§ Angela SmithTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of recent reports of the use of carbon dioxide gas for the gassing of mink in fur farms; and if he will ban the use of such gas as a method of killing mink. [59085]
§ Mr. MorleyA recent article (Veterinary Record, 26 September) concluded that under experimental conditions mink detect high concentrations of carbon dioxide gas and avoid them when given the opportunity to express a preference. It suggests that alternative methods of killing may be preferable on welfare grounds, but acknowledges that the degree of aversion to other methods of killing has not been studied. The matter needs to be considered at the European Community level, as the permitted methods of killing which include carbon dioxide gas, are specified in EU regulations. We shall ensure that this new report is considered by the European Commission: however, the Government are in any case committed to banning the farming of animals for their fur.