HC Deb 31 March 1999 vol 328 c740W
Mr. Prosser

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) sheep exported for slaughter, (b) sheep exported for further fattening, (c) sheep exported for breeding, (d) pigs exported for slaughter, (e) pigs exported for further fattening and (f) pigs exported for breeding were deemed unfit to travel in 1996, 1997 and 1998 by local veterinary inspectors when undertaking certification procedures of live animals destined for export; and if he will make a statement. [74325]

Mr. Morley

The figures available relate only to movements from Great Britain to other EU Member States and Northern Ireland. They relate to animals recorded by Local Veterinary Inspectors as being rejected as unfit when undertaking export certification procedures and are set out in the following table.

1996 1997 1998
Sheep
for slaughter 447 146 536
for further fattening 3,720 6,796 13,003
for breeding 17 76 13
Pigs
for slaughter 1
for further fattening 120 113
for breeding 837 1,396 1,734

These statistics are for Great Britain, they are provisional and may be subject to amendment.

Mr. Prosser

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the consultation document reviewing legislation on the live transport of animals to be issued. [78434]

Mr. Morley

We hope to undertake full public consultation as soon as possible, once the elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly have taken place.