Battery Hens (Hansard, 23 January 1986)

§ Mr. Allen McKay
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will be seeking the phasing-out of the keeping of battery hens.

§ Mrs. Fenner
I have no such plans. Instead, we are seeking agreement within the European Community on minimum welfare standards for hens in battery cages.

Days worked for which payment made in financial years

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 (to date)

Days worked Days worked Days worked Days worked Days worked Days worked Days worked

Agriculture 21 109 29 29 1 17 21

Defence 9 106 123 189 43 162 95

Education, Science and Arts 15 116 237 411 58 55 39

Employment 14 55 94 47 6 25 45

Energy 16 258 307 207 82 163 115

Environment 15 407 134 174 23 81 40

Foreign Affairs 7 345 352 449 64 46 25

Home Affairs 5 59 35 — — — —

Industry and Trade — 107 149 128 32 66 23

Scottish Affairs — 38 60 29 28 39 10

Social Services — 251 155 116 47 90 37

Treasury and Civil Service — 221 209 273 112 202 147

Transport 6 54 134 78 6 36 3

Welsh Affairs — 76 25 70 16 114 44

TOTALS 108 2,202 2,043 2,200 518 1,096 644

§ Mr. George
asked the Lord Privy Seal how many witnesses have appeared before each of the departmental Select Committees and their Sub-Committees for each Session since their establishment; how many times they have given evidence; what is the rank of each of the official witnesses concerned; and if he will give the same information for Cabinet Ministers and other Ministers.

§ Mr. Biffen
I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

Parliamentary Sessions

Committee Number of visits 1979–80 £ Number of visits 1980–81 £ Number of visits 1981–82 £ Number of visits 1982–83 £ Number of visits 1983–84 £ Number of visits 1984–85 £ Number of visits 1985–86 £ Grand total

Agriculture

Abroad 2 6,656 3 5,422 3 4,720 1 15,598 2 4,698 2 9,290 — —

Within United Kingdom 2 1,802 5 2,226 2 4,198 2 143 2 1,521 3 2,971 — —

Total 4 8,458 8 7,648 5 8,918 3 15,741 4 6,219 5 12,261 — — 59,245

Defence

Abroad 2 5,393 2 14,357 4 36,564 2 25,167 4 7,703 5 28,189 2 379

Within United Kingdom 7 6,738 5 1,007 4 336 — — 9 4,479 2 258 1 760

Total 9 12,131 7 15,364 8 36,900 2 25,167 13 12,182 7 28,447 3 1,139 131,330

Education, Science and Arts

Abroad 2 8,367 4 19,190 — — 1 9,021 — — 1 2,533 — —

Within United Kingdom 16 1,639 8 520 8 7,180 9 2,080 1 1,406 4 4,551 1 25

Total 18 10,006 12 19,710 8 7,180 10 11,101 1 1,406 5 7,084 1 25 56,512

Employment

Abroad 1 11,025 2 5,289 4 29,851 — — 2 26,559 — — — —

Within United Kingdom 10 4,420 3 1,983 2 914 1 259 — — 1 19 — —

Days worked for which payment made in financial years
	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86 (to date)
	Days worked	Days worked	Days worked	Days worked	Days worked	Days worked	Days worked
Agriculture	21	109	29	29	1	17	21
Defence	9	106	123	189	43	162	95
Education, Science and Arts	15	116	237	411	58	55	39
Employment	14	55	94	47	6	25	45
Energy	16	258	307	207	82	163	115
Environment	15	407	134	174	23	81	40
Foreign Affairs	7	345	352	449	64	46	25
Home Affairs	5	59	35	—	—	—	—
Industry and Trade	—	107	149	128	32	66	23
Scottish Affairs	—	38	60	29	28	39	10
Social Services	—	251	155	116	47	90	37
Treasury and Civil Service	—	221	209	273	112	202	147
Transport	6	54	134	78	6	36	3
Welsh Affairs	—	76	25	70	16	114	44
TOTALS	108	2,202	2,043	2,200	518	1,096	644

Parliamentary Sessions
Committee	Number of visits	1979–80 £	Number of visits	1980–81 £	Number of visits	1981–82 £	Number of visits	1982–83 £	Number of visits	1983–84 £	Number of visits	1984–85 £	Number of visits	1985–86 £	Grand total
Agriculture
Abroad	2	6,656	3	5,422	3	4,720	1	15,598	2	4,698	2	9,290	—	—
Within United Kingdom	2	1,802	5	2,226	2	4,198	2	143	2	1,521	3	2,971	—	—
Total	4	8,458	8	7,648	5	8,918	3	15,741	4	6,219	5	12,261	—	—	59,245
Defence
Abroad	2	5,393	2	14,357	4	36,564	2	25,167	4	7,703	5	28,189	2	379
Within United Kingdom	7	6,738	5	1,007	4	336	—	—	9	4,479	2	258	1	760
Total	9	12,131	7	15,364	8	36,900	2	25,167	13	12,182	7	28,447	3	1,139	131,330
Education, Science and Arts
Abroad	2	8,367	4	19,190	—	—	1	9,021	—	—	1	2,533	—	—
Within United Kingdom	16	1,639	8	520	8	7,180	9	2,080	1	1,406	4	4,551	1	25
Total	18	10,006	12	19,710	8	7,180	10	11,101	1	1,406	5	7,084	1	25	56,512
Employment
Abroad	1	11,025	2	5,289	4	29,851	—	—	2	26,559	—	—	—	—
Within United Kingdom	10	4,420	3	1,983	2	914	1	259	—	—	1	19	—	—