§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he takes to satisfy himself as to the proper dispersal of mink remaining in fur factory farms which close.
§ Mr. MacleanFarmers disposing of their mink must inform the local MAFF office, which issued their licence. They must also inform recipients of the mink of the obligation to obtain a licence. Deliberately releasing mink into the wild is an offence.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many mink fur factory farms there are in environmentally sensitive areas.
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§ Mr. MacleanNone.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many chinchilla and fitch fur factory farms there are in the United Kingdom; and in which counties they are.
§ Mr. MacleanFarmers do not need licences to keep these animals, and we do not collect this information.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has given to fur farmers in the light of current market conditions.
§ Mr. MacleanIt is for the fur industry to decide how to respond to market conditions.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to ensure that the Council of Europe's welfare standards for animals on fur factory farms which are currently under discussion will take full account of articles 3 and 4 of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes 1976.
§ Mr. MacleanAny welfare standards agreed by the Council of Europe will be adopted as recommendations under article 9 of the convention. As such, their purpose is to set out detailed provisions for the implementation of the general principles contained in articles 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the convention.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences for fur factory farms on the Isle of Wight he has issued.
§ Mr. MacleanOne mink farm has been licensed annually on the Isle of Wight since 1986.