§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will introduce measures requiring pop-holes in housing associated with free-range poultry systems to be a minimum of 30 cm high and 75 cm wide; [16520]
(2) if he will ensure that laying hens in colony systems have their beaks trimmed only for therapeutic purposes; [16510]
(3) if he will ensure that sufficient pop-holes are provided in free-range poultry systems to allow all birds easy access into and out of the house; [16512]
(4) if he will require that perching space of at least 18 cm per hen is provided in colony systems; [16514]
(5) if he will ensure that the stocking rate of laying hens in colony systems does not exceed (a) seven hens per square metre of floor plan area in single-tier systems and (b) 15.5 hens in multi-tier systems; [16516]
(6) if he will introduce maximum flock size in a laying hen colony system of 2,000; [16511]
(7) if he will ensure that hens in free-range systems are not stocked in any one paddock at more than 1,000 hens per hectare under a rotational management system; [16513]
(8) if he will ensure that sufficient nest boxes are to be provided for laying hens in colony systems to permit access for all hens. [16517]
§ Mrs. BrowningThese questions concern the implementation of recommendations in the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of laying hens in colony systems.
As our detailed response to that report made clear, there is no overall benefit to farm animal welfare in introducing unilateral legislation where this would disadvantage our own producers while continuing to allow imports produced in systems with lower welfare standards. We have instead worked with our European partners to develop a new Council of Europe recommendation on the welfare of domestic fowl and will continue to press the European Commission to bring forward its overdue proposals for a directive laying down new or revised Community standards for laying hens.
657WOur input into the forthcoming negotiations will be underpinned by our extensive programme of research into farm animal welfare and informed by the recommendations in the existing report and by the outcome of the Farm Animal Welfare Council's current review of the welfare of laying hens in all types of system.
§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that(a) hens in colony systems and (b) broiler chicken flocks are required to be inspected at least twice each day by those in charge of the units. [16763]
§ Mrs. BrowningThis question concerns the implementation of recommendations in the Farm Animal Welfare Council's reports on the welfare of laying hens in colony systems and the welfare of broiler chickens.
As our detailed responses to these reports made clear, we accept that twice daily inspection makes good management practice. This will be reflected in our input into forthcoming negotiations on new Community standards for laying hens and nationally in the new welfare code for broilers which is currently in preparation.