§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey,Official Report, 10 July, column 109, when he expects to be content that welfare-related problems will have been eliminated from the emerging alternative systems and that these systems are commercially viable.
§ Mr. MacleanSome alternative systems are already being installed successfully. The proposals now under discussion in the Council of Ministers provide for the Commission to report by 1 January 1993 on the welfare of sows kept in different degrees of confinement or in groups, and to submit appropriate proposals. I am hopeful that any remaining problems with alternatives to stall and tether systems will have been resolved by that time.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey,Official Report, 10 July, column 109, whether he will phase out the existing stall and tether systems if the alternatives prove not to be commercially viable.
§ Mr. MacleanI have made it clear that legislation requiring major changes to husbandry systems should be adopted on a Community basis. The action to be taken, should the Community not agree to the phasing out of stall and tether systems, would need to be considered at the time.