HC Deb 29 February 2000 vol 345 c247W
Ann Clwyd

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to implement the Farm Animal Welfare Council's 1992 recommendation that a maximum stocking density for broiler chickens should be controlled by regulation. [110770]

Mr. Morley

The Government have made clear their wish to improve minimum standards for broiler welfare. But we wish to do so on a EU-wide basis since simply exposing the home market to lower welfare products produced elsewhere would bring little benefit to birds' welfare. We do however reflect the Farm Animal Welfare Council's recommendation in our broiler chicken welfare code and plan to maintain it in the revised version.