§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to improve the welfare of animals; and if he will make a statement. [27571]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 9 May 19961: We have action in hand across a wide range of animal welfare issues. For example, we are now developing our plans to implement the important new EU rules on the welfare of animals in transit which were secured by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in June 1995; we are pressing hard, in the EU negotiations on the welfare of calves which we ourselves got brought forward, for an end to the veal crate throughout Europe; and we shall be pressing at the intergovernmental conference for a protocol to be added to the treaty, placing a legal obligation on the Community institutions to pay full regard to animal welfare when exercising their powers in relation to agriculture, transport, research and the single market.