§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement of his policy in regard to the battery cage system used for egg production.
§ Mrs. FennerMy hon. Friend will be aware that the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 24–25 March adopted a directive setting minimum welfare standards for hens kept in battery cages. My right hon. Friend made it clear that, while it represented the best measure negotiable at the present time, it did not go far enough to protect the welfare of battery hens.
130WHe also made it clear that the Commission's report on scientific developments, and appropriate amendments to the text, should if possible be submitted before the formal date in the directive of 1 January 1993.