HC Deb 15 March 2001 vol 364 cc710-1W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what help is available to cattle owners who seek to move animals on welfare grounds. [152771]

Mr. Luff

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the animal welfare implications for cattle, sheep and pigs that are not displaying symptoms of foot and mouth disease, of movement restrictions between adjacent areas of farm land owned or farmed by the same farmer; and if he will make a statement. [152806]

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that cows within the exclusion zones can be in moved to adequate facilities for calving. [153188]

Mr. Morley

[holding answers 8 and 12 March 2001]: We are aware of serious and growing animal welfare problems as a consequence of movement restrictions imposed following the foot and mouth outbreak. Two schemes were therefore announced on 9 March in order to address these problems.

The occupational licence permits a farmer to make repeat movements of foot and mouth disease susceptible livestock for a distance of up to 0.5 km on land of which he is the sole occupant. Such licences are available in the controlled area and in the infected area. Movements are not permitted within 3 km of an infected place.

The local movement licence permits movements of up to 5 km as the crow flies (up to a journey of 10 km) but only in the controlled area.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will withdraw the Schedule D notice served on the Madron Meat Abattoir in Penzance and reinstate the grant of approval from the Meat Hygiene Service; [153173]

(2) if he will reissue a movement lisence to Mr. Tim Stockwell of Kingsbridge in respect of the movement of 100 pigs to an abattoir. [153174]

Ms Quin

[holding answer 12 March 2001]: Restrictions were imposed on Madron Meat Abattoir while the State Veterinary Service investigated a suspected case of foot and mouth disease which occurred within 3 kilometres of the abattoir. Tho restrictions were removed on 11 March after it was revealed that the animals involved were not affected by foot and mouth.

Responsibility for licensing the movement of animals to slaughter lies with local authorities. Mr. Stockwell should therefore contact Devon County Council regarding the proposed movement of his pigs to slaughter.

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