§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether mink are currently present at Little Youlstone mink farm; and when the last licence was issued for this establishment;
(2) whether mink are currently present at Lawleys mink farm; and when the last licence was issued for this establishment;
(3) whether mink are currently present at Kelbain mink farm; and when the last licence was issued for this establishment;
(4) whether Swaslemoor mink farm is currently licensed to keep mink;
(5) whether mink are currently present at Brome mink farm; and when the last licence was issued for this establishment.
§ Mr. SoamesMinistry policy is not to disclose details of licences of mink farms.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many times officials of the State Veterinary Service have monitored the killing of arctic foxes on fur farms during each of the last five years;
(2) what method is used to kill arctic foxes in fur farms.
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§ Mr. SoamesOfficers of the State Veterinary Service monitored the slaughter of arctic fox once in the last five years. On that occasion the method of slaughter used was by lethal injection.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many welfare inspections were carried out on mink farms in 1993 by officers of the State Veterinary Service.
§ Mr. SoamesOfficers of the State Veterinary Service carried out 13 inspections on mink farms in 1993.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total breeding population of mink in England, by county.
§ Mr. SoamesThe Mink Keeping Order 1992, which requires that mink farms are licensed by Agriculture Departments, does not require regular returns of the number of mink kept. However, best estimates suggest that the total number of mink being kept in fur farms in the United Kingdom has fallen from approximately 100,000 in 1987 to some 47,000 in 1992.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many mink were killed in fur factory farms in England last November.
§ Mr. SoamesThe Mink Keeping Order 1992, which requires that mink farms are licensed by Agriculture Departments, does not require returns to be made of the number of mink killed.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licensing applications for new mink fur factory farms have been made in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. SoamesIn the last five years up to 30 June 1994, two licence applications have been made for new mink farms: one in 1991 and one earlier this year. All other licence applications received have been for licence renewals.