§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy for animals intended for human consumption to be slaughtered as near to the point of production as possible; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanIn its proposals for a Community regulation on the protection of animals in transit the Commission has proposed a limitation of journeys for animals going for slaughter, linked to the maximum intervals between feeding and watering which would be established for each species. I support this general approach, but we will wish to ensure that the arrangements are practicable and enforceable.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has in repect of the numbers of animals intended for human consumption which are(a) slaughtered at point of production, (b) slaughtered within a 50-mile radius of production, (c) slaughtered within the United Kingdom other than those listed in (a) and (b) above and (d) exported live, giving separate information for (i) cattle, (ii) sheep and (iii) pigs if possible.
§ Mr. MacleanInformation on the slaughtering of animals in relation to their point of production is not available. Statistics on the number of animals slaughtered in this country or exported live for meat purposes are as follows.
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Cattle Sheep Pigs 1 Great Britain slaughterings: 1989 2,967,000 18,852,000 13,414,000 January to September 1990 2,151,000 13,643,000 9,616,000 2 Great Britain exports for slaughter or further fattening: 1989 304,279 491,892 24 January to September 1990 224,230 335,647 Nil Note: Great Britain figures are given as it is assumed that in question (d) the hon. Member is interested in exports to continental Europe rather than trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Source: MAFF statistics.
1 Monthly estimates of Great Britain slaughterings.
2 Returns from Portal offices in Great Britain.