§ Mr. LivseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has given, or intends to give, to egg producers in Wales as to the time at which they should comply with the provisions of the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987, in the light of the further review to be undertaken in 1993.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe regulations came into force on 1 January 1988. As from that date all new cages must conform: for existing cages the space allowance must be achieved by 1 January 1995. Within the seven-year lead-in period for existing cages, the timing of any change will largely be a matter for the individual producer. The Government will maintain close links with the industry on both their ongoing review and the scientific report due from the Commission by 1 January 1993.
§ Mr. LivseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make representations to the European Communities Council of Ministers to ensure full compliance within Europe with the provisions of European directive 86/113 on the welfare of battery hens.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerCompliance with EEC directives is a matter for individual member states and for the European Commission. In this instance, article 7 requires the Commission to undertake inspection programmes within member states to ensure that the directive is complied with and uniform standards applied. The Commission is also required to produce reports on those inspections.
§ Mr. LivseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that cage sizes for battery hens should be increased by 1993 to allow greater space and height for the welfare of the birds.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe Government believe that a European standard of about 600 sq cm per bird would be more appropriate in welfare terms and will be seeking improvements when the review of the directive, due in 1993, takes place.