taken by his Department to reduce the use of crates in the rearing of veal calves.
§ Mrs. FennerMy officials use as a basis for advice on veal production systems the code of recommendations for the welfare of cattle. Recommendations in the code militate against methods associated with the veal crate system and recommend livestock-keepers to consider the adoption of loose-housing systems.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to seek to phase out completely the use of veal crates; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerI refer the hon. Member to the reply he received on 14 March 1983, at column30, when I explained that the Farm Animal Welfare Council is considering all the codes of recommendations for the 441W welfare of livestock to see whether any of those recommendations can more approproately be made mandatory.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the amount of veal (a) imported into the United Kingdom and (b) exported from the United Kingdom by the following methods (i) in crates and (ii) under a loose housing system in 1982 and at the latest available date in 1983.
§ Mrs. FennerDuring 1982, 4,540 tonnes of veal were imported into the United Kingdom and 547 tonnes were exported. For 1983 the amounts were 3,548 tonnes and 394 tonnes, respectively. The proportions reared by different methods are not known.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the amount of veal consumed in the United Kingdom in (a) the catering trade and (b) the retail trade in 1982 and to the latest date in 1983.
§ Mr. MacGregorSupplies of veal moving into consumption were estimated to be 8,600 tonnes in 1982 and are provisionally estimated at 8,900 tonnes in 1983. A division of consumption between the catering and household sectors is not available.