HC Deb 04 December 1989 vol 163 cc112-4W
Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a system of licensing for carriers of live animals intended for export; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

I do not intend to introduce licensing since this would add little to existing controls related to unnecessary suffering. Such a system would almost certainly contravene the Treaty of Rome.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what provision he launched his recent investigation into the death of beagles being exported for research purposes in the pharmaceutical industry; if he has yet concluded his investigation; what action he proposes to take; and what powers he has to regulate such trade.

Mr. Maclean

The investigation has now concluded. Charges are being considered under the Transit of Animals (General) Order 1973, as amended in 1988, and the Protection of Animals Act 1911. Under section 39 of the Animal Health Act 1981 Ministers may by order provide for regulating the export of animals from Great Britain in the interests of animal welfare.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the numbers and species of live animals being exported from the United Kingdom for use in research projects; and, in respect of both species and numbers, what is the importing country.

Mr. Maclean

The numbers of animals exported for research purposes are not collected centrally.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number of slaughter animals exported live by species, to each of the member states of the European Economic Community during 1988 and the current year to date.

Mr. Maclean

Animals inspected and certified as fit for transportation prior to export from Great Britain were as follows:

1. During 1988
For immediate slaughter For further fattening
Destination Cattle Sheep Cattle Calves Sheep Pigs
Belgium/Luxembourg 99 7,193 1
Holland 108,880
Italy 12,441 4,460
France 14 238,798 24 120,848 184,120
West Germany 23 4,215 299 463
TOTAL EEC 136 262,647 323 234,651 184,120

2. During the period 1 January to 30 September 1989
For immediate slaughter For further fattening
Destination Cattle Sheep Cattle Calves Sheep Pigs
Belgium/Luxembourg 48 13,460 50
Holland 145 10 77,156
Italy 35 8,713 199
France 173 93,237 956 114,563 132,474 24
West Germany 18 10,188 280 28
TOTAL EEC 274 125,743 1,445 191,797 132,474 24

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number of slaughter animals, exported live, by species, to each non European Economic Community country during 1988 and the current year to date.

Mr. Maclean

Farm livestock for slaughter are not licensed for export to countries outside the EEC.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the total number of animals of each species exported from the United Kingdom in 1988 and 1989 to date for the purposes of(a) slaughter, (b) fattening, and (c) breeding.

Mr. Maclean

Statistics for the United Kingdom do not distinguish between animals for fattening and those for immediate slaughter. The information is as follows:

Breeding Other Total
1. During 1988
Cattle 7,690 259,101 266,791
Sheep 11,310 497,603 508,913
Pigs 11,311 47,692 59,003
2. January-September 1989
Cattle 4,906 198,824 203,730
Sheep 8,752 318,820 327,572
Pigs 11,946 66,775 78,721

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers he has to regulate the export of live puppies; and what information he has concerning the numbers and destination of such exports by country of import during 1988 and 1989 to date.

Mr. Maclean

Powers exist in the Animal Health Act 1981 to regulate by order the export of animals from Great Britain in the interests of animal welfare. I have no information on the numbers of exported puppies.